AFP waits for Iriberri replacement

Malacañang has yet to name a replacement for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri, who bows out of the service on Friday.

Over the last two days, while waiting for the Palace announcement on who would be the next commander of the 130,000- strong military, soldiers have been conducting parade rehearsals for Iriberri’s retirement ceremonies.

“The chief of staff will definitely retire on the day of his retirement, but as to who will replace him we have no information on that yet,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.

Iriberri, of Philippine Military Academy Class 1983, will be reaching the military’s mandatory retirement age of 56 on Friday, or 17 days prior to the holding of the May 9 national and local elections.

AFP sources claimed that if the President does not designate Iriberri’s replacement, Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, the AFP vice chief, would assume command of the AFP as officer-in-charge.

They also bared this was the reason why Miranda was assigned to the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Miranda, former commander of the AFP’s Tarlac-based Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), has been designated as AFP vice chief of staff, a position previously held by Marine Lt. Gen. Romeo Tanalgo.

Tanalgo was appointed Nolcom commander, replacing Miranda.

Miranda and Tanalgo are both Iriberri’s classmates at the PMA.