General facing criminal raps to replace retiring Army division commander

FACING CHARGES. Then Colonel, now Brigadier General Aurelio Baladad (L), and Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Abaway (R) get a mouthful from former Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Leila de Lima after they failed to produce the 43 health workers detained on suspicion of being members of the NPA during a public hearing of the CHR. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Retiring Army division commander Major General Josue Gaverza will step down Wednesday and will be replaced in an acting capacity by his deputy who is facing criminal charges, the Philippine Army said.

Gaverza, commanding officer of the 9th Infantry Division, will be forced to retire under the attrition law that requires two and three star generals to be promoted within three years or will otherwise be asked to step down.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1978, Gaverza assumed the post on March 26, 2011.

Brigadier General Aurelio Baladad, Gaverza’s replacement, is facing torture charges filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ) by the 43 health workers, also known as the “Morong 43”, after their arrest in February 2010.

Also charged with Baladad were then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, retired Armed Forces chief Victor Ibrado, retired Army chief Delfin Bangit, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command chief Major General Jorge Segovia, Colonel Joel Reyes, Superintendents Marion Balonglong and Allan Nobleza, Maj. Manuel Tabion, Ltieutenant Jovilee Cabading, Vicente Lopez, and certain Calaoagan, Bulaklak, and Idloy.