MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 7, 2014) – President Benigno Aquino has named Major General Hernando Iriberri as the new Philippine Army chief, breaking a long military tradition to appoint the most senior officer to head a major branch of service in the armed forces.
Iriberri, who was a former commander of the 7th Infantry Division in Luzon Island, overstepped several generals who are most senior to head the Philippine Army. Iriberri, a former aide of Defense chief Voltaire Gazmin, replaced Lieutenant General Noel Coballes, who retired on Friday.
But unknown to many Iriberri – as an intelligence officer – was a key figure and instrumental in hastening the healing process between the military and surrendered members of the Young Officers Union (YOU), the group of junior military officers who staged the bloodiest coup alongside with the Reformed The Armed Forces Movement and Soldiers of the Filipino People against Aquino’s mother, then President Corazon Aquino in 1989.
“He achieved this by circumspectly studying the psyche or frame of mind of the detained rebel officers by sleeping, eating and living with them at the 808th Detention Center in Fort Bonifacio. Such efforts gave him valuable insight on how to reach a win-win solution for both the rebel group and the AFP.”
“His hard work and sacrifice effectively created an open line of communication between the two and paved the way for the reconciliatory stance from the YOU members which culminated in the signing of the manifesto of support to the Government by its members which was handed to and accepted by the then DND Secretary Renato De Villa. The Government then agreed to release from detention the YOU members and reinstated them in the active military service,” according to Iriberri’s profile in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Iriberri, who holds a Masters degree in Management and Defense Studies from the University of Canberra in Australia – also fought Moro and communist rebels, including the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group in southern and northern Philippines earlier in his career and later became chief of the Philippine Army’s Public Affairs Office and served with the United Nations Guards Contingent in Iraq.
He is also a recipient of various awards, including 5 Distinguished Service Stars Medals, an Outstanding Achievement Medal, two Gold Cross Medals and numerous Military Merit and Commendation Medals.
Aquino has all praises for Iriberri – of Philippine Military Academy Class 1983 – for his long accomplishments throughout his military career and also instrumental in peaceful elections in Central Luzon.
“Kaya naman marapat lamang na mahusay at maaasahang pinuno din ang humalili sa kanya (Coballes) – ito ay walang iba kundi si Major General Hernando Iriberri. Pinabatid po sa atin ang kahanga-hanga pong mga naabot niyang tagumpay noon, tulad ng nakaraang taon lamang bilang commander ng 503rd Infantry Brigade, ang kanyang unit ay naging instrumental sa pagkamit ng pinakamapayapang eleksyon sa probinsya ng Abra. Dahil epektibo niyang natugunan anumang banta doon, nakapagtala ang probinsya ng 83 percent voters turn-out—ang pinakamataas na tala sa Cordillera Administrative Region noong nakaraang eleksyon.”
“Balita ko rin, ang tawag sa kanya sa AFP ay code ‘Superman’ at lagi daw kasi siyang nangingibabaw sa mga pisikal na pagsasanay. Bilang bagong pinuno, umaasa akong pambihirang lakas, disiplina, at dedikasyon din ang ibubuhos mo upang ipagpatuloy ang transpormasyon ng Hukbong Katihan,” Aquino said during the formal handover of command in Manila.
Iriberri is the 56th Philippine Army chief. (Mindanao Examiner)
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