DAVAO CITY — Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Felimon Santos is the new head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Santos serves Eastmincom since January 2019, He is in charge of battling communist rebels in the Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga regions.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Santos Jr., as the successor of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Noel S. Clement who will formally step down from his post this coming Saturday.
Santos is a veteran intelligence officer known for his skills in gathering top information.
Lorenzana made the confirmation after formally receiving a letter from Malacañan Palace, which was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, regarding the appointment of Santos as the next AFP chief.
Clement, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985, will be retiring from the military after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on January 5. He was appointed AFP chief last Sept. 24 replacing his classmate Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., who retired from the service after his 56th birthday.
Santos, a member of PMA Class 1986, commanded the Nueva Ecija-based 7th Infantry Division before his appointment as Eastern Mindanao Command head in January of last year.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte appointed Santos on the basis of factors such as competence, honesty, and administrative ability.
“Every time a government official is appointed by the President, ang palagi niya lang sinasabi (what he always says is) is all I’m asking is competence and honesty in your work,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Duterte has repeatedly said he would fire any government official involved in even a “whiff” of corruption.
Santos in an interview with reporters said he will do his best to realize the vision of President Duterte to end insurgency during his incumbency as AFP Chief.-
He thanked Duterte for his appointment and said the military under his command would “continue to support all the priority programs regarding peace and security.”
He vowed to lead the AFP in ending the communist insurgency, neutralizing terror groups that have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) terror network, and would support the police and anti-drug agencies in the campaign against illegal narcotics.
