Eastmincom chief Felimon Santos is new AFP chief

Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Felimon Santos is the new head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, according to a Dobol B sa News TV report on Thursday, citing Senator Christopher "Bong" Go.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has also confirmed Santos' appointment to GMA News Online.

Santos will replace General Noel Clement, who is set to retire on January 5, 2020.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana shared to the media the appointment paper of Santos. His new designation will take effect on January 5.

READ: Appointment paper of Lt. Gen. Filemon Santos Jr. as the next chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Photo courtesy of Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana @gmanews pic.twitter.com/IyYmjD7AQJ

— ????Anna Felicia (@annafelicia_) January 2, 2020

Santos is a member of Philippine Military Academy Sinagtala Class of 1986 and spent most of his junior years with the 39th Infantry Battalion, a unit deployed in various provinces in Mindanao.

He also once headed the 11th Intelligence Service Unit based in Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Santos previously held the positions of Chief of Operations of Central Command in Visayas; 703rd Infantry Brigade Commander in Central Luzon; Battalion Commander of 63rd Infantry Battalion in Samar Province; and Assistant Division Commander of 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Awang Maguindanao.

He was the former commander of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Fort Ramon Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. —Amita Legaspi and Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News