AFP will be apolitical, acting chief vows

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) acting chief of staff Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

The new acting chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday rallied the 125,000-strong military to ensure credible elections on May 9 and remain apolitical, calling the elections “one of the country’s finest moments.”

“Our county is nearing one of its finest moments, the elections, in a few days from now… As oftenly said, the AFP will remain apolitical and will stretch its means to contribute to that end,” Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda said in his speech.

President Aquino formally named Miranda AFP acting chief on Friday morning at Camp Aguinaldo as Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri retired at 56, the mandatory retirement age in the military and police.

The Constitution prohibits the President from appointing an AFP chief of staff because of the election ban on appointments. This gives the next President a free hand in appointing a military chief.

Even so, Mr. Aquino expressed confidence that Miranda was capable of continuing Iriberri’s programs until June 30, when the President steps down from office.

“Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda will be the acting chief of staff. He is known to be analytical and innovative as a strategist and a soldier,” he said in a seven-minute-long speech, his shortest yet as Commander in Chief.

Miranda,  a member of  of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983 like Iriberri, will keep his current position as vice chief of staff, military officials said.

Miranda, 54, reminded the military officers and men to be guided by operational guidelines and tasks in securing next month’s elections.

“As I emphasized earlier, let us secure the conditions that would lead to the conduct of a free, orderly, peaceful and credible 2016 national and local elections,” he said.

Miranda, a Scout Ranger, was the commander of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) before President Aquino named him as vice chief of staff in March.

Mr. Aquino also praised Iriberri for his “professionalism, talent, and dedication” which he said are the “hallmarks of a true soldier.”

He recalled that during Iriberri’s term as brigade commander in Abra in 2013, there was no declaration of failure of elections in the province and no election-related violence.