Iiwanan na ni Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Hernando DCA Iriberri ang kanyang puwesto sa Biyernes (Abril 22, 2016) sa pagsapit niya sa mandatory retirement age na 56.
Gayunman, wala pang natatanggap na impormayon ang AFP sa kung sino ang papalit kay Iriberri bilang pinuno ng 125,000-strong military organization.
“The AFP is well into its preparation for the retirement of the chief of staff. As to who will replace him, we have no information on that yet,” sabi ni Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman.
Nilinaw niya na kahit tatlong linggo na lamang ang nalalabi bago ang halalan sa Mayo 9, tiyak nang bababa si Iriberri sa araw ng pagreretiro nito.
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Sinabi ni Padilla na sa Biyernes, mag-aalay ang AFP ng testimonial parade para kay Iriberri na susundan ng change of command kasama si Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III na inimbitahan para saksihan ang okasyon.
“He has been doing his farewell visits for the past several weeks but even prior to this, a few months ago, he has been visiting our troops and giving specific instructions on helping secure the peace and order situation in specific areas so that we can have an honest, peaceful credible election,” sabi ni Padilla.
Nang tanungin kung mayroon nang rekomendasyon para sa susunod na AFP chief, sinabi ni Padilla na: “If there is any replacement for the chief-of-staff, it can come from any officer with the rank of Colonel above.”
Idinagdag niya na ang pangulo, bilang commander-in-chief, ang magdedesisyon kung sino ang susunod na magiging pinuno ng AFP.
Sa posibilidad ng extension ni Iriberri, dahil magreretiro ito 18 araw bago ang halalan, sinabi ni Padilla na: “The extension of the services of any particular officer is a political issue that must conform to constitutional provisions and this is something that we cannot answer on our part.” (Elena L. Aben)
