Aquino gives no hint on next AFP chief, heads for Baguio City

Even as he headed for Baguio City for the Philippine Military Academy graduation on Sunday, President Benigno Aquino III declined Saturday to give hints on who he will appoint as the new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff. Aquino said he will make known the replacement of retiring AFP chief of staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. at the PMA graduation on Sunday. “That will be the announcement tomorrow," he told reporters after remotely detonating in Tarlac province the last batches of World War II ordnance recovered from Caballo Island. The president headed for Baguio City from Tarlac, according to a report on GMA News TV Channel 11’s “Balitanghali" newscast. In Malacañang, meanwhile, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the public can expect the new AFP chief of staff to be an effective leader who will continue reforms. Valte said on government-run dzRB radio that David was an effective leader who showed competence to lead the country’s soldiers. She also said David’s successor should be someone who can effectively take the reins and strengthen the AFP as an institution, especially in the wake of the fund scam and “pabaon" (sendoff money) uncovered in recent congressional investigations. "Many soldiers had admitted these scams had affected their morale," she added. — LBG, GMA News