President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for a group photo souvenir during the oath-taking of military officers at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 27). Also in photo are AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., Defense Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta, and Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Danilo Cortez. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday swore in 50 newly-appointed generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Aquino, the AFP’s commander-in-chief, administered the oath to the military officers during a ceremony at the Malacañang Palace’s Rizal Hall at past 10 a.m.
Rafael Lopez, son of newly sworn in Lieutenant General Oscar Lopez, salutes to President Benigno S. Aquino III during the oath-taking ceremony of newly-appointed generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 27). (MNS photo)
AFP chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang and presidential adviser on military affairs Sec. Danilo Cortez were also present during the event.
Leading those who took their oaths before the President were Western Luzon Command commander Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Central Command commander Lt. Gen. Nicanor M. Vivar and Eastern Mindanao Command commander Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad.
Aside from being WESCOM chief, Lopez was appointed as the executive director of this year’s Balikatan Exercises, the joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, held last April.
President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a group photo souvenir during the oath-taking of military officers at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 27). Also in photo are AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., Defense Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta, and Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Danilo Cortez. (MNS photo)
Other AFP officers who took their oaths before Aquino include: Lt. Gen. Oscar Lopez, Major Gen. Edwin Manuel Remotigue, Major Gen. Ivan Samarita, Major Gen. Rafael Valencia, Rear Adm. Ronald Joseph Mercado, Major Gen. Raul del Rosario, Major Gen. Isagani Silva, Rear Admiral Primitivo Gopo, Major Gen. Demosthenes Santillan, Major Gen. Richard Lagrana, Major Gen. Romeo Gan and Major Gen. Ruben Carandang.
Also sworn in were: Rear Adm. Allan Rosal, Brig. Gen. Leandro Loyao, Brig. Gen. Edgar de Vara, Brig. Gen. Godfrey Julio, Brig. Gen. Apolinario Alobba, Brig. Gen. Joselito Reyes, Brig. Gen. Buenaventura Pascual, Brig. Gen. Jose Mirandilla Jr., Commodore Edwin Mackay, Brig. Gen. Rozzano Briguez, Brig. Gen. Paolo Leo Miciano, Brig. Gen. Guillermo Molina Jr. Brig. Gen. Ricardo Castilan and Commodore Narciso Vingson.
President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to newly-appointed generals and flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the oath-taking of military officers at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 27). (MNS photo)
The President also administered oaths to Brig. Gen. Ernesto Milo, Brig. Gen. Jonathan Ponce, Commodore Vicente Cejoco, Brig. Gen. Ignacio Obligacion, Brig. Gen. Al Perreras, Brig. Gen Glenn Macasero, Brig. Gen. Arturo Jose Orticio Jr., Brig. Gen. Michael Beverlyn Manquiquis, Brig. Gen. Gregory Cayetano and Commodore Ingemar Pernes.
The following AFP officers also took their oaths before Pres. Aquino: Brig. Gen. Herminigildo Aquino, Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Quidilla, Brig. Gen. Marcial Constante Jr., Brig. Gen. Paul Atal, Brig. Gen. Jon Aying, Brig. Gen. Aaron Fetalvero, Brig. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Brig. Gen Tirso Dolina, Brig. Gen. Noelito Albano, Brig. Gen Arnold Rafael Depakakibo, and Brig. Gen. Elvin Hermogino.(MNS)