Año exiting AFP on June 2 to start work as DILG chief

Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Año will retire on June 2 as he formally assumes his post as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

READ: AFP chief Año is next DILG chief

In his speech at the closing of the two-week Balikatan exercises, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced the date of the military leadership’s turnover of command.

“I would like to congratulate the leadership of the Armed Forces under Gen. Año for his able leadership,” he said.

Lorenzana said he tried to ask President Rodrigo Duterte to extend the stay of Año, who was originally retiring on October 26, but was rejected.

“I was trying to persuade the President to extend his services with the AFP, the last time was last night. I said, ‘Can we extend the stay of Gen. Año with the AFP?’ He said, ‘No. Just have the turnover by June 2. So that’s it. It’s final,” the defense secretary said.

READ: Why Duterte picked Año as DILG chief

Año would have served for only about six months as AFP chief. His likely successor based on talks among military circles is Lt. Gen. Leonardo Guerrero of the Davao-based Eastern Mindanao Command, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 in December. IDL/rga