PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has appointed the head of the Eastern Mindanao Command to replace outgoing Armed Forces Chief Eduardo Año, who had to retire early after Duterte tapped him to head the Interior department, reliable military sources told the Manila Standard on Friday.
“Yes, Eastmincom chief Lieutenant General Rey Leonardo Guerrero is our next chief of staff,” said an Army lieutenant general who requested not to be named because he is not authorized to speak on the matter.
Guerrero is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1984, while Año is a member of the PMA Class of 1983.
Another high-ranking military officer said Guerrero will assume his new post not later than the first week of June.
Duterte announced Año’s appointment to the Interior department before he flew to Cambodia. He also appointed former Armed Forces Chief Roy Cimatu to the Environment department to replace Gina Lopez, who was not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.
Año and Cimatu said they did not anticipate their appointments to their new posts.
Año took over the top post in the Armed Forces in December 2016. He was set to reach his mandatory retirement age of 56 in October this year.
Guerrero will also have to retire in October.
