Ex-military spokesman, former Marine Corps chief take on new posts

MANILA, Philippines – A former military spokesman and a former chief of staff of the Philippine Marine Corps, along with several other officers were given new designations, an official said Wednesday.

Major General Jose Mabanta, incumbent deputy chief of staff for operations or J3, will replace Major General Irineo Espino as commander of the 7th infantry division of the Philippine Army, said Colonel Arnulfo Burgos, military spokesman.

Mabanta had also served as commander of the Civil Relations Service and as spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and was a member of class 1981 “Dimalupig” class.

Colonel Orlando de Leon, chief of the Marine Corps until July 2006, is the incoming commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade. De Leon opted to resign from his previous post instead of signing a relinquishment order following the February 2006 Marine Standoff in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, which he participated in.

Burgos said De Leon was given his new designation because he was cleared of the cases filed against him after the standoff. De Leon graduated from the PMA in 1982 class “Sandigan”.

Brigadier General Romeo Calizo, previously chief of the AFP command center, will assume the post to be vacated by Mabanta.

Calizo also previously served as assistant division commander of the 4th infantry division of the Philippine Army in Cagayan De Oro. He is a member of the PMA class 1979 “Matapat”.

Brigadier General Romeo Tanalgo will replace Calizo as chief of the AFP command center. He was previously the commander of the 2nd marine brigade of the Philippine Navy in Sulu.  He had also served as the chief of staff of the Marines from June 20, 2008 to February 1, 2009. Tanalgo is a member of the PMA “Matikas” class of 1983.

Colonel Reynaldo Mutiangpili has been designated as commander of the 52nd engineering brigade of the Philippine Army. He is a member of the PMA “Maharlika” class of 1984.

Colonel Demosthenes Santillan was also designated as commander of the 54th engineering brigade. He is from the PMA “Matikas” class of 1983.

The designations were approved by President Benigno Aquino III and were effective November 21, Monday, Burgos said.