By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA Bohol
Exactly a day after the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) officially moved to keep the status quo in the country’s military organization, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo fulfilled the Boholanos’ wishes.
In the PPOC meeting last Thursday, the council, through Chairman Governor Erico Aumentado resolved to endorse another three months on the tour of duty of Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.
At the same time, it also endorsed the succession of General Alexander Yano to the country’s top military post.
General Yano, a Siquijor borne military officer is the elder brother of Colonel Cesar Yano. Col Yano is the current 302nd Brigade Commander based in Carmen Bohol.
Those two wishes were fulfilled when PGMA confirmed the sought three month term extension which she believes would help Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sustain the government's ongoing campaign to finally end rebel insurgency in the country.
The President made the confirmation even as she was on a state visit in Switzerland, thousands of miles away from the Philippines.
At the same time, the President also announced the assumption in May to the top AFP post of current Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano.
Gen. Yano’s assumption to the highest military post is according to a long held Philippine Army tradition, military sources confirmed.
Gen. Esperon, who is supposed to retire at the mandatory age of 56 on his birthday on Feb. 9, would continue serving until May 9 to provide a smooth transition before handing out the AFP leadership to Yano, the President said.
She also admitted during a conference with the media in Switzerland that the decision to extend the term of Esperon was based on the recommendations of junior commanders in the AFP.
The junior officers reportedly reasoned that such would not derail the government's sustained campaign at a crucial time.
Moreover, she said it is "because there is a momentum in the campaign against the NPA (New People’s Army) and they are expecting a snowball in the next several months."
The same is also in line with the President’s current timeline of ending the insurgency problem in the next ten years.
Over this, strategic military campaigns in internal security in the Visayas also undergo movement soon.
The Bohol based 302nd Brigade is set to be pulled out for another assignment in Panay and Negros Islands.
To fill the place for the 302nd Brigade would be the 802nd Brigade, then based in Samar.
With the 802nd would be the 43rd Infantry battalion and the 2nd Special Force Battalion fresh from its civil military sortie in Sulu.
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