The term of Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. as officer-in-charge of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command in the Visayas ended with the naming by President Benigno Aquino III of Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano as its new commander.

Mabanta is the concurrent commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.

The order of Alano, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class ’79, as CENTCOM chief, took effect Sept. 14, Col. Arnulfo Burgos, AFP spokesman, yesterday said.

Alano used to be the Philippine Fleet commander and had also served as Chief of Naval Staff, commander of the Naval Forces Northern Luzon, Service Force and Naval Air Group.

Mabanta had served as CENTCOM officer-in-charge for several weeks, after Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva retired from the military service last month.

Burgos said that Maj. Gen. Alan Luga was also designated to the AFP Southern Luzon Command. His position as Army’s 7th Infantry Division commander was given to Brig. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang.

Col. Jet Velarmino, 101st Infantry Brigade commander, was also designated deputy commander of the Special Operations Command of the Philippine Army, that supervises the Special Forces Regiment, First Scout Ranger Regiment and the Light Reaction Battalion.

Velarmino was formally commander of the defunct 6th Special Forces Battalion assigned in central Negros, military records show.

AFP chief- of-staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa welcomed and congratulated the new appointees.“Your new designations will not only benefit the new offices and units that you hold, but will also be significant advancements in your military careers,” Dellosa said.

Dellosa also pointed out the importance of progressive succession in the AFP’s leadership.

“The changes in the positions we hold are part and parcel of being a military officer. We all went through a rigorous selection process and I am sure that you will be successful in accomplishing the new tasks assigned to you,” he added.*GPB

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