Incoming AFP chief eyes a professional military

MANILA, Philippines - Army chief Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado will take over the leadership of the 120,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday with a vision of a more professionalized military with respect to human rights. “We should respect human rights. We should really walk our talk and show people that we are professional soldiers that they can depend on," he told the media Thursday. Ibrado will replace Gen. Alexander Yano, who opted for an early retirement to prepare for his appointment as ambassador to Brunei Darrusalam. The turnover ceremony, to be held in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, will be presided by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Ibrado said he would do his job “the best way I can." “I am assuring you that I will try my best to do my job the best way I can and encourage the entire Armed Forces to do its job also, to do its job well," he said. Ibrado said he would continue with the programs laid down by Yano, his classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) batch of 1976, and the previous military chiefs. Meanwhile, the former chief of the Armed Forces’ Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) on Thursday assumed his post as the military’s No. 2 man. Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, as the new AFP vice chief of staff, had replaced Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna, who had also gone on early retirement to prepare for his appointment as ambassador to the Netherlands. Maclang will remain as the deputy chief of staff until such time a replacement for the latter position will be announced. Maclang, also of PMA batch 1976, will retire June 9 next year when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. He was the one who helped a number of suspected coup plotters, including former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, seek an audience with the AFP leadership in February 2006. Lim’s group had told then AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga that they were planning to withdraw their support from President Arroyo. He was ordered restricted to his quarters after that. - GMANews.TV