CA panel endorses confirmation of AFP chief

President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero (right)

The ad interim appointment of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero has been recommended for confirmation by a panel of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) despite his impending retirement less than two weeks from now.

No member of the CA’s committee on national defense objected when Senator Panfilo Lacson moved for Guerrero’s confirmation on Wednesday.

Senator Gringo Honasan seconded Lacson’s motion.

The panel’s decision would be transmitted to the CA plenary for either confirmation or adoption.

Guerrero will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on December 17, 2017.

Aside from the chief of staff, the panel also recommended for confirmation of the ad interim appointments of 40 other military officers.      /kga