AFP remains mum on new AFP Chief of Staff

By Rita Salonga via RH NewsTV

The many names that have been surfacing as possible new Armed Forces of the Philippine Chief of Staff, to be assigned by incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, are all just highly speculative.

According to Bgen. Restituto Padilla, official spokesman of the AFP, whoever will be assign as the new AFP Chief is welcome to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

All officials that are assigned in sensitive positions are all in their acting capacity only because of the Commission on Elections ban on appointment in line with the election period.

The outgoing commander in chief respects the COMELEC ruling and the need for a good and swift transition, therefore President Benigno Aquino III opted to assign a temporary official to replace the vacated post of retired General Hernando Iriberri, so that the newCommander in Chief will have the liberty to choose the person he thinks is right for the job.

Padilla added that the President’s statement regarding the said matter is clear, as respect to what is being stated in the Constitution, prohibiting the appointment of any official during elections.

Meanwhile, Padilla believes that the incoming Commander in Chief will respect the normal process of the AFP, wherein the board of generals will be giving their recommendation on the senior officers that will be appointed in the AFP.