AFP promotes 23 officers

AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie D Dellosa dons additional stars to five newly promoted senior officers based at Camp Aguinaldo, including: MGen Virgilio O Domingo, Commandant of Command and General Staff College; RAdm Zyril D Carlos, Chief of the AFP Bids and Awards Committee; BGen Rolando V Picar, Chief of the AFP Finance Center; BGen John S Bonafos, General Headquarters Camp Commander; and BGen Eduardo M Año, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence. Photo by AFP Public Affairs

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday announced its latest batch of 23 newly promoted senior officers, as approved by the President and Commander-in-Chief Benigno Aquino III.

Commander of Central Command Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano was promoted to Vice Admiral effective October 5. He was previously the Commander of the Philippine Fleet before he was moved to Centcom, which holds jurisdiction over Visayas region.

Also, several one star generals were promoted from Brigadier General to Major General, including Major General Virgilio O Domingo, the Commandant of the Command and General Staff Course;  Philippine Air Force Inspector General Major General Romeo V Poquiz. Both Major General Domingo and Major General Poquiz’s promotion took effect last September 26.

Promoted from the rank of Commodore was Rear Admiral Zyril D Carlos, Chief, AFP Bids and Awards Committee following his stint as former head of Naval Forces Central.

Also promoted as two-star general were Major Generals Ariel B Bernardo, Commander of the 10th Infantry Division, Major Generals Essel D Soriano, Philippine Army Vice Commander; Samuel L Narbuada, Army Inspector General and Nicanor E Dolojan, Commander of the Light Armor Division.

The new Brigadier Generals were BGen Alexander F Balutan, Commander of the 1st Marine Brigade and a recipient of The Outstanding Philippine Soldier, effective September 26.

Other senior officers given their first star effective October 5 were BGen Rolando M Aquino, Commander of the 14th Maintenance Wing; BGen Eusaquito P Manalo, Commander of 570th Composite Tactical Wing; BGen Virgilio M Espineli, Assistant Division Commander of the 8th Infantry Division; BGen Rolando V Picar, Chief of the AFP Finance Center; BGen Gamaliel S Cruz, Chief of the PA Bids and Awards Committee; BGen Yerson E Depayso, Assistant Division Commander of the 10th Infantry Division; BGen Cesar Dionisio T Sedillo,  Commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade; and BGen Roberto D Domines Jr, Commander of 101st Infantry Brigade.

They are joined in the new list of Brigadier Generals by BGen John S Bonafos, Camp Commander of the General Headquarters; BGen Eduardo M Año, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence; BGen Lysander A Suerte, Commander of 1003rd Infantry Brigade; BGen Silvino A Alcabasa, Commander of the 51st Engineering Brigade; BGen Carlos C Solomon, Commander of 53rd Engineering Brigade; and BGen Daniel A Lucero, Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade.

“Their promotion is a fitting recognition of their valuable service to the military organization and the Filipino people. The stars on their shoulders were entrusted with high expectations and responsibilities that come as they embrace bigger roles in the AFP. I hope that they will continue with the excellent and dedicated work they rendered in the military and to the Filipino people,” AFP chief General Jessie Dellosa said.