The Philippine government on Tuesday announced appointments to military top posts following an expected retirement of the chief commander of the Philippine armed forces, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.
Incumber army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano will replace 56-year-old Esperon on May 12 as the new chief of the Armed Forces ofthe Philippines (AFP), local media quoted Gilberto Teodoro Jr, the defense secretary, as saying.
Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado, chief of the Armed Forces Central Command (Centcom) operating in the Visayas, will take over Yano's post. Ibrado also served as chief of the Army Special Operations Command, which includes the Scout Rangers and Special Forces regiments and the US-trained Light Reaction Battalion, before he was promoted.
The military revamp also includes the posts of vice chief of staff, deputy chief of staff and commanders of the AFP's Central Command, Eastern Mindanao Command and Northern Luzon Command.
Esperon, handpicked by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as to serve as the military chief in July 2006, is reaching the retirement age of 56 this year.
The Constitution says that the tour of duty of the army chief shall not exceed three years. However, the Constitution also says that such tour of duty can be extended by the President in times of war or national emergency declared by Congress.
Esperon is known for his loyalty devoted to Arroyo, who has been relying on solid military support in times of political turbulence.
Arroyo will end her term as president in 2010. Talks have grown simmering that Esperon will replace Teodoro as the defense secretary while Teodoro is assigned to take the post of justice secretary.
Source:Xinhua
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