BY ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS
President Duterte believes that choosing the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is a very important task as he should possess qualities that will benefit the country.
AFP chief-of-staff General Felimon Santos, Jr. is set to retire on August 4 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 and Duterte is expected to pick from a short list for the position.
“The President considers as very very important the appointment of the Chief-of-Staff,” said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
“Qualities: Must be able to serve the Republic, must have the competence, must have integrity, dapat hindi (should not be) corrupt, and must have shown a track record to serve the Republic,” he added.
According to AFP spokesperson Marine Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, the Board of Generals has convened and assessed the shortlist of candidates.
He said the Department of National Defense (DND) has submitted the recommendation to Malacañang on the first week of July.
However, Arevalo said it was still up to the President if he would extend Santos’s term especially now that the country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Santos was named AFP chief-of-staff in January this year. He replaced Gen. Noel Clement who retired on January 4 after the latter led the AFP for three months.
Santos, the 53rd AFP chief, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
