AFP shakeup looms as generals retire

A MAJOR revamp in the military’s key positions is expected following the retirement of area commanders this month.

Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad will retire on November 22 and Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero will retire on November 24.

Guerrero is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981.

Baladad is a member of the PMA Class of 1982 and has been tagged in the Morong 43 case in Rizal in 2010.

Seen to replace Baladad is Maj. Gen. Leonardo Guerrero of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Western Visayas, while Guerrero will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Mayoralgo de la Cruz, chief of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Division in Tarlac.

Dela Cruz is a member of PMA Class of 1983 while Guerrero is from PMA Class of 1984.

The leadership of the Philippine Marines also needs to be filled after Maj. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo was recently named as the AFP vice chief of staff.

“There will be a movement because there will be vacancy of positions,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Noel Detoyato on Monday.

“The positions are very vital because these are for combat operations,” he said.

Candidates for the positions are selected by the AFP Board of Generals led by the AFP chief. Shortlisted candidates are forwarded to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and then will be sent to President Benigno Aquino III.