Aquino promotes 17 AFP generals

Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Jessie D Dellosa pins the third star on the shoulder of Lt. Gen. Gregorio E. Macapagal, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFP, during the flag-raising ceremony Tuesday at the Canopy Area of the General Headquarters. His promotion comes after his designation as TDCS, the third highest post in the AFP. Armed Forces of the Philippines photo

MANILA, Philippines – The deputy chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines donned his third star, while 16 generals and senior officers were promoted as approved by their commander in chief, President Benigno Aquino III.

In a statement Tuesday, spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said Major General Gregorio Macapagal, the Deputy Chief of Staff, the third highest position in the military, earned his third star.

The deputy chief ensures that the Joint Staff is in efficient and effective order. Macapagal assumed the post last March 13, replacing Lieutenant General Anthony Alcantara who heads the Northern Luzon Command. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1980.

Brigadier General Marlou Salazar, chief of AFP Internal Audit, was promoted to the rank of Major General on July 7.

Likewise, Commodore Wenefredo B Banua, the current Chief of the Modernization Program Management Office of the AFP and concurrent Chairman of the AFP Force Structure Development Study Team, was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral last July 7.

Other new Major Generals are: Brigadier General Alan Luga, the Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, effective July 12;  Brig. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, Commander of the 1st Infantry Division and Philippine Air Force’s Chief of Staff and former 506th Air Base Wing Commander Brig. Gen.  Raul Dimatatac, effective last July 15; Brig. Gen. Gerardo T Layug, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division effective July 16.

Senior officers were also promoted to Brigadier General. They are: 506th Air Base Wing Commander BGen Rene Santos effective June 14, AFP Procurement Service Chief Brig. Gen. Alfredo  Andres, effective June 17; AFP Human Rights Office Chief BGen Domingo Tutaan, effective last July 6.

Meanwhile, now Brig. Gen.  Gerardo D Jamorabo, Chief of the AFP Bids and Awards Committee also received his first star last July 7. BGen Jonas  Sumagaysay, Assistant Division Commander of the 3rd Infantry Division earned first star last July 12.

Brig. Gen. Danilo Penafiel, Commander of the 355th Aviation Engineering Wing was promoted July 15. Joining him is Brig. Gen. Gregorio Pio  Catapang, Commander of the 703rd Infantry Brigade.

Brig. Gen. Juanario Caringal of the Philippine Marines’ Combat Service Support Brigade and BGen Romeo Gapuz, Commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade were also promoted.

AFP Chief General Jessie Dellosa called on the new generals to take their promotion as an opportunity to renew their commitment to the military. “The expectations that come with your promotion are so profound but I hope that this will embolden us further in the performance of our duties and responsibilities to the Filipino people,” he said.