New AFP chief to prioritize anti-terrorism campaign

MANILA, Philippines — Keeping peace and fighting terrorism will be the priorities of incoming armed forces chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. in line with President Duterte’s security thrusts.

Santos, outgoing chief of the Davao City-based Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), will formally take over the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tomorrow from Gen. Noel Clement, who retires this month.

The AFP Public Affairs Office said the turnover ceremonies would be held at AFP Commissioned Officers Club across the AFP grand stand.

“Thanks to (President Duterte) for the trust and confidence for me to lead the AFP. We will continue to support all the priority programs of the President regarding peace and security,” Santos, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sinagtala Class of 1986, said.

Under his command, he said the AFP would intensify efforts to neutralize local terrorist groups, particularly those linked to the Islamic State (IS), the Abu Sayyaf, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Santos said the military will also actively support and assist the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in their anti-drug campaign across the country.

“Thanks also to all members of the AFP for their dedication and love for our country,” Santos said.

Santos will command the AFP for at least eight months as he will be celebrating his 56th birthday, the military mandatory retirement age, in August this year. Clement was AFP chief for three months.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, meanwhile, confirmed Santos’ designation as the next AFP chief, based on a memorandum his office received yesterday from the Palace. 

Colleagues said Santos can draw from his wealth of experience – especially with his stint at strategic offices of the AFP including operations, intelligence and civil-military-operations.

After graduating from the PMA in 1986, Santos spent his junior years with the 39th Infantry Battalion, a unit deployed in various provinces of Mindanao.

He also once headed the Army’s 11th Intelligence Service Unit based in Davao City where he and then Davao City mayor Duterte met.

From Davao, Santos became the group commander of the Army’s Intelligence Service Group based in Fort Bonifacio.

Santos also served as commander of the Samar-based 63rd Infantry Battalion and assistant division commander of the Awang-based 6th Infantry Division and as chief of operations of the AFP’s Cebu-based Central Command before being designated as commander of the Central Luzon-based 703rd Infantry Brigade.

Prior to his assumption as Eastmincom commander last year, Santos headed the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Laur, Nueva Ecia.

Camp Aguinaldo insiders said Santos is expected to hand over his command of Eastmicom to Maj. Gen. Jose Faustino, the incumbent commander of the Mawab, Compostela province-based 10th Infantry Division.

Santos and Faustino are known to the President as both were assigned in Davao during their younger years.

Faustino, a member of the PMA of 1988, meanwhile, is handing over the leadership of the 10th Infantry Division to his mistah, Maj. Gen. Reuben Basiao, the incumbent AFP deputy chief for Intelligence based at Camp Aguinaldo, sources said.

There is no replacement yet for Basiao as AFP chief of intelligence, sources said.