President Rodrigo Duterte speaks with newly-installed AFP chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año during a command conference at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday, December 7, 2016. (MNS photo)
MANILA, Dec. 7 (PNA) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday thanked outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya for a job well done and offered him to choose any position he wants after his retirement, even the position of Defense secretary.
Visaya, who was replaced by Philippine Army Chief Lieutenant General Eduardo Año as new AFP chief, retired on the eve of his 56th birthday after 37 years of distinguished military service.
In his speech during the change of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, President Duterte told the outgoing chief of the 125,000-strong military that he can have any position he wants.
“I would like to express the gratitude of, for and in behalf of the Filipino people to Gen Visaya for a job really well done. Sir, Gen Visaya, mamili ka ng pwesto dyan sir,” he told the general.
“Choose your position. That is how grateful the nation is to you. Gusto mo kausapin mo si Delfin (Lorenzana), okay din yan” Duterte said.
Lorenzana is the incumbent Defense secretary.Visaya, who is part of the Matikas Class of the Philippine Military Academy of 1983, was appointed as the AFP chief-of-staff last July.
Prior to his appointment, he was head of the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM).
A native of Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Visaya, is a highly decorated military officer, earning four Distinguished Service Stars, 11 Bronze Cross Medals, two Silver Wing Medals, and numerous Military Merit and Commendation Medals.
He was also awarded the Cavalier Award for Army Operations, a highly coveted award for PMA alumni, in 2008.
Besides an outstanding military record, he has also excelled in various civilian and military training that included the Executive Course on Security Studies in Hawaii, Pacific Army Management Seminar in Tokyo, Professional Managers Program of the Ateneo De Manila University, and Financial Statement Analysis at the University of Asia and the Pacific among others.
Visaya also has a Master’s degree in Project Management at the Australian Defense Force in Canberra, Australia.