Rise of new PMA ruling class? Batch ’89 ‘mistahs’ assume key military positions
PRESIDENT Duterte has designated five senior military officers to key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) just four months ahead of the national and local elections.
Most of the officers are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class (PMA) of 1989, whose appointments were defended by the military leadership amid criticisms from certain sectors, saying it was the natural outcome of the retirement of other officers.
Major Gens. William Gonzales and Ernesto Torres Jr. have been designated as the Inspector General (IG) of the AFP while Torres was named as the new commander of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).
Both members of PMA Class 1989, Gonzales was the former commander of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division based in Sulu, while Torres was the former commander of the 10th Infantry Division (ID) based in President Duterte’s region.
Gonzales, whose designation as the IG became effective on January 17, will replace the Acting IG, Brig. Gen Joseph Ferrous Cuison, according to military spokesman Col. Ramon Zagala.
Cuison assumed the position in acting capacity following the retirement Lt. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal on December 8, 2021, Zagala added.
Torres was designated by Duterte as commander of the Nolcom effective January 7 and would replace the acting commander, Major General Andrew Costelo who is also the current commander of the 7th ID.
Costelo assumed the leadership of the Nolcom following the retirement of Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos on December 1 last year.
Duterte also named Major Gen. Nestor Herico as the incoming commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Rear Admiral Alberto Carlos as the incoming commander of the Western Command and Rear Admiral Rommel Anthony SD Reyes as the deputy chief of staff of the AFP.
Herico, member of PMA Class of 1988 and the vice commander of the Navy, will assume as the chief of the Marines on February 21, 2022 upon the retirement of Major Gen. Ariel Caculitan.
Carlos, a graduate of the US Naval Academy Class of 1989 and the commander of the Philippine Fleet, will replace Vice Admiral Ramil Roberto Enriquez upon his retirement on January 24.
Reyes, on the other hand, will assume as the deputy chief of staff of the AFP upon the retirement of Vice Admiral Erick Kagaoan on February 25. Reyes, also a member of PMA Class of 1989, is the current IG of the Navy.
“These appointments speak of the integrity of the selection system of the AFP, given the outstanding performance and extensive experience of these officers that made them earn the trust of the AFP Board of Generals and the approval of the President to perform the duties and responsibilities entailed in the new positions given them,” Zagala said.
Some officers however raised questions on the appointments. For one, Kagaoan still has more than a month in service, and yet his successor has already been named, which they said is “unusual” in the military.
“There are no more deliberations. The Board of Generals [BOG] has bogged down. Turo na lang dito, turo na lang diyan, and it was tolerated by the Secretary of [National] Defense,” one officer said.