Iriberri finally gets 4th star as AFP chief

Almost two weeks after assuming the post of Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri has finally gotten his fourth star.

Iriberri will formally receive his fourth star on Friday during the donning of ranks ceremony, to be led by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, when rank insignias are given to newly promoted military and police officers which they wear on their shoulders and sleeves.

A member of Philippine Military Academy “Sandigan” Class of 1982, Iriberri succeeded Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., who retired earlier this month.

“Promotions are always an added honor but also an added responsibility,” said Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato, the chief of the AFP public affairs office.

The promotion of Iriberri to the second-highest rank of four-star general came two weeks after he assumed the post of AFP chief.

The highest rank given in the Philippine military is that of “five-star general.” The President and commander in chief receives an honorary rank of five-star general making him the first rank holder in the military.

The only career military officer to reach the rank of five-star general is the former President Fidel Ramos, a graduate of the US military academy at West Point. Ramos headed at different times the national police force when it was still the Philippine Constabulary and the Armed Forces.

Detoyato explained that Iriberri could not be given his fourth star until two weeks after he assumed the AFP post because Catapang technically retired only on July 11 when he turned 56, which meant that the rank of four-star general was not vacant when Iriberri assumed office.

The order promoting Iriberri was signed by President Aquino on Thursday and took effect immediately.

“It’s the president who approves the promotion, to be confirmed by the Commission on Appoinments,” Detoyato said, adding that the president is the one who approves all promotions in the military from the rank of colonel and up.

Detoyato said he is confident that Iriberri will breeze through the Commission on Appointments because he does not have any disqualifications.

As for the pending case against Iriberri at the Office of the Ombudsman, Detoyato said Iriberri will answer the allegations in the right forum.

“That can be properly answered,” he said.

“He deserves the confirmation because those are just allegations,” Detoyato said.

He said Iriberri has yet to receive a subpoena from the Ombudsman directing him to explain his alleged failure to issue documents for three procurement projects worth P 97.7 million.