The 54-year-old Esperon is succeeding Armed Forces chief Gen. Genereso Senga, who will retire on July 21 upon reaching the mandatory age of 56.
If there is a "soldiers’ general" in the person of former Armed Forces chief Gen. Roy Cimatu, Esperon is known as the "soldiers’ father," according to junior officers who have served under his command.
"His leadership and character is unquestionable and even ordinary soldiers respect him a lot," said Brig. Gen. Muhammad Ben Dolorfino, deputy chief of the Armed Forces Southern Command and commander of Task Force Ranao based in Lanao.
Ranking senior military officers in Central and Northern Mindanao also lauded the appointment of Esperon as the 35th Armed Forces chief of staff.
Esperon, who has served as commander of various battalions, was credited for his successful combat and tactical campaign against communist insurgents, being a former intelligence chief of the Southern Command.
Brig. Gen. Reymundo Ferrer, chief of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, which Esperon previously headed in Basilan, said Esperon’s appointment boosted the morale of soldiers.
Local government officials also welcomed the appointment of Esperon.
For one, Lamitan Mayor Roderick Furigay said Basilan is grateful to Esperon for getting rid of the Abu Sayyaf, which raided his town after abducting 21 tourists from a Palawan resort.
"He helped (restore) the morale of the soldiers and civilians after the terrorists escaped from the hospital compound," Furigay said of Esperon, who commanded the 103rd IB in running after the Abu Sayyaf and rescuing many of the hostages.
Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat said that even before Esperon was assigned to bigger commands, he had contributed much as head of Southcom’s intelligence unit when he was a junior officer.