Shortlist for possible Año’s successors now compiled – AFP spokesperson

MANILA—- With Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año poised to retire this June 2 to make way for his assumption at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) portfolio, the Board of Generals on Monday announced it has already compiled the names of possible officials who can succeed the military chief.

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, who stressed that he was not privy to the names of Año’s possible successors, said the possible contenders for the AFP’s top post included three-star generals in the Unified Commands and Major Services.

Padilla said the short-list would be forwarded to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana shortly, who would then endorse it to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Lorenzana earlier said he tried to persuade Duterte to permit the AFP chief to complete or extend his term before assuming the DILG portfolio but the Chief Executive would have none of it.

Año, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983, is supposed to retire on Oct. 26, his 56th birthday, but this was expedited as Duterte wanted him to take over the DILG.

“I was trying to persuade the President to extend his ( Año’s) service with AFP, the last time was last night (May 18) when I said “Mr. President can we extend the stay of Gen. Año with the AFP, he said ‘no, no, no, no’,” the DND chief added.

“(Duterte said) let’s have the turnover by June 2 so that’s its final,” he added.