MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the ad-interim appointments of Brigadier General Ramon Zagala and 48 other Armed Forces officials of the Philippines (AFP).
Zagala and 48 other AFP general and flag officers secured the CA plenary’s confirmations following the recommendation of their appointments by the body’s committee on national defense.
At the committee level, Senator Imee Marcos questioned the increase of his net worth, which Zagala attributed to the sold properties of his parents.
“Your net worth rose by 26,655,799 from December 2019 to December 2022 or a net increase of 16 million plus plus. However, your cumulative compensation income for the same period is only a total of four million resulting in an unaccounted increase of 12 plus million. Can you explain on the record so we are clarified? Are there other sources of income aside from your job as the Presidential Security Group commander?” Senator Marcos asked.
“Ma’am, during that time, some properties of my parents were sold. In fact, in 2017, we had a house in Tagaytay [that] was sold because I could no longer maintain it. It was given to me by my father, so I was able to put it into, I declared it, ma’am. If I remember, it’s almost seven million.
“And then last year, ma’am, our family decided to sell another house of our parents in Baguio. I believe I was able to get about five million, ma’am, I have to look at my records, ma’am. These are the properties of my mother and father that were sold and divided amongst us siblings,” Zagala, who was also the former AFP spokesperson, explained.
Marcos, in response, said: “That is the answer we exactly needed.”
Meanwhile, the promotion of the 48 other military officials were also confirmed by the CA:
- Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr. (Philippine Navy)
- Major General Fabian Pedregosa (Philippine Air Force)
- Major General Proceso Rebancos (Philippine Army)
- Major General Steve Crespillo (Philippine Army)
- Major General Elpidio Talja (Philippine Air Force)
- Major General Rogelio Ulanday (Philippine Army)
- Major General Marion Sison (Philippine Army)
- Major General Luis Rex Bergante (Philippine Army)
- Major General Rommel Tello (Philippine Army)
- Brigadier General Lenart Lelina (Philippine Army)
- Commodore Oscar Canlas Jr. (Philippine Navy)
- Brigadier General Eric Macaambac (Philippine Navy)
- Brigadier General Rey Bes (Philippine Air Force)
- Brigadier General Antonio Francisco Jr. (Philippine Air Force)
- Commodore Rommel Labrador (Philippine Navy)
- Brigadier General Alejandro Papa (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Clarence Garrido (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Leother Leviste (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Martin Daiz Jr. (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Jimmy Jimenez (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Joseph Manangan (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Theresa Nicdao (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Benjamin Aguirre Tapnio (Philippine Army)
- Colonel Ronald Gaboy (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Alfredo Vicente II (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Sir Byron de Ocampo (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Arnel Patetico (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Roderick Reyes (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Marlon Parugrug (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Karol Joseph Prejillano (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Ferdinand Benitez (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Glen Mark Cabalquinto (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Erasto Olave (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Rifiel Santiago Sotto (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Jonathan de Leon (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Celito Balico (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Jose Romulo Dilag (Philippine Air Force)
- Colonel Joan Dalmacio (Philippine Navy)
- Captain Philip Edward Lamug (Philippine Navy)
- Captain Rogelio Unay Jr. (Philippine Navy)
- Captain Leah Estabillo (Philippine Navy)
- Captain Darwin Nieva (Philippine Navy)
- Captain Emerson Oxales (Philippine Navy)
- Colonel Rowan Rimas (Philippine Navy)
- Colonel Bill Pasia (Philippine Navy)
- Colonel Prisco Tabo Jr. (Philippine Navy)
- Captain Edwin Ello (Philippine Navy)
- Colonel Romel Dacanay (Philippine Navy)
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