ISAFP chief opts to retire early

MANILA, Philippines - Maj. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), has availed himself of optional retirement before the expected revamp of military officials in the wake of the appointment of a new Armed Forces chief.

Prestoza submitted to the office of the AFP deputy chief for personnel (J-1) his papers for optional retirement last Thursday after getting the news from his wife that he would be replaced.

“My wife called to inform me that I would be replaced. I already saw my forthcoming relief, not through my wife but through the official channel,” Prestoza said.

Prestoza was supposed to hand over the ISAFP command to Brig. Gen. Romulo Bambao also on Thursday afternoon but the ceremony was deferred pending the official approval of President Aquino of an order issued by AFP chief Gen. Ricardo David for Bambao to assume command.

Prestoza said he opted to retire early to spare the ISAFP from being embroiled in another round of controversy over his replacement.

Bambao is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class 1979 while Prestoza is a member of PMA Class 1978.

The ISAFP chief directly reports to the Office of the President because the military intelligence unit is mainly involved in internal and external security threats to the country.

“The game of the generals is on. Let’s watch out what will happen next. We expect more heads to roll with the assumption of Gen. David as AFP chief,” said military observers at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

David confirmed during his first media briefing the other day that a reorganization would be carried out in the AFP’s commands due to several vacant positions.

Brig. Gen. Jolly Mabanta, David’s spokesman, confirmed that major changes would take place next week.

“There will be major changes but we could not just announce (the names and positions) for now pending approval of the President,” Mabanta said.

Sources that aside from Prestoza, other officials who would be relieved include Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, Deputy Chief for Intelligence (J2) Rear Admiral Victor Emmanuel Martir, and Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue, chief of the National Capital Region Command.

Prestoza, Mapagu, Martir and Angue are all members of PMA Class 1978.

Sources said Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, current commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, would replace Angue.

Special Operations Command chief Maj. Gen. Arturo Ortiz would replace Mapagu, while Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz, commander of the AFP-Civil Relations Service, would replace Martir. Mabanta would be appointed as new CRS chief, the sources added.