• President Aquino leads Philippine Army change of command
• President Aquino salutes military officials who served under his administration

Maj. Gen. Año replaces Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri, who was named as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last Friday.

In his speech, the President commended outgoing Army chief, Lt. Gen. Iriberri for his accomplishments and for implementing the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP).

“Malinaw naman: na anuman ang iatang sa kanyang tungkulin, ibinubuhos niya ang buong lakas at husay para makamit ang layunin,” he said, referring to Iriberri, under whose leadership the Philippine Army was able to apprehend key communist rebels.

“Sa ilalim ng Focused Military Operations, halos 400,000 na operasyon ang isinagawa ng Hukbong Katihan upang masugpo ang masasamang elemento sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa. Nagresulta po ito sa pagkakadakip at pagsupil sa mga high-value targets na gaya nina Benito at Wilma Tiamzon, Ruben Saluta, Adelberto Silva, at Kumander Parago ng CPP-NPA-NDF, pati kina Mohamad Ali Tambako ng Justice Islamic Movement at Sihata Latip ng Abu Sayyaf,” he added.

President Aquino further noted that although he has not directly worked with Maj. Gen. Año, he admires his military achievements.

“Talaga namang napabilib tayo sa mga nagawa at naiambag niya sa ating kasundaluhan. Pinamunuan niya ang operasyon sa matagumpay na pag-aresto kay Jovito Palparan, sa mag-asawang Tiamzon, at sa marami pang matataas na opisyal ng mga rebeldeng grupo. Batid natina na ang tagumpay na ito ay hindi dinaan sa tsamba, bagkus sa mahusay na estratehiya at dedikasyon na tugisin ni Maj. Gen. Año, ang masasamang elemento sa lipunan” he said.

The President said he believes that given his 30-year experience in military service, Año would be able to continue the positive changes in the Army.

“Tiwala tayong maipapamana niya sa mga kawal ang sariling tatak ng propesyonalismong ipinapamalas niya. Naibigay na nga po natin ang ating marching orders kay Major General Año, alam kong hindi siya lilihis sa pagtupad sa misyong ito—ang pagsilbihan ang ating mga Boss,” he said.

In his speech, Lt. General Iriberri expressed hope that the new Army chief would continue the changes he had instituted in the Philippine Army and work for more breakthroughs to hit “our base camp 2016 transformation targets”.

Maj. Gen. Año meanwhile pledged to uphold all the responsibilities as the new commanding general of the Philippine Army.

“Rest assured, Sir that I will safeguard and fully accept the task of the Army chief. I will fight any threat and overcome any challenge with integrity to uphold what is morally right and profound loyalty to the Constitution every soldier is mandated to uphold,” he said.Maj. Gen. Año graduated cum laude from the Philippine Military Academy, belonging to the Matikas Class of 1983.

Prior to his appointment as Army chief, he served as commander of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division.

He took an International Officer Intelligence Course at Fort Huachuca in Arizona, USA, landing on top of his class.

He is a recipient of various awards, among them two Distinguished Service Stars; a Gold Cross medal for gallantry in combat action; a Silver Cross Medal; 24 Bronze Cross Medals for intelligence operations; and 38 Military Merit Medals. PND (ag)

“Talaga namang mapalad ako na ang lahat ng itinalaga nating mga pinuno—mula sa Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa, hanggang sa mga Chief of Staff ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), at maging ang ating service commanders—ay nagpakitang-gilas sa serbisyo. Sa pangunguna ni (Defense) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, ang mga pinuno ninyong ito ay katuwang ko sa pagpapaunlad at pagpapahusay sa ating kasundaluhan,” he said during the ceremony to install Major General Eduardo Año as new Army chief, held in Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City

“Ilan sa mga itinalaga nating pinuno, gaya ni Sec. Volts, ay personal nating kakilala at madalas ding nakakasama sa mga pagpupulong. Meron namang nakilala ko habang sila ay junior officers pa lamang, kung saan nakitaan na sila ng husay at dedikasyon sa serbisyo. Habang ang iba naman, nakasalamuha lang natin dahil isa sila sa mga kandidato sa iba’t ibang mga posisyon,” he added.

The President lauded former AFP Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Bautista’s efforts to bring the military closer to the people.

“Direkta siyang nakikipag-usap sa mga nangangailangan ng tulong, na agaran at walang alinlangan naman niyang tinutugunan. Bilang Chief of Staff noon, matagumpay niyang naitimon ang Sandatahang Lakas sa kabila ng patong-patong na krisis na hinarap ng bansa noong 2013, at sa iba pang mga hamon sa loob at labas ng Pilipinas,” he said.

President Aquino also expressed his admiration for former Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lauro dela Cruz.

“Hanga po tayo sa paghahatid niya sa Air Force tungo sa mas matatayog na tagumpay sa kabila ng mga pagsubok. Isang matingkad na halimbawa nito ang pagpapakitang-gilas ng Air Force noong humarap tayo sa matinding hamon — krisis sa Zamboanga, lindol sa Cebu at Bohol, at paghagupit ng bagyong Yolanda,” he said.

He recalled that during that time, three C-130s had to transport personnel, equipment, relief goods, and other supplies to these areas in crisis, yet General Dela Cruz took up the challenge.

“Ni minsan wala akong narinig na reklamo mula sa Air Force, na kesyo under-repair o unavailable ang ating mga C-130 at iba pang mga sasakyan. Walang mintis kasing kinukumpuni at pinapakondisyon ng mga propesyonal na serviceman at piloto ang ating mga eroplano. Tunay ngang sa pamumuno ni Larry dela Cruz, nagabayan ang ating mga kawal na gawin ang lahat ng makakaya upang epektibo at agarang rumesponde sa oras ng pangangailangan,” he said.

The President also cited Captain Neil Edward Camarillo and Sergeant Gilbert Balonga of the Army’s Task Force Minion, for their role in neutralizing Leoncio “Ka Pitao” of the New People’s Army in Davao City.

“Iilan lang sila sa mga patunay na talagang de-kalibre ang mga pinunong naitalaga natin para pangunahan ang ating unipormadong hanay. Muli, talaga pong ako’y pinalad na makahanap ng mga tapat at mahuhusay na pinuno ng atin pong buong kasundaluhan,” he said.With one year left before he steps down from office, President Aquino said he wants to see the transformation that the country has been undergoing to continue.

“Sa tulong ng ating kasundaluhan, sasagarin pa natin ang natitirang panahon upang higit pang maghatid ng benepisyo sa ating mga Boss,” he said, calling on the military to help secure next year’s presidential elections.

“Malinaw po na ang kapayapaan ay pundasyon ng pangmatagalang kaunlaran sa ating bansa. Kompiyansa akong sa ilalim ng bagong liderato ng Hukbong Katihan at ng ating Sandatahang Lakas, patuloy na mabibigyang lakas ang ating mga sundalo bilang mga kawal ng kapayapaan, at bilang kawal ng positibong pagbabago,” he said.

“At gaya ng lagi kong idinidiin: Karangalan kong maging Commander-in-Chief ng Sandatahang Lakas na buong loob na isinasabuhay ang Kagitingan, Integridad, at Katapatan, para sa kapwa at bansa.” PND (ag)