EASTERN Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero is the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing Gen. Eduardo Año who will retire today, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed to Manila Standard Wednesday.
Guerrero, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1984 and will retire by December, has long been rumored to be the next military chief, or at least a major contender for it, several times in the past year.
The new AFP chief was reported to have been eyed by Duterte to be his first chief of staff upon assuming the presidency last year, but the President opted to appoint Gen. Ricardo Visaya instead.
Año, who was Guerrero’s senior, was supposed to retire in June and to become the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, but the war in Marawi City made him stay in his post.
Guerrero’s Eastern Mindanao Command has jurisdiction over the President’s home region of Davao City.
Other contenders for the top military post were Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., head of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), Lt. Gen. Salvador Melchor Mison Jr., the AFP Vice Chief of Staff, and Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr., the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff.