Another PMA class '79 member gets key post in AFP

Another member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of '79 has been given a key position within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano on Thursday assumed his new position as commander of the Navy’s Philippine Fleet replacing Rear Admiral Geronimo Defensor who, in accordance with military law, compulsory retired from the service. Under military law, an officer has to be promoted to the next rank within three years from his last promotion, otherwise he or she will have to take compulsory retirement. Defensor, a member of the PMA class ’76, was promoted rear admiral on Oct. 28, 2007. He is supposed to reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 this December. Prior to his assumption as new commander of the Philippine Fleet, Alano was Chief Naval Staff, the “No. 3 man" of the Navy although his job there was administrative in nature. PMA class of ’79 is said to be close with Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin, although the military is denying this, saying Alano’s appointment went through the process from the Navy’s Board of Senior Officers up to the AFP Board of Generals under Gen. Ricardo David, the AFP chief. “He (Alano) is one of the youngest in his class, one of the most promising Navy officers," said AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta. Other prominent members of PMA class ’79 are Northern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, AFP deputy chief Maj. Gen. Eduardo Oban, AFP deputy chief of staff for intelligence Maj. Gen. Francisco Cruz, and Intelligence Service of the AFP chief Brig. Gen. Romulo Bambao. - KBK, GMANews.TV