The new Philippine military chief of staff, Gen. Generoso S. Senga, assumed office Monday, replacing outgoing military chief General Efren Abu who had kept the military in neutrality during the political crisis hitting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in July.

Senga, a former chief of the Philippine Army, was sworn in as the 34th chief of staff of the country's Armed Forces at turnover ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City in Metro Manila.

He was also commander of the Southern Command, which is in charge of the restive region of Mindanao.

Abu was supposed to retire from the military service last July 17, but his term was extended for one month by President Arroyo after coup rumors surfaced during the political crisis, triggered by opposition accusation of election fraud by Arroyo in last year's presidential election.

The military spokesman Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said Senga will continue Abu's advocacy to maintain the military's neutrality in the lingering political crisis.

"General Senga will follow the line of declaration of staying apolitical and neutral amidst the political crisis. He is pro- constitution," Pascual said.

Source: Xinhua