New appointments in AFP bared

MANILA, Philippines—The Northern Luzon Command and the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will have their new chiefs, a military spokesman said Friday.

Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said Lieutenant General Anthony Alcantara will assume the post of Nolcom commander, while Major General Noel Coballes was named as Wesmincom chief.

Alcantara, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1979,  is currently the Deputy Chief of Staff. He will replace General Officer-in-Charge Major General Ricardo Banayat. Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa vacated the Nolcom post in December last year.

Meanwhile, Coballes, a member of PMA Class of 1980, is currently the commander of the First Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. He will replace on Saturday Lieutenant General  Raymundo Ferrer.

Also on Saturday, Civil Relations Service Major General Eduardo del Rosario will assume post as commander of the Second Infantry Division. Former commander of 2ID Major General Romulo Bambao was recently appointed as commander of the Philippine Army’s elite Special Operations Command.

Burgos said more movements are expected in the military as the Third Infantry Division vacated by now Army chief Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista who assumed post in November needs to be filled, as well as the First Infantry Division to be vacated by Coballes, TDCS post to be vacated by Alcantara and the CRS post to be vacated by del Rosario.

“The AFP upholds its professionalism which has brought us into a more effective competent military organization. We are likewise confident that Lieutenant General Alantara and Major General Coballes are more than able to take charge of their new tasks and responsibilities as they embark on a more sensitive position in the organization,” Dellosa said.