Archive for January 2nd, 2008
30 senior military officers promoted
MANILA, Philippines — Thirty senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) started off the New Year with a promotion to the next highest rank, including three new three-star generals, the military said Wednesday.
Promoted to the three-star rank of Lieutenant General were Rodrigo Maclang, the chief of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom); Nelson Allaga, chief of the Western Mindanao Command; and Victor Ibrado, chief of the Central Command (Centcom).
With their promotions, Maclang, Allaga, and Ibrado, all graduates of the Philippine Military Academy’s 1976 class, join other three-star generals as contenders to replace the Chief of Staff, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who is set to retire on February 9.
The promotions, which were approved by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, took effect on January 1, AFP spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro said in a statement.
Incidentally, Maclang was confirmed to three-star rank by the Commission on Appointments (CA) before Congress went on Christmas break last month. Bacarro did not return a text message seeking clarification why his promotion was announced after his confirmation at the CA.
Eight officers were promoted to two-star rank. They are: Major Generals Arsenio Arugay, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP); Major General Daniel Casabar, chief of the elite Army Special Operations Command (Socom); Samuel Narcise, the Army Inspector General; Alexander Flores, the chief of the Air Force Air Logistics Command; Nicomedez Corpuz, chief of the Air Force 2nd Air Division; Reu Lucio Samaco, the deputy chief of staff for reservis and reserve force development; and Rear Admirals Ferdinand Golez, the chief of the Naval Education Training Center; and Ruperto Rico Borromeo, the chief of the Western Command.
Nineteen others were promoted to one-star rank. They are: Brigadier Generals Cesar Santos, Danilo Garcia, Mohammad Nur Askalani, Rommel Gomez, Raynard Ronnie Javier, Jovencio Magalso, Mario Chan, Anthony Alcantara, Jorge Segovia, Dante Fernandez, Cesario Aitenza, Gregorio Padunganan, Teddy Hermano, Mario Butch Lacson, and Arthur Abadilla, and Commodores Robert Noblefranca, Jose Luis Manalo, Victor Emmanuel Martir, and Adriano Munar.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Marine faces dismissal over New Year’s Eve shooting
MANILA, Philippines — A Marine soldier faces possible dismissal from service for allegedly figuring in a shooting incident in Pasay City last New Year’s Eve that left two minors wounded, the Marine Corps commandant said Wednesday.
Sergeant Angel Tabula, 26, will be dismissed if an administrative investigation proves that he shot James Manarang, 2, and Emmalyn Dayto, 16, said Marines chief Major General Ben Dolorfino.
Dolorfino said Tabula settled with the victims’ families, and would be prosecuted before a military tribunal, and not before criminal courts.
“We are conducting an investigation as per guidance of the higher headquarters,” Dolorfino told reporters.
Dolorfino said Tabula could be charged with violation of Articles of War 97 or conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.
It was not immediately clear how Tabula figured in the shooting.
Assigned with the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10, Tabula was on break at the time of the incident.
Before the New Year’s revelries, military commanders sealed the muzzles of troops’ service firearms to prevent indiscriminate firing.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
