Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City
10 July 2015
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command and Testimonial Honors naming Lieutenant General Hernando Delfin Carmelo A. Iriberri as the next AFP Chief of Staff that replaced outgoing Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr. at the AFP Commissioned Officers’ Club (AFPCOC) in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
In his message, President Aquino challenged the incoming Chief of Staff to continue the exceptional contributions that General Catapang had installed in his one year term as head of the AFP. He also recognized the new challenge that the incoming AFP chief of staff will face to secure a peaceful and clean national elections next year, expressing confidence after Lieutenant General Iriberri led a successful election in Abra province back in the 2013 election — the first after the province suffered several failure of elections.
“Lt. Gen. Iriberri, ito ang hamon sa iyo ngayon: Ipagpatuloy ang magandang nasimulan ni Gen. Catapang at ng mga nauna sa kanya, at lalo pang itaas ang kalidad ng serbisyo ng ating mga kawal,” the Commander-in-Chief said.
The President also lauded General Catapang’s invaluable service, which he said never failed him and even exceeded his expectations with various reform programs he had initiated such as the Internal Peace and Security Plan Bayanihan, territorial defense, disaster preparedness, The Great Escape, PNP-AFP coordination, and the many successful operations it led against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), capturing several of its high-value targets.
President Aquino believes that the AFP left by the retiring general is one which is more equipped, more modern and with its integrity intact.
Prior to his appointment as AFP Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Hernando Delfin Carmelo A. Iriberri served as the 56th Commanding General of the Philippine Army. He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in March 1983 and served in many fields of the Army. He is expected to retire in April next year.
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