New Nolcom chief cites credentials

TARLAC CITY, Philippines  – Newly installed Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) chief Maj. Gen. Jessie Dellosa said the other day his promotion should not be linked to his stint as former security aide of the late President Corazon Aquino.

Dellosa, who assumed as Nolcom commander here the other day, said his credentials would speak for the progress of his career as a military officer.

He said he does not have any advantage even if he was a member of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) of the mother of the incumbent president.  

“Actually, we should remove such thoughts (that I have an advantage). Maybe you can check my record, my credentials,” Dellosa told reporters here.

Dellosa said he was the group commander of the PSG Special Reaction Unit during the presidency of Corazon Aquino. He also served as aide de camp of the former president.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who served as PSG commander during Mrs. Aquino’s administration, vouched for Dellosa’s capabilities, saying he does not need a backer to secure a key post. 

“Gen. Dellosa comes to you with his impeccable service credential,” Gazmin said in his speech. 

Dellosa said he could not remember his experiences with then presidential son Benigno Aquino III.

“I cannot remember much because that was from 1986 to 1992,” he said when asked to recount his experiences with the presidential son.

Dellosa said he is ready to help the current administration achieve its goals. “Whatever I can do to help our president, I will do,” he said.   

Dellosa assumed as the 30th commander of Nolcom, replacing Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan Jr. who just retired from the service.  

Dellosa formally assumed the post in a turnover ceremony led by Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr.  

Dellosa said his priorities would be to implement the security plan “Bayanihan” to improve Nolcom’s disaster response capability and to protect the environment.

He also called on the communist rebels to surrender their weapons and to return to mainstream society.

Dellosa is a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class 1979 and a classmate of Oban.

Dellosa, who hails from Sorsogon, was commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal before he was named Nolcom chief.

Prior to his stint at the 2nd ID, Dellosa was the deputy commander of the AFP Central Command in Cebu.

He also served as commandant of PMA cadets, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, chief of staff of the 4th Infantry Division, officer-in-charge of the AFP Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability, and former assistant chief of staff for operations of the 1st Infantry Division. 

Dellosa was assigned to the PSG at a time when Mrs. Aquino was facing several coup attempts.

Early this year, Dellosa emerged as one of the contenders to be the next AFP chief to succeed Gen. Ricardo David Jr., who retired last March.

Oban was named to the post but talk is rife that Dellosa has a huge chance of being named AFP chief in the future.