Service commands all in hands of AFP chief’s ‘mistahs’

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 04:52pm (Mla time) 01/31/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Major General Horacio Tolentino’s appointment as Air Force chief marks the first time in recent years that classmates or “mistahs” from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) are commanding all the service branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Tolentino, AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Army Chief Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino, and Navy Chief Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag are all members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1974.

At least two of Esperon’s deputies -- Major General Ferdinand Bocobo and Ludovico Franco -- who often accompany the AFP chief on official functions and out-of-town troop visits, are also members of PMA ‘74,

Another “mistah” of PMA ’74 -- police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. -- is also a strong contender to replace Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Calderon when he retires in October.

Tolentino, current commander of the Tactical Operations Command at the Benito Ebuen Airbase in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, replaces Lieutenant General Jose Reyes (PMA ’73), who retires on Saturday when he turns 56. Turnover rites have been set for Friday at the Villamor Airbase.

In a phone interview, Tolentino said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo informed him of his new assignment when he welcomed her at the Villamor Air Base last Sunday, upon her arrival from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“The President congratulated me, saying she will designate me as Air Force chief,” he said. “I am thankful to her.”

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita confirmed Tolentino’s appointment Wednesday morning in Malacañang.

According to his statement of information (SOI), Tolentino is a veteran of the campaign against Muslim rebels in the mid 1970s. After his graduation in 1974, he was assigned as security officer of Task Force Cagayan de Sulu.

After training at the Philippine Air Force flying school, Tolentino piloted UH-1H or Huey helicopters in battles with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). He saw combat in Mindanao for two and a half years.

Prior to his present assignment, Tolentino was deputy chief of staff for personnel or J1.

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His promotion actually caused a stir at cjvab. Insider info has pointed to MGen. Cadungog, the Chief of Air staff, and MGen. Manalo of ALSC as the top contenders. Both were known to be top performers and are actually younger than Tolentino. Cadungog and Manalo, both class 76 bravo at paffs, were the logical choice as successors to Reyes but it came as no surprise when Tintoy was named CG since GMA has always wanted control of the AFP. A Class 74 leadership will simply mean more control over the military. This is purely political. Nothing new really.

Unprecedented! Class '74 is literally the ruling class in the AFP, in recent history, it has yet to happened that the CSAFP and all the major sevice commanders belongs to the same class. There are also rumors that Dep. Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, also a member of Class '74 is being groomed to replace the current PNP chief later this year.

Outgoing Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Damian L. Carlos and Vice Admiral Danilo A. Abinoja, designated officer-incharge (OIC) of the PCG are both PMA Class '74.