7 AFP senior officers promoted

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has approved the promotion of seven senior military officers composed of five one-star generals and two major generals.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Commodore Miguel Rodriguez said the new two-star generals are National Capital Region Command chief Maj. Gen. Tristan Kison and Army Inspector-General Maj. Gen. Pompeo Limbo.

Kison is a former AFP spokesman and a graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class 1979. He also served as commander of the Army’s headquarters and Headquarters Support Group, the 202nd Brigade and the 2nd Infantry Division.

Limbo has handled key posts including 10th Infantry Battalion commander and Assistant Division Commander of the 5th Infantry Division.

Among the five new generals is Army Brig. Gen. Jesus Lomeda, the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics, and Information System. A member of PMA class 1980, Lomeda drew controversy last year after complaining about the alleged favoritism in the AFP’s promotion system.

Also promoted to one-star general were Army Brig. Gen. Mario Mendoza, Air Force Brig. Gen. Alexander Bote, Air Force Brig. Gen. Rene Pilapil, and Navy Commodore Antonio Mendoza.

Mendoza is the deputy commander of the 5th Infantry Division while Bote is the deputy commander of the National Development Support Command.

Pilapil is the commander of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing in Villamor Airbase while Navy’s Mendoza is a regular member of the General Headquarters Bids and Awards Committee.