Senga names OIC for military's Metro Manila anti-coup force

Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga on Friday designated Brig. Gen. Salvador Peñaflor as officer-in-charge of the National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), the unit tasked with defending Metro Manila and regarded as an anti-coup force. Peñaflor is the concurrent NCRCom deputy commander but is due to reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 next month. The NCRCOM is made up of various units from the different military services. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has yet to approve a recommendation by the military’s Board of Generals (BOG) to appoint Brig. Gen. Juanito Gomez as the new NCRcom commander, replacing Lt. Gen. Alan Cabalquinto who has retired. Gomez is presently the deputy commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division based in Capiz. Senga admitted that Gomez was the “principal" recommendee of the BOG, which he chairs, “but this has yet to be approved (by the President). We are waiting for the final action of the approving authority." The armed forces chief said he had to appoint an OIC following Cabalquinto’s retirement and pending appointment of his replacement.-GMANews.TV