Aquino promotes mom’s former security aide, 2 others

MANILA, Philippines — A former security aide of the late President Corazon Aquino and the current commander of the Presidential Security Group, along with two other senior officers, was promoted to Brigadier General, as approved by President Benigno Aquino III, the Armed Forces of the Philippines announced Saturday.

Brigadier General Mateo Dizon, who served President Aquino’s mother for six years, has been with the Presidential Security Group for almost two years now. He received his first star effective April 17.

He was previously the Commander of the AFP’s anti-terror group, Joint Special Operations Group based in Camp Aguinaldo.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Danilo M Servando, the current Deputy Commander of the Army Support Command, was also promoted effective last April 19.

Servando, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of  1981, was also a former AFP spokesman and Director of the Public Affairs Office of the Department of National Defense.

Captain Natalio Abinuman, will be promoted to the rank of Commodore effective on April 29.

He is the current Commander of the Patrol Force of the Philippine Fleet based in Sangley Point, Cavite City and is a member of the PMA Sandigan Class of 1982.

AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie D Dellosa congratulated the newly promoted generals and challenged them “to be more devoted and committed to their tasks and responsibilities as leaders of the AFP.”

“The star on your shoulders comes with greater challenges and rising expectations in the performance of your duties and responsibilities in the military organization. This promotion will give you an opportunity to inspire more the Filipino people the fundamental standards of honor, nationalism, patriotism and selfless service to our country,” he said.