BY VICTOR REYES
PRESIDENT Arroyo has appointed Lt. Gen.
Victor Ibrado, chief of the AFP Central Command, as the new
chief of the 75,000-strong Army, Defense Secretary Gilbert
Teodoro said yesterday.
Ibrado replaces Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano who
is assuming the post of AFP chief on Monday, vice retiring
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Ibrado's appointment and the retirement of
AFP vice Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero triggered movements in the
Armed Forces, affecting seven other senior generals.
Ibrado, 54, belongs to Class 1976 of the
Philippine Military Academy and has two more years in service.
Before heading the Central Command last
year, Ibrado served as commander of the Army's 3rd Infantry
Division, chief of the Army's Special Operations Command, Army
chief of staff, and commander of the Special Forces Regiment.
The two other contenders to the post of
Army chief were Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang (Class '76), chief of
the Northern Luzon Command, and Lt. Gen. Cardoso Luna (Class
'75), chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command.
Ibrado's post will go to Air Force Lt. Gen.
Pedro Ike Insierto (Class '74), the AFP's deputy chief of
staff. This is the first time in recent years that an Air
Force officer is heading the Central Command.
Maclang will be the new AFP deputy chief of
staff. His post will go to Maj. Gen. Isagani Cachuela (PMA
'76), commander of the Light Armor Division. There was still
no word on Cachuela's replacement.
Luna will succeed Romero as the AFP's No. 2
man.
Romero, a member of Class '74 like Esperon,
is due to retire yet on June 25 but he has taken a vacation
leave effective Thursday until his retirement.
Luna's Eastern Mindanao Command will go to
Lt. Gen. Armando Cunanan (PMA '75), commander of the Army's
8th Infantry Division. Authorities have yet to announce who
will replace Cunanan as 8th ID commander.
Ibrado said he will be continuing the
programs of his successors.
"There will be no changes unless there is a
need. My predecessors in the Army have done a good job," he
said.
Ibrado said there will be a "going back to
basics" particularly in military discipline.
Asked if this was related to the
involvement of some Army officers in adventurism, Ibrado said
"Maybe."
Among the Army officers linked to alleged attempts to
overthrow the government is former Scout Ranger chief Brig.
Gen. Danilo Lim, who reportedly planned to lead his men to a
march at the Edsa Shrine and withdraw support from President
Arroyo in February 2006.
