Iriberri on links to Gazmin: I’m proud to be identified with him

Video by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

Newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri on Friday blasted criticisms that he bagged the military leadership post because of his close links to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

“My record can speak for myself and I’m proud to be identified with the secretary because a lot of officers, even former chiefs of staff, also have served under him,” he told reporters after the AFP change of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo.

“I’m proud to be identified with him because I learned a lot from him,” he said.

The new AFP chief does not have close ties with Aquino but he is quite known for his close ties with Gazmin, who is said to have a big influence on Aquino’s military appointments.

Iriberri was Gazmin’s spokesperson when the latter was Army chief in 2000. He was also the Gazmin’s senior military assistant from July 2010 to January 2013.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983, Iriberri was the first in his batch to become a division commander. He was named the Army’s 7th Infantry Division in July 2013 after being a brigade commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade in Abra from January to July in 2013.

He would also be the first to get a three-star rank in his batch. When he was named Army chief last year, Iriberri beat officers more senior than him—AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang of PMA Class 1981 and then Special Operations command chief Lt. Gen. John Bonafos of PMA Class of 1982.

With his appointment as AFP chief, Iriberri also beat other officers more senior than him, and even those closer to Aquino.

Other contenders for the post were Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Delgado, Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, Western Command chief Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez and Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Nicanor Vivar.

Delgado and Visaya have close ties with Aquino. The former was a member of the Presidential Security Group during the time of President Corazon Aquino and when her son became president.

Visaya, meanwhile, was the commander of Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion based in Tarlac and Pampanga during the Hacienda Luisita massacre in 2004.

“I am always reminded of just doing your best na alam mo kung lahat pakikinggan mo ’yan baka hindi ka makagawa ng tama,” Iriberri said of the persistent criticisms.

Malacañang did not make a formal announcement on Iriberri’s appointment and it was only revealed to the media on the day of the AFP turnover.

Iriberri said he was told about the appointment last week but could not speak about it.

“I cannot speak for the Office of the President. Basta I was really informed late last week. I was not at liberty to inform the public,” he said.

New AFP chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO