Ricardo Visaya formally takes over AFP

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya has formally assumed his post as the 48th chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He took over the 125,000-strong military at the change of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday afternoon.

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Visaya, a native of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, replaced acting AFP chief Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, who was named by former President Benigno Aquino III as temporary chief of staff after his predecessor, General Hernando Iriberri, retired in April amid a ban on appointments because of the election period.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, Visaya was previously the commander of the Southern Luzon Command based in Quezon.

Some of the courses he finished were the Scout Ranger Course, Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Executive Course on Security Studies in Hawaii and Masters in Project Management at the Australian Defense Force.

The positions he held included Commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro, Assistant Division Commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Cotabato, Brigade Commander of the 104th Brigade based in Sultan Kudarat, 901st Brigade based in Bicol.

Visaya will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on December 8 this year.

The turnover also coincided with a parade and review for new President and commander-in-chief Rodrigo Duterte.

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The new President, who presided the ceremony, made his first visit to the military’s headquarters as commander-in-chief.

Some of the guests were former President Fidel Ramos, Vice President Leni Robredo, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. IDL/rga