Who will be the next AFP Chief?

Six of the ten names submitted to the President are members of Philippine Military Academy Class 1978, the same class that adopted former president and now convict, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Two of the names there, Lt. Generals Juancho Sabban and Oscar Rabena have sterling records of service in the military. 


Lieutenant Generals Detabali, Ralph Villanueva and Tabaquero are strong contenders too. I don't know about Mapagu who, early on in this administration, showed a streak of dissent.


Sources in the military however, said that no one among the 1978 PMA Class contenders are fit to become AFP Chief since the class dipped its fingers on the political pond early on. Most junior officers would want an apolitical Chief of Staff, someone who will attend to the numerous administrative problems being encountered by the organisation today. 


That said, Lt. General Dellosa seems to be the strongest contender due to his unblemished record as a professional soldier and his apolitical attitude towards his profession.


Choosing the right successfor for out-going AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban Jr is most critical, due to the sensitivities brought by the recent arrest and detention of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo. Talks of destabilization and a reported demoralization among the ranks are two key considerations which the President might want to consider before appointing the next AFP Chief of Staff. 


That was the error made by former president Joseph Estrada when he appointed former general Reyes as his Chief of Staff. Reyes was supposed to be an apolitical and professional soldier until he decided to take matters into his own hands, and thought of himself as another messiah. Reyes eventually stabbed Estrada in the back and supported his vice-president, and now convict Arroyo.


Aside from having a very nice professional record, Aquino should appoint someone with the right mindset particularly on organisational matters. The next AFP Chief of Staff should continue the anti-corruption and professionalism drive of Oban. 

Aquino to bypass PMA Class 1978

A highly reliable source said members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class 1978 will all be bypassed for promotion. And the next Chief of Staff, again quoting from a source, will come from current Chief of Staff's PMA class 1976.


It is now a toss-up between Calderon and Ferrer. Ferrer belongs to class 1976 while Calderon's class is 1977. Seems like Mapagu will just be allowed to retire. Rabena, Detabali and Sabban are members of the controversial PMA Class 1978 which supported former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 


Oh, by the way, even Roberto "Boysie" Rosales, the alleged general who coddles carjacking syndicates, is a member of PMA Class 1978. Same as with Boogie Mendoza, another controversial cop who already packaged himself as the country's counter-terror expert. 


The present pool of three-star generals are AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban, Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena, Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Superintendent Vice Admiral Leonardo Calderon and AFP Inspector General Lt. Gen. Mario Catacutan.

Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, Western Command chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva and Western Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer.


By the way, PMA Class 1978 will become the ascendant class by 2013, in time for the midterm elections.