Guerrero appointed new AFP chief of staff, will retire in December

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Eastern Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Malacañang has yet to release Guerrero's appointment paper, but Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed his appointment in a text message to GMA News Online.

Malacañang released his appointment paper on Thursday. It was signed by Duterte the day before.

Guerrero will replace Lieutenant General Eduardo Año who will retire from service on October 26. Duterte is expected to lead the turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday.

Guerrero is expected to serve around two months as AFP chief since he's slated to retire on December 17 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

He is from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1984. —NB, GMA News