Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the promotion of two general officers to the next higher rank and appointment of 15 others to key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Teodoro said the President, in a resolution dated June 25, signed the ad interim appointment of Maj. Gen. Hernanie Perez to the rank of Lieutenant General.

Brig. Gen. Jorge Segovia was also promoted the rank of Major General and was subsequently designated as the Commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Division. This took effect on July 25.

Fifteen other senior officers were appointed to key positions in the AFP upon President Arroyo’s approval.

Newly-designated are Commodore Efren Tedor as Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command Center, whose designation took effect on July 14, Brig. Gen. Florante Martinez as Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group of the Philippine Army and Brig. Gen. William Campos as Assistant Division Commander of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division.

Their appointments took effect August 18.

President Arroyo also approved the designation of Brig. Gen. Gominto Pirino as Deputy Commander of the Western Mindanao Command. His appointment will take effect on October 13.

Brig. Gen. Bonifacio De Castro is the new Assistant Commandant/ Dean of Academics of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff College while Col. Carlos Quita is the new Commander of the Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Their designations took effect August 3.

Meanwhile, Col. Samuel Narbuada was appointed the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2. His appointment took effect on July 14.

Newly designated as Deputy Commander of the Army Support Command is Col. Arnulfo Palmea and Col. Noel Miano was appointed Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Munitions Control Center. Their appointments took effect August 11.

In separate resolutions, President Arroyo also approved the designations of Col. Eduardo Del Rosario as Commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, Col. Joel Ibañez as the Assistant Division Commander of the 8th Infantry Division, and Col. Aurelio Baladad as Commander of the Army’s 202nd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Their designations took effect on August 20.