Aquino names Iriberri as new Army chief

President Benigno Aquino III  AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA– President Benigno Aquino III has reportedly chosen Major General Hernando Delfin Carmelo Iriberri to head the 80,000- strong Philippine Army, the Inquirer learned Thursday night.

Iriberri is currently the commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division.

He is a member of the Philippine Military Class (PMA) 1983.

The next Army chief also served as Brigade Commander of Army’s 503rd Brigade in Abra from January to July 2013. He also served as Senior Military Assistant to Gazmin from July 2010 to January 2013.

He also served as spokesman when Gazmin was Army chief.

A member of Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983, he beat other officers more senior than him. The other two senior officers in the shortlist were Lieutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. of the Northern Luzon Command, a member of PMA Class of 1981 and Major General John Bonafos of Central Command, a member or PMA Class of 1982.

As Army chief, Iriberri will take over the 80,000-strong Philippine Army.  He will hold a key position that is sometimes the jump off point on becoming the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He will retire on April 22, 2016.

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