Gazmin defends appointment of Nolcom chief

TARLAC CITY—Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Friday justified the appointment of Major General Jessie Dellosa as head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), saying he was promoted to the post because of his “impeccable” track record.

Gazmin said that Dellosa, who served as a tactical commander of the Presidential Security Group’s special reaction unit under the late President Corazon Aquino, was not promoted because of President Aquino’s endorsement.

Dellosa formally assumed Friday the highest military post in Northern Luzon.

“Surely he does not need a favorable endorsement that would justify his occupancy of his new designation. General Dellosa comes to you with his impeccable service credentials,” Gazmin said during the turnover ceremonies at the Nolcom headquarters in Camp Servillano Aquino.

Gazmin, who headed the PSG under former President Corazon Aquino, described Dellosa as a “highly skilled and seasoned combat and staff officer.”

Contrary to what was earlier reported, Dellosa said he never served as a close-in security of then presidential son Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who is now his commander-in-chief.

He said he eventually served as the late President Corazon Aquino’s aide de camp.

Dellosa dispelled the perception that he enjoys the advantage of being personally close to the President.

“We should do away with such thinking. Maybe you can check my record, my credentials. That’s it, just check my record and credentials,” he said.

Class of ’79

In fact Dellosa said he could barely remember the President back then. Dellosa was assigned to the PSG from 1988 to 1992.

“For me whatever I can do to help the President I will do,” Dellosa said.

Dellosa replaced Lieutenant General Gaudencio Pangilinan Jr., his classmate in the Philippine Military Academy Class 1979, who will retire on Monday when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

The military top brass now mostly belongs to members of the PMA Class 1979 led by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. and Army chief Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz who were at the turnover ceremonies.

Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Alexander Pama also belongs to PMA Class 1979. But Air Force chief Lieutenant General Oscar Rabena belongs to PMA Class 1978.

Prior to his appointment as Nolcom chief, Dellosa was commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal. He was also deputy commander of the AFP Central Command and PMA commandant.

He also served as commander of the 302nd Brigade; chief of staff of the 4th ID; officer in charge of the AFP Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability, and assistant chief of staff for operations of the 1st ID.