Aquino leads Army change of command ceremony

President Aquino. AFP FILE PHOTO

Manila, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III bid farewell to retiring Lieutenant General Noel Coballes and ushered in the new Philippine Army commanding general during Friday’s change of command ceremony at Fort Bonifacio.

Coballes was replaced by Major Gen. Hernando Delfin Carmelo Iriberri, former commander of the 7th Infantry Division.

Around 1,000 military officials and personnel, as well as civilian employees, witnessed the handover ceremony.

Coballes, a Mindanao veteran, relinquished his position to Iriberri, who is also the former spokesperson of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Coballes retires this February after more than a year as commanding general of the 80,000-strong Philippine Army.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Mapitagan” Class of 1980, Coballes served in Mindanao first as platoon leader of the 26th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division and later with the First Scout Ranger Regiment. He received the Distinguished Conduct Star, the second highest combat medal for bravery.