In his address at the turnover of command rites presided by President Arroyo, the Commander in Chief of the AFP, General Yano vowed to continue the reforms and development programs for the country’s 120,000 soldiers that were set in motion by General Esperon.

"Sir," he addressed General Esperon, "you pursued the AFP’s goal of ending the insurgency that has plagued our country for decades by the year 2010, and we may say in your presence today, General Esperon, Sir, your labor shall not be in vain. The enemies of democracy shall be decimated. As scheduled, as planned."

The incoming chief of staff also vowed to insulate the military from partisan politics as he renounced military adventurism. He pledged to vigorously pursue the government campaign against terrorism and insurgency.

General Yano said that under his leadership, the military will respond to challenges with urgency and courage, and ensure that the timetale for dismantling communist guerrilla fronts will be followed.

Yano is the 38th commanding general of the Armed Forces since Capt. Gen. Artemio Ricarte, the first chief of the Filipino Army who served from March 22, 1897, to January 1899.

The new AFP chief of staff was born on June 13, 1953, in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte. He took up Civil Engineering at the Cebu Institute of Technology where he was an honor student.

He was admitted to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1972 and graduated in 1976 as a member of PMA "Magilas" Class. He spent most of his military career in combat zones.

He took up the Infantry Officer Advance Course at the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was in the Commandant’s List.

He was appointed 49th commanding general of the Philippine Army on Aug. 24, 2007, and served for nine months prior to his assmption yesterday as chief of staff of the AFP.

As commandng general of the Philippine Army, Yano advocated programs that benefitted soldiers and enhanced the Army’s operational capability.

In a press statement yesterday, Yano called on his fellow officers in the AFP to reaffirm their commitment to a focused, simple, and frugal life.

General Esperon reported in his valedictory speech said the communist insurgency is now in disarray.

"The communist insurgency is hardly able to breath and should make their final gasp within the timetable set by President Arroyo," he said.

He added: "Khadafy Janjalani is dead and so is his loyal shadow Abu Sulayman, and their death signals the demise of terrorism in the country… . Thhere is relative peace in Mindanao, and the primacy of the peace process has taken root in the region."

Esperon closed out his military service after serving as chief of staff for one year and 10 months, from July 21, 2006, to May 12, 2006, including a threemonth extension.

In his speech, General Yano renewed the military’s commitment to serve the people as he bared a five-point agenda for his 13-month tour of duty.

He said he will "build on the gains" that the AFP achieved under General Esperon, whom he replaced.

"Not only shall the AFP respond with a sense of urgency towards its duty of protecting democracy; we shall do so with a renewed sense of passion and dedication... We are daunted by the challenge of duplicating your feat," Yano told Esperon in his speech.

"Our soldiers renew their commitment: First, to continue our abhorrence and renunciation of military adventurism of any sort; Second, to continue shielding the AFP organization from anu and all overtures of, and involvement in partisan politics," he said.

He added that he will also "pursue with even more vigor our nation’s determined campaign against terrorism and insurgency," and "to uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights even in the face of the fiercest of battles in our determined bid to defeat the enemies of peace and democracy."

Fifth, he said, he will "further the meaningful partnersip between the Defense Department and the AFP, which will help push forward our quest for Philippine Defense Reform."

He renewed the military’s pledge of full support to President Arroyo. On behalf of the 120,000-strong military, Yano expressed confidence that Arroyo’s administration is in "an excellent position to win this war" against poverty.

"Madame President," he said, "your leadership has laid down a clear blueprint for countryside growth. The AFP is not the agent of such growth, but we shall clear the way and pave the road."

"The AFP is also aware that we can help create, enhance and preserve the atmosphere and environment needed to make it easier for the forces of economic development to penetrate the areas in our country where progres is most needed," he added.

Addressing the nation, Yano assured that the military "will always advocate unity in the force, loyalty to the chain of command, and internal consolidation."

He said this is what it takes to carry out the unique mandate given to them by the people pursuant to the 1987 Constitution.

"We shall continue to go back to basics to rebuild and transform. We shall go back to basics to give rise to a new institutional order that will highlight and promote the relevance of the AFP," he said.

"Our officers and enlisted personnel will be our most important sources of ideas in the process of reinvention and, thus, our re-emergence."

After the ceremony, Yano was congratulated by his guests, among them Dr. Roberto C. Licup Sr. of the Southern Luzon State University in Quezon. The new AFP chief of staff also served as Southern Luzon Command chief based in Lucena City before becoming Army chief.

GMA thanks Esperon, may give him new position

Following his retirement from the military, former Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. may find himself soon in a new government position.

President Arroyo yesterday hinted that she would soon give Esperon another government position as she thanked him for a "job superbly done" in the military.

The President, in her remarks, disclosed she was supposed to extend the term of Esperon longer than the three months she gave him last February. Esperon, however, suggested a "short extension" to facilitate a smooth transition to the next AFP chief of staff, according to the President.

Esperon was supposed to retire last February, but got a three-month extension from the President to sustain the campaign against communist insurgents. The Constitution provides that the term of the military chief shall not exceed three years. But the law allows the President to extend such term in times of war or national emergency declared by Congress

"In General Yano’s time, we are giving him a whole new slate of field commanders. The phase- in and phase- out have been so smooth and seamless that this snowball will turn into an avalanche by 2010," she said. Mrs. Arroyo was referring to the military’s momentum against the communist rebels she has vowed to crush by 2010.

The President praised Esperon for steering military achievements in the fight against communist rebels, terrorists, and other lawless elements during his tenure which began in July, 2006.

"All insurgency parameters are on the downtrend, from New People’s Army (NPA) numbers plummeting to a historic low to firearms now notm many more than the rebels themselves," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo also lauded Esperon for turning the military into a "solid and truly dependable Armed Forces."