Race on for top military posts

MANILA, Philippines –  The race is on for top military posts when Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Ricardo David retires less than two months from now.

This early there are also reports of ongoing jockeying among senior officers within the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in the event PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena opts to retire or is promoted to AFP headquarters.

Among those being considered as David’s replacement are Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, AFP deputy chief of staff (TDCS) Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban and Northern Luzon Command Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan.

Also qualified to become the next AFP chief is Rabena whose mandatory retirement is on Aug. 24, 2012 yet and Navy chief Rear Admiral Alexander Pama.

“For now they’re the top contenders,” a top military official disclosed.

The source said that of the officers vying to be next AFP chief, Rabena and Mapagu are from Philippine Military Academy Class of 1978 while the rest belong to PMA Class of 1979.

David, a member of PMA Class 1977, is bowing out of the military service on March 8 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

On the other hand, by law of attrition, Rabena is expected to end his military career after completing his three-year tenure as PAF chief in January next year if he is not promoted to the next rank. 

Rabena whose compulsory retirement is on Aug. 24, 2012, could even be persuaded to take an optional retirement prior to ending his PAF term in January next year.

“That explains all the pre-positioning here at Air Force,” said one of the PAF sources.

They said “stronger” forces within the defense and military establishments could “convince” Rabena to take optional retirement and give equally qualified senior PAF officers a chance to lead the Air Force.

“Rabena is serving the full three years as PAF commanding general until 2012. But he will be retiring seven months earlier than his actual retirement age if he is not moved to a higher position before the three years are over,” one of the PAF sources said.

If Rabena is not moved to a higher position upon David’s retirement, possibilities are high that he would be optionally retired to clear the path of other senior air force officers who are also looking forward to be assigned to higher position.

PAF spokesman Col. Ernesto Okol, however, maintained Rabena has yet to complete his three-year term as PAF chief, and this term is still to end January of next year.

“General Rabena got appointed as CG PAF January of 2009 and the tenure of a lieutenant general is up to three years. So it’s up to January of 2012,” Okol stressed.

But the source said movement in the AFP leadership when David retires would directly affect the three major services, especially the Air Force.

Under the best scenario, the source said, Rabena would be appointed as David’s replacement or AFP vice chief in the worst-case scenario if he (Rabena) intends to complete his military tour of duty until his Aug. 24, 2012 birthday.

On the other hand, if Ortiz were picked to replace David, among the contenders who would replace him would be 4th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, or his mistah Maj. Gen. Jessie Dellosa.

Felix, whose unit is based in Cagayan de Oro City, also belongs to PMA Class of 1979, while Dellosa is the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal.