The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Friday said President Aquino has approved a revamp in the military hierarchy, including the designation of Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero as the new AFP-National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief, replacing Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue.

The orders were issued by the President, AFP Commander-in-Chief, based on the recommendation by the Board of Generals (BoG) through the Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, the AFP said.

Tabaquero is taking over the command of  the NCRCom, succeeding Angue, who will now be commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.

Angue had earlier hogged the headlines after he accused some military officers of engaging in partisan politics during the last elections. He said these officers should be called by the Truth Commission.

The AFP leadership later moved to discipline Angue for making the statements. In an order, a copy of which was obtained by members of the Defense Press Corps, Angue was asked to “satisfactorily explain in writing within a period of 24 hours why no administrative or disciplinary sanction may be imposed upon you for having issued the statements.”

In his letter, Angue said he only wanted some officers, whom he did not identify, investigated for their partisan political activity during the May elections.

As part of the revamp, outgoing Philippine Air Force (PAF) Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. has been designated as AFP Deputy Chief of Staff. Replacing him as PAF Vice Commander is Maj. Gen. Artemio Orozco, the outgoing commander of PAF 1st Air Division.

Rear Adm. Mario Catacutan is designated AFP Inspector General. Taking his post as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics is Commodore Teddy Pan, the outgoing Deputy Commander of the Western Command. Maj. Gen. Jovencio Magalso, the outgoing AFP Inspector General, is appointed as Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs.

The new Commander of the Naval Forces Northern Luzon is Commodore Edgar Abogado, the outgoing Commander of the PN Naval Logistics Center, while Commodore Jose Luis Alano, the outgoing Commander of the Service Force of the Philippine Fleet is designated as the New Chief of Naval Staff.

Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban is designated as commander of the Western Command (WesCom) and will be succeeded by Brig. Gen. Rustico Guerrero.

Rear Adm. Roberto Estioko has been appointed as full-time Philippine Navy Vice Commander. Army Col. Benito Antonio De Leon, previously the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of National Defense, is designated as chief of the AFP Command Center.

Maj. Gen. Mario Chan is designated as commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8ID). Replacing Chan as 4th ID Commander is Maj. Gen Victor Felix, the outgoing Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, who will in turn be replaced by Brig. Gen. Nonato Alfredo Peralta Jr.

Peralta, the outgoing commandant of cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet Corps, will be replaced by Army Col. Maximo Caro, commander of the 303rd Brigade.

Brig. Gen. Carlos Luces will assume command of the Light Armor Division, Philippine Army, from being its Assistant Division Commander.

At the Philippine Air Force, Brig. Gen. Pedro Rieza Jr was designated as commander of PAF Air Logistics Command. He was previously the 355th Air Engineering Wing commander.

Maj. Gen. Jesus Fajardo will assume the post of commander of the 2nd Air Division, while Brig. Gen. Virgilio Domingo is designated as the wing commander of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing.

AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David said the reshuffled underwent a detailed process, from the nominations from the Board of Senior Officers from each of the major services, to the AFP BoG, then to the Office of the President through the Secretary of National Defense.