Ex-Estrada military chief dies

Former Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Joselin Nazareno died Wednesday, dzBB radio reported. He was 63. Officials in Camp Aguinaldo confirmed the death of Nazareno, saying the former military chief passed away 3 a.m. at the Makati Medical Center. Nazareno appeared to have succumbed from a lung cancer, officials said, although no announcement has been issued by doctors or Nazareno’s family as of posting time. A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1966, Nazareno served as former President Joseph Estrada’s first chief of staff in 1998. Nazareno served as AFP chief until July 1999, and shortly after his retirement, was designated Philippine ambassador to Pakistan. Prior to being named AFP chief, Nazareno was commander of the Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) based in Zamboanga City. He was also once commander of Camp Aguinaldo. After Estrada’s ouster in January 2001, Nazareno continued his close association with the deposed leader, and was even linked once to a supposed destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration. In the May 2004 polls, Nazareno led retired military and police officers in serving as "watchdogs" of the late Fernando Poe Jr, Estrada’s best friend. A father of three, Nazareno was born April 18, 1943 in Cebu City. Among Nazareno’s prominent PMA classmate is Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes, himself a former chief of staff of Estrada. -GMANews.TV