Arroyo names new military second-in-command

President Arroyo named yesterday Rear Adm. Ariston de los Reyes the new Armed Forces vice chief in place of Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, who has retired.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the appointment of Delos Reyes was based on the recommendation of the Board of Generals.

Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo transmitted the appointment papers of De los Reyes to Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya through Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

Bunye said the recommendation was sent to Mrs. Arroyo by Ermita last Thursday.

De los Reyes would automatically be promoted to vice admiral, he added.

De los Reyes is the second military officer to be promoted to three-star rank this week.

Last week, Mrs. Arroyo promoted Maj. Gen. Jose Reyes, the new Air Force commander.

Talk circulating around Armed Forces headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo said that Philippine Military Academy (PMA) superintendent Maj. Gen. Edilberto Adan is among those being considered to replace De los Reyes.

The latest promotions in the Armed Forces would immediately be transmitted to the Commission on Appointments (CA) when the 13th Congress opens session on July 26, Romulo said yesterday.

De los Reyes graduated No. 2 from the PMA in 1971.

He was the top mathematician in a class that included Sen. Panfilo Lacson and former senator Gregorio Honasan.

De los Reyes occupied various positions in the Navy, including deputy chief of staff for plans and programs (J5) and chief of naval staff.

A native of Bulacan, De los Reyes graduated valedictorian at the Caingin Elementary School in San Rafael town and completed his secondary studies as salutatorian at the Torres High School in Tondo, Manila.

After high school, De los Reyes took Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City before joining the PMA.

At the Navy, De los Reyes ranked No. 1 in the naval officers’ qualification course.

He also obtained a master’s degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines.

He is the recipient of 53 awards, including six distinguished service stars, five outstanding achievement medals, one Philippine Legion of Honor in the degree of an officer, 19 military merit medals, and nine military commendation medals.

De los Reyes also attended foreign naval training schools.

Being a math wizard, De los Reyes discovered a government overpayment on military radio that resulted in the reimbursement of more than P3 million.

De los Reyes authored two books on lessons learned from the AFP’s operations against New People’s Army rebels.

He also wrote "Typhoon Doctrine for Mariners," now widely used not only in the Navy, but also by civilian seafarers.

A seasoned naval officer, De los Reyes commanded several naval ships and served as commander of Naval Forces West based in Palawan.

Armed Forces officials — from colonel up — are subject to CA confirmation, along with Cabinet secretaries, foreign service officers and ambassadors, and commissioners of constitutional bodies. — Marichu Villanueva, Jaime Laude