‘Mistah’ of Aquino sisters, son of slain general among top contenders for AFP chief
The Armed Forces of the Philippines will have a new Chief of Staff later this week as General Jessie Dellosa, who led the military for 13 months, reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
The military announced last week that the incumbent AFP chief will step down from his post on January 17 or three days ahead of his birthday on January 20, to accommodate the availability of President and Commander-in-Chief Benigno Aquino III, the presiding officer and guest of honor at the turnover rites.
Reported shortlisted contenders to lead the 125,000-strong Armed Forces include Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz, Army chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Noel Coballes and Southern Luzon Command chief Maj. Gen. Alan Luga. All of the candidates have less than two years left in service.
The next AFP chief will be the fourth to be appointed by Aquino after Generals Ricardo David, Eduardo Oban and Dellosa.
Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz
Commanding General, Philippine Air Force
Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz
As top gun of the Air Force, de la Cruz ensured the recovery of as much air assets available, said PAF spokesman Colonel Miguel Ernesto Okol.
Only recently, the PAF commissioned the newly refurbished C-130 cargo plane, a Cessna weather aircraft and a UH1H helicopter.
“He has to date saw through the capability upgrade of the Air Force. Notable of which was the delivery of the six of the eight brand new combat utility helicopters. With his leadership, the impetus for modernization gained ground with five important projects to go underway like the LIFT/SAA radars, long range patrol aircraft, light lift transport and medium lift transport. He has also continued the core values program exacting a high level of discipline in the PAF across the board,” Okol said.
Dela Cruz is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1980, the same class which adopted the presidential sisters Viel, Pinky, Balsy and Kris as “mistahs” or classmates in 2010. He graduated from PAF Flying School in 1981.
Before he took over the Air Force leadership in January last year, dela Cruz served as the Chief of Air Staff. He also previously held other key positions including Wing Commander of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing, Deputy Wing Commander of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing, and Deputy Wing Commander of the 710th Special Operations Wing.
Should he be appointed as AFP chief, dela Cruz will serve for about 15 months, as he is scheduled to retire on April 30, 2014.
Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista
Commanding General, Philippine Army
The chief of the military’s most dominant force, Bautista is one of the originators of the AFP’s current campaign plan against insurgency, the Internal Peace Security Plan (IPSP) Oplan
Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista
Bayanihan.
The campaign plan that replaced Oplan Bantay Laya in 2010 veers away from traditional military approach and instead focuses on civil-military operations.
As Army chief, “he fully advocated the implementation of IPSP Bayanihan through the conduct of various programs and activities to sustain PA units momentum in ’Winning the Peace.’ Through the IPSP, Army units have successfully complemented the overall peace and development strategy of the government that resulted to a more encouraging peace and development situation especially in Mindanao,” said Army spokesman Major Harold Cabunoc.
Before he assumed post to take the lead of the 80,000-strong Army in November 2011, the Scout Ranger officer Bautista was the Commander of Army’s Third Infantry Division based in Western Visayas. Some of his positions in the past include Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in 2010, Commander of the 702nd Infantry Brigade, Commander of 24th Infantry Battalion and Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of National Defense.
A member of the PMA Class of 1981, Bautista was a freshman cadet when his father, then Army’s First Infantry Division chief Brigadier General Teodulfo Bautista, was killed by Moro rebels in Patikul, Sulu in 1977.
He is scheduled to retire on July 20, 2014.
Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes
AFP Vice Chief of Staff
Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes
Before he assumed post as Vice Chief in October last year, Coballes was a distinguished Scout Ranger officer in the field. His most recent assignments include heading the Western Mindanao Command in 2012, Army’s First Infantry Division in 2011 and the First Scout Ranger Regiment from April 2008 to January 2011.
He is also a member of PMA Class of 1980.
As Vice Chief, he also holds the Office of Ethical Standard and Public Accountability, the Disaster Response Task Force and AFP Wide Service Support Unit in a concurrent capacity. He also sits as Chairman of the AFP Housing Board, the AFP Medal for Valor Board, AFP Gender and Development Focal Point Committee and the AFP Legislative Affairs Board.
He will reach the retirement age of 56 on February 7, 2014.
Maj. Gen. Alan Luga
Commander, Southern Luzon Command
The only two-star general among the three-star contenders, Luga took over the Southern Luzon Command based in Lucena City, Quezon last September.
Maj. Gen. Alan Luga
Also a member of PMA Class of 1981, he was the Commander of the 7th Infantry Division before he was Solcom chief. He also served as a Chairman of the government’s Ad Hoc Joint Action Group.
Luga was the commander of 802 Brigade when its areas Bohol and Cebu were freed from insurgency.
He is the son of retired general Emilio Luga Jr., also a former chief of the Army’s First Infantry Division.
His compulsory retirement date is on May 12, 2014.
Dela Cruz vs. Bautista?
Although Malacañang has yet to name the next AFP chief anytime this week, the contenders have reportedly finished their interviews with Aquino.
But word circulating at the General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo said that the choices for AFP chief have already been cut down between dela Cruz and Bautista, who both allegedly have their respective influential backers close to the President.
Military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., however, denied that there is jockeying for the top military post.
“Everything goes through the process of the promotion system…Whoever will be selected is qualified for the post,” he said.
Asked if there was any possibility that Aquino will choose the next AFP chief outside of the four contenders, Burgos only said it was “still up to the President.”
