AFP: No issue in replacing Dela Cruz as Wesmincom chief ahead of retirement

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday said there was no issue against former Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz that led to his replacement months before his retirement.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said this was done only to give way to a commander who can see Wesmincom's six-month campaign against local terror groups to completion.

Dela Cruz, now Inspector General assigned at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, will retire from the service on May 1.

"[I]f Gen. Dela Cruz stays on at post ... he will not be able to complete the campaign plan given the period of six months, so there was a necessity to have him moved up to headquarters," Padilla said. 

Padilla lauded Dela Cruz for doing "a superb job."

"We have to clarify this because many speculate that he is being relieved for cause. No, it's not true. Lt. Gen. Dela Cruz has done a good job, he has done a superb job and his accomplishments speak much about what has been done in Western Mindanao Command," he said.

Dela Cruz was replaced at Wesmincom by Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez, who led the government panel in negotiating the ceasefire with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the bloody Mamasapano clash in January 2014.

Galvez previously served as Wesmincom's deputy commander, and commander of the Philippine Army's 6th Infrantry Division. 

Padilla said that given Galvez' experience, the latter "is a perfect fit for the situation that we have at hand."

"[H]e can pursue the operations, our focused military operations against our target enemies and the existing threats, as well as take care and ensure that the peace processes continues on to its rightful conclusion," he said. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News