MANILA, Philippines (PNA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III is set to announce the replacement of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Ricardo David this coming Sunday, March 6, at the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy class 2011 in Baguio City. Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda disclosed this but he refused to give clues on who will be the next AFP Chief of Staff.
“He (Aquino) will be announcing the new chief of staff on Sunday in his address to Philippine Military Academy graduates," Lacierda said during an ambush interview on Thursday.
David, a member of PMA class of 1977, is scheduled to retire on March 8 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
The President has made his choice and it’s just a matter of announcing on Sunday who the chief of staff will be, Lacierda told reporters.
Among the candidates for the AFP chief of staff portfolio are AFP deputy chief of staff for operations Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and 2nd Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jessie Dellosa, AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu (PMA 1978), AFP deputy chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban (PMA 1979), Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz (PMA 1979), Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena (PMA 1978), Western Command chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban (PMA 1978), and Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer (PMA 1977).
