AFP chief, PMA superintendent get CA nod

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments approved Wednesday the ad interim appointment of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Noel Clement and Philippine Military Academy (PMA) superintendent Vice Adm. Allan Ferdinand Cusi. 

Clement, who formerly headed the Cebu-based Central Command, assumed as AFP chief in late September. He is set to retire in January 2020. 

Asked during the hearing about the possible martial law extension in Mindanao, Clement said he did not see it necessary to be extended in the entire region but only in selected areas. 

“The current security situation has improved a lot,” he said. 

Martial law in Mindanao will expire on December 31, 2019, after being extended by Congress three times since 2017. 

It will decide again before the end of the year whether or not to extend martial law in the region.

On Monday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was not also keen on extending martial law in Mindanao.

‘No excuses’

Cusi, meanwhile, took over PMA in early October to replace Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, who had resigned from his post following the hazing death of a Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio. He is scheduled to retire in November 2020.

Another PMA cadet died last week due to drowning. Cusi said they will conduct an impartial investigation on the incident but they have already counted out the possibility of foul play on the death of Cadet 4th Class Mario Telan Jr.

“I offer no excuses,” he said.

Edited by KGA