CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — The officials and members of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) announced their gratitude and support to incoming AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ricardo David.

Lt. Gen. David was chosen by President Benigno “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III to lead the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

NOLCOM spokesman Maj. Rosendo De Armas said that Lt. Gen. David was picked by the administration due to his good performance in military service.

De Armas disclosed that David, who served with the Presidential Security Group during the term of President Corazon Aquino, is tentatively set to assume the top military post on Friday.

He said David was “very proud and happy that he was chosen by the (incoming)
commander-in-chief.”

“He (David) promised that he will do his best to perform to the best of his ability as chief of staff of the AFP. At the same time, he will support all the policies and projects of the national government,” De Armas stresses.

David will replace acting AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, who assumed the post after the early retirement of Gen. Delfin Bangit. Bangit resigned from military service earlier this month after learning that Aquino would replace him.

David, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1977, was born in 1955 in San Fernando, Pampanga but spent most of his childhood days in Victoria, Tarlac. He assumed the post of NOLCOM chief in June last year.

The incoming AFP chief of stop has handled several other key positions in the military, among them commander of the 4th Infantry Division, commander of the Army Support Command, chief of the AFP Command Center, commander of the 402nd Brigade, among others.

David handled a total of seven positions at the PSG from 1987 to 1992. He was head of the PSG training branch and went on to serve with the presidential guards. His last position at the PSG was as personnel chief.

He finished a basic management program from the Asian Institute of Management
and went on to complete master’s degrees on security studies and business
administration from the Naval Post Graduate School in California and at the
Xavier University.

“He is a good choice for the Armed Forces. At the same time, we are confident that his able leadership will greatly contribute in the fulfillment of the mandate of the AFP to the people," said de Armas.