By Florante S. Solmerin

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the promotion to the next higher rank of seven Army officials, as the military races to beat its commander in chief’s deadline for it to downgrade the forces of the New People’s Army by next year.





Promoted to the rank of major general are Anthony Alcantara, commander of the Training and Doctrine Command, Ireneo Espino, chief of staff of the Army, and Hilario Atendido, AFP deputy chief of staff for education and training.

Alcantara and Espino are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1979 while Atendido belong to Class 1977.

Also promoted to the rank of a brigadier general are Emmanuel Amat, asst. division commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, Rey Ardo, commander of 103rd Brigade of the 3rd ID, Romeo Fajardo, commander of the 502nd Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division and Noel Coballes, commander of the Scout Ranger of the Special Operations Command.

Amat and Coballes belong to PMA Class 1980, Ardo with Class 1981 and Fajardo with Class 1979.

The newly-promoted officers paid Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit a courtesy call early this week wherein they were asked to support their command in its goal of meeting its deadline on the NPA.

He also emphasized the importance of leadership in the military’s last stage of the anti-insurgency campaign.

Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, Army spokesman, said the promotion of the officers goes with the greater responsibility of maintaining the momentum in bringing peace and stability in the country.

“Lt. Gen. Bangit recognized that the able leadership of every commander is an indispensable factor in carrying out the Army’s mission. It is without question that a skilled, disciplined and better equipped Army soldier under a very able leadership will deliver the winning shots for the AFP,” Burgos said.

Meanwhile, Bangit also installed Col. Glen Macasero as the new Asst. chief of staff for plans and policy of the Army, replacing Col. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad, who assumed as the new commander of the 702nd Brigade of the 7th Infantry Division.