The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) notched a historic record of sorts on Monday with an unprecedented number of promotions with the swearing-in, or donning of new, or additional stars of senior military officers.
The large-scale promotions of senior military officers to the next higher rank or their designations to key positions in the military occurred in a single day, throwing military camps and headquarters into a frenzied mood.
The promotions, designations and donning of ranks bonanza occurred hours after Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. announced that the Commander-in-Chief has signed 39 promotions and designations in the AFP, apparently to stem previous reports of rumblings in the uniformed service.
The roster of newly promoted senior officers was led by Philippine Air Force Commanding General Stephen Parreño, who donned his third-star rank at Camp Aguinaldo, following the signing of his promotion by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on January 13.
The Air Force chief, with the pinned additional star on his shoulders, subsequently retreated to the Air Force headquarters at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City wherein he was accorded with the traditional full military honors.
“He and his family were also warmly received with congratulatory wishes by PAF Unit commanders and HPAF [headquarters, Philippine Air Force] staff,” a statement from the Air Force said.
Hours later, a similar donning of ranks followed at the Air Force to newly promoted Major General Edgar Cardinoza, commander of the AFP Health Service Command; Major General Aristotle Gonzales, commander of the Air Education Training and Doctrine Command (AETDC); and Major General George Blanco, commander of the Air Logistics Command.
Other senior officers who were promoted to the rank of brigadier general were Ronie Petinglay, deputy commander, Air Defense Command; Reynold Rueca, deputy commander, Air Logistics Command (ALC); Gerold Gagan, wing commander, 420th Supply Wing; Edgar Torres, wing commander, 300th Air Intelligence Service Group (300th AISG); Rey Bes, deputy commander, Western Command (WESCOM); Antonio Francisco, acting commander, Air Base Development Command (AIBDC); Leo Fontanilla, wing commander, 5th Fighter Wing; Ramil Oloroso, wing commander, Tactical Operations Wing Central; Leodigario Macalintal, deputy, the Inspector General.
The Air Force said the promotion of the senior officers is a testament to its “leaders’ competence, commitment, and their readiness to assume the highest responsibilities of leading the PAF towards its vision of becoming a credible and agile force.”
At Camp Aguinaldo, Major General Alex Rillera relinquished his post as the deputy chief of staff (DCS) for operations to his assistant, Brig. General Glenn Jun Calambuhay.
Rillera is slated to assume as the new commander of the 6th Infantry Division, whose chief Major General Roy Galido has assumed as the new commander of the AFP Western Mindanao Command.
Brigadier General Noel Beleran took over as the deputy chief of staff for education, training and doctrine, while Brigadier General Proceso Rebancos assumed as the new chief engineer of the military.
Also, Colonel Erwin Victoriano Machica II also took over the leadership of the Office of The Judge Advocate General, AFP, while Colonel Ma. Dolores Lim NC assumed as the military’s chief nurse. Colonel Geoffrey Carandang was designated as the new Secretary of the Joint Staff, AFP.
At the Navy, its chief, Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. presided over the ceremony promoting Commodore Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta, the chief of naval staff, to the rank of rear Admiral.
Navy Captain Alan Javier, commander of the Naval Forces West, was also promoted to the rank of commodore while Eric Macaambac and Nestor Narag, both from the Marines, were promoted to the rank of brigadier general, being the commanders of the First Marine Brigade and Combat Service Support Brigade, respectively.