AFP board starts scouting for Año replacement

When he retires next month to join the Cabinet of President Duterte, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año would be replaced by one coming from a pool of three-star-rank contenders.

AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said the Board of Generals will deliberate on the qualifications of the key candidates to take over as next AFP chief once Año assumes the post as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

There were reports that Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1984, is among the major contenders.

Guerrero is retiring in December. He was previously reported to have been eyed by Duterte as his first AFP chief upon assuming the presidency last year.

“While it is the AFP’s loss, it is the gain of the DILG. But we are also saying that your Armed Forces will not run out of very competent, professional commanders who are all highly qualified to lead the military. Soon, we will be announcing formally who will be the replacement of General Año,” Arevalo said.

Año will be bowing out next month ahead of his mandatory retirement on Oct. 26.

Insofar as the contenders for the top AFP post are concerned, Arevalo said all threestar generals are strong – from the AFP command staff down to service commanders and area commanders.

On Guerrero’s supposed leading the race, Arevalo replied he is among those being considered. However, everything remains fluid until the official announcement.

“He is among the contenders. He has all that it takes to be next AFP chief of staff, but until there is a formal announcement as to who will be the next chief of staff, we cannot name any at this time,” Arevalo said.

He said the BOG will be coming up with the names of strong contenders and submit the shortlist to the Department of National Defense (DND) for an official endorsement. Duterte will pick from among these candidates Año’s replacement.

“In the AFP we have the saying that you don’t assume until you have assumed,” Arevalo said, citing previous designations that were recalled at the very last minute.