Ibrado opts for retirement than extension
Come March 10, 2010, AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado will be 56 years old, the mandatory age of retirement for those in the military service.
Although there have petitions for him to stay put until the election period, Ibrado is apparently not swayed by such show of support and trust on his leadership.
“In previous interviews, I have mentioned several times that it would be better if I retire. It would be good for the Armed Forces because I believe that there so many talents...s o many generals who are capable to take over my place anytime... And perhaps they are even more competent,” he pointed out.
Asked if there is a shortlist of those “capable generals” who could possibly be his successor, the AFP chief of staff said that there could be three to five candidates who are senior officers in the service.
“In a way walang lista but the President or the Secretary of National Defense would really know who among the present crop of three star generals can be considered,” he added.
He named them as AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang and the commanding generals of the three major services: Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez of the Phil. Navy, Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena of the Phil. Air Force, and Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit of the Phil. Army.
He claimed that Lt. General Raymundo Ferrer of the Eastern Mindanao Command and even AFP deputy chief of staff Vice Admiral Emilio Marayad, Jr., who is set to retire on June 2010, can still be considered.
Meanwhile, Ibrado debunked reports that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would ask for his extension.
“I think I will think of that when the situation comes. But I have never received any advice contrary to my retirement,” he added.
The AFP chief of staff stressed that he has prepared already to leave the military service.
In fact, he claimed to have doing farewell visits to the different units of the Armed Forces and to his counterparts in the ASEAN.
“After retirement, I’m going to rest for a while. Maybe enjoy waking up not very early in the morning and then drive my kids to school and do some things which I cannot do if I was still in the service,” he said.
