34 generals, flag officers promoted this year

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 34 military generals and flag officers have been promoted so far this year, data from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed.

Of the 34 who secured promotions, only eight were members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class 1978 of which President Arroyo is an honorary member.

“If you look at the list of promoted officers, you can see that the promotions were not concentrated on one class. There is equal opportunity in terms of giving promotions,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said in a phone interview yesterday.

Burgos stressed that the giving of promotions is based on indicators such as performance, competence, and credentials and not on one’s class or connections.

Class ’78 members who secured promotions were AFP chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit, Army Commanding-General Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, chief of Air Staff Maj. Gen. Jesus Fajardo, 4th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Mario Chan, 5th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Romel Gomez, 7th Infantry Division assistant commander Brig. Gen. Restituto Aguilar and Defense department - Office of the Defense Reform chief Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Ordonez.

Three of the promoted officers belong to class ’77 — Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David Jr., AFP Provost Marshal General Brig. Gen. Roger Diaz and AFP Command and General Staff College head Rear Admiral Raul Espera Jr.

Nine members of PMA class ’79 were given higher ranks namely AFP Resource Management Office chief Maj. Gen. Pedro Soria II, Air Education and Training Command chief Maj. Gen. Renato Sanchez, acting AFP deputy chief of staff for civil military operations Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, acting AFP deputy chief of staff for plans Maj. Gen. Jose Villarete, Army Support Command deputy chief Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Palmea; 1st Infantry Division deputy commander Brig. Gen. Alexander Dicang, AFP Modernization Program Management Office Commodore Roland Recomono, Joint Task Force Malampaya head Commodore Esteban Castro, and Naval Internal Auditor Commodore Raul Leyritana.

Six of the newly promoted officers came from PMA class ’80. They were Army chief of staff Maj. Gen. William Campos, AFP Office of the Legislative Affairs chief Brig. Gen. Cesar Yano, AFP Management Fiscal Office chief Honorato de los Reyes, Air Defense Wing chief Brig. Gen. Nestor Deona, Naval Forces Central chief Commodore Armando Guzman, and Naval Service Force chief Commodore Edgardo Tamayo.

Three were members of PMA class ’81, namely Navy Attack Craft Force chief Commodore Philip Cacayan, PMA assistant superintendent Brig. Gen. Virgilo Domingo and AFP Inspector General Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.

Five of the promoted officers were not PMA alumni. They were National Capital Region Command deputy chief Brig. Gen. Lorenzo Sumicad, 570th Composite Tactical Wing commander Brig. Gen. Roy Devaraturda, AFP Reserve Command chief Brig. Gen. Juanito Dalmas, Naval Reserve Command chief Brig. Gen. Bernardo Ferrer, and 3rd Marine Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Mario Montejo.

President Arroyo’s appointment of her mistahs in class ’78 to key military posts triggered speculations that she will use the military to prolong her stay in power. Previous reports also claimed that the appointments of Bangit as AFP chief and Mapagu as Army commanding-general have caused demoralization and unrest among more senior classes.

Military officials have repeatedly belied these accusations and insisted that the AFP remains solid and professional.