MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has named a new commandant of the Philippine Marines Corps.
Maj. Gen. Andre Costales, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for education and training, assumed the post on Wednesday.
Costales replaced Maj. Gen. Remegio Valdez, who reached the mandatory age of retirement.
Costales headed the campaign against Abu Sayyaf bandits and other militants in Sulu as commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade. The brigade was deployed to Palawan amid the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Paul Atal was named new head of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division based at Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.
Atal replaced Maj. Gen. Benito Lysander Suerte, who retired on Monday.