Presumptive President of the Republic of the Philippines, Pres. Rody Duterte considered Southern Luzon Command Chief Lt. Gen. Visaya to be the next Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff after a meeting with the leading presidential candidate on Sunday night. Mayor Rody Duterte invited Lt. Gen. Visaya during a meeting with some of the country’s retired generals who are supporting the Davao City Mayor.
According to Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, he met with Mayor Rody Duterte in Davao City and they discussed pressing security matters in Mindanao. The Southern Luzon Command chief reveald that one of the major concern of Mayor Duterte is to get rid of Abu Sayyaf.
When Lt. Gen. Visaya was asked if he was already Duterte’s choice as AFP Chief, the veteran officer just noted he was one of the those who were considered for the post as AFP Chief of Staff. He also noted that he was the only active military officer present in the meeting because the rest were already retired generals.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Matikas” Class of 1983. He was previously considered as AFP Chief by President Benigno Aquino III. The military officer was the ground commander operating in Tarlac and Pampanga when the Hacienda Luisita massacre happened in 2004.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on his part confirmed to the media that Lt. Gen. Visaya is one of the candidates to the top AFP post and even described him as a “vibrant general.” Lt. Gen. Visayas is set to retire in December 2016.
