Incoming AFP chief a Negrense
BACOLOD CITY -- Negrense Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, commanding general of the Philippine Army has been named by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the successor of AFP chief Gen. Alexander Yano, who will retire from the military service on June 13.
He is the first Negrense to become the AFP chief to lead the 150,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Ibrado, 54, belongs to Class 1976 of the Philippine Military Academy and has two more years in service.
In a radio interview, Ibrado said he is very happy with his appointment and shared the honor with his fellow Negrenses.
Ibrado, of Sagay City , Negros Occidental, was appointed in 2008 as the Army commanding general leading the 82,000 strong army force.
Military records showed that Ibrado served as commander of the 11th Infantry Battalion from 1992-1994 and later as 303 rd Infantry Brigade from 2002-2003 in Negros island.
Other key positions he has occupied after his assignment in Negros are as chief of the Army Intelligence Group, commander of the Special Forces Regiment, Army chief of staff and commanding general of the Special Operations Command, which supervises Army' elite units such as Special Forces, Scout Rangers and counter-terrorist unit Light Reaction Battalion.
He was also the commanding general of the Armed Forces Central Command that supervises the entire AFP units in Visayas.