6th ID chief is now AFP's No. 3 man

President Benigno Aquino III has named the new deputy of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Maj. Gen. Anthony Alcantara is now the third highest ranking official — the No. 3 man — in the military hierarchy. He will assume his new post on Tuesday.

Alcantara, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1979, was formerly the commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Central Mindanao. Alcantara’s appointment “was approved by the President on the recommendation of the Board of Generals," said AFP public affairs office chief Col. Arnulfo Burgos on Sunday. The board is headed by AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban, himself a former AFP deputy chief of staff. Alcantara assumed as 6th ID commander on Nov. 27, 2009, or four days after the grisly massacre in Maguindanao province where 57 people, including 32 journalists, were killed by armed men allegedly upon the orders of the Ampatuan clan. “During his stint as Commander of the 6th Infantry Division, Maj. Gen Alcantara ably led his command in conducting security and stability operations in Central Mindanao especially during the aftermath of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre on November 2009, particularly the implementation of Martial Law and State of Emergency," said Burgos. “These operations successfully led to arrests of those who were implicated in the massacre; resumption of law and order in entire area of responsibility; and the government machineries to go back to function," he added. Before becoming as the 6th ID commander, Alcantara was the commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command. He also served as the chief of the AFP’s Command Center, commander of the 702nd Brigade in Central Luzon, commander of the 16th Infantry Battalion in Quezon and commander of the Presidential Escorts Battalion under the Presidential Security Group. Alcantara is a holder of master’s degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of the Philippines, and Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management. “The designation of Maj. Gen Alcantara is a positive development in the ranks of the AFP," said Oban of Alcantara. “His training and academic background, coupled with his experiences in holding various sensitive command positions in the AFP are enough preparations for him to occupy the 3rd highest post in the organization," added Oban. - KBK, GMA News