From InterAksyon (Jan 3): Army chief starts farewell visit to troops
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Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes
The commanding general of the Philippine Army began Thursday his farewell visit to field units of the 90,000-strong service arm.
Lieutenant General Noel Coballes, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Mapitagan” Class 1980, will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 in February.
On Thursday, Coballes visited the 5th Infantry Division commanded by Major General Joel Ybanez and based at Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Barangay Upi, Gamu, Isabela.
Coballes, a native of Cagayan province, is the 55th Army chief. Before this, he was Armed Forces vice chief of staff.
Army spokesman Captain Anthony Bacus described Coballes’ visit to the 5th ID “as part of the traditional Yuletide visit of the commanding general.”
“Apart from bringing holiday cheers to the soldiers, the visit also aims to boost the morale of the troops in order to motivate them to carry out their mandates with dedication and commitment,” Bacus said.
Interaksyon .com earlier had first crack at reporting the names of possible contenders for the Army chief position.
Leading them is Northern Luzon Command chief Leiutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang (PMA “Dimalupig” Class 1981), classmate of Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista.
Also in the running is Major General Hernando Iriberri, commander of the 7th Infantry Division and a member of PMA “Matikas” Class 1983, who sources say is banking on the support of his long-time mentor Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/77950/army-chief-starts-farewell-visit-to-troops
Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes
The commanding general of the Philippine Army began Thursday his farewell visit to field units of the 90,000-strong service arm.
Lieutenant General Noel Coballes, a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Mapitagan” Class 1980, will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 in February.
On Thursday, Coballes visited the 5th Infantry Division commanded by Major General Joel Ybanez and based at Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Barangay Upi, Gamu, Isabela.
Coballes, a native of Cagayan province, is the 55th Army chief. Before this, he was Armed Forces vice chief of staff.
Army spokesman Captain Anthony Bacus described Coballes’ visit to the 5th ID “as part of the traditional Yuletide visit of the commanding general.”
“Apart from bringing holiday cheers to the soldiers, the visit also aims to boost the morale of the troops in order to motivate them to carry out their mandates with dedication and commitment,” Bacus said.
Interaksyon .com earlier had first crack at reporting the names of possible contenders for the Army chief position.
Leading them is Northern Luzon Command chief Leiutenant General Gregorio Pio Catapang (PMA “Dimalupig” Class 1981), classmate of Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista.
Also in the running is Major General Hernando Iriberri, commander of the 7th Infantry Division and a member of PMA “Matikas” Class 1983, who sources say is banking on the support of his long-time mentor Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/77950/army-chief-starts-farewell-visit-to-troops