7 generals, 21 others affected in AFP revamp

Malacañang has approved a massive revamp in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) involving five two-star generals, two one-star generals and 21 senior field commanders, officials said yesterday.

Rear Adm. Mateo Mayuga, AFP’s vice chief for personnel, said President Arroyo approved the changes in the AFP command structure last Jan. 14.

He explained that these changes are not covered by the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the reassignment and transfer of government employees during the campaign period before an election. The start of the campaign period for the May elections is Feb. 10.

AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, for his part, dismissed insinuations that the reassignments are part of a design to use the military to ensure Mrs. Arroyo’s victory in the upcoming elections.

Included in the reshuffle is a controversial former Army colonel, now a one-star general, who was under investigation for a series of disappearances and summary executions of peasant leaders in Mindoro last year.

Army Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan, then commander of the 204th Brigade, was placed on floating status following accusations by human rights groups that he was behind these incidents. He repeatedly denied the charges.

Palparan was designated to replace Brig. Gen. Pedro Ramboanga as chief of the Philippine contingent in Iraq.

Ramboanga was named AFP deputy chief of staff for intelligence to replace Maj. Gen. Pedro Cabuay, who will take over as commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division based at Tanay, Rizal. Cabuay is a member of the direct commission class of 1973.

Cabuay replaced Maj. Gen. Gabriel Ledesma, who now commands the 3rd Infantry Division based in Jamindan, Capiz in place of Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Alcasid, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of ’71.

Alcasid has taken over Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin’s former post as commander of the 5th Infantry Division based at Camp Melchor Upi in Gamu, Isabela.

Bagasin, a member of PMA Class of ’73, replaced Maj. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing as the new 4th Infantry Division commander.

Balaoing, who belongs to PMA Class of ’72, was designated as 7th Infantry Division commander based at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija. He replaced Maj. Gen. Alberto Braganza, commander of the newly formed anti-coup National Capital Region Command.

Commodore Abraham Abesamis, who used to be Mrs. Arroyo’s senior military aide, was designated AFP deputy chief of staff for electronics, communication and information systems to replace Maj. Gen. Diosdado Tabamo, who retired recently.

Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s senior military aide, Navy Capt. Leonardo Calderon, was taken from his post to replace Abesamis.