The President of the Republic of the Philippines, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III appointed Army Chief Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), on Friday, July 10, 2015, following the retirement of General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.
During the change of command ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Gen. Iriberri thanked President Aquino, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Gen. Catapang for their trust and confidence, and their example of leadership.
The new Chief of Staff Gen. Iriberri also said that he is humbled by the sacrifice and commitment of his fellow soldiers as what he stated during his speech.
The AFP Chief of Staff was quoted as saying “Today I am given the greatest responsibility in my military career. With all humility and steadfastness, I accept this charge to serve our nation,” said Iriberri, who was commanding general of the Army prior to his appointment as AFP chief.
“By the end of 2016, the goal is for peace to reign in all the provinces in our country,” he said. “Winning the peace is not the end but only the beginning of another chapter in our internal security operation.”
“And so today, as the [AFP] offers up its record of winning the peace, we make a new pledge. We will not only win the peace but we will secure the peace as well,” he added.
Gen. Iriberri also vowed to work for the AFP Transformation Roadmap with commitment, consistency and focus. According to the records of Gen. Ibiberri before he became the Army chief, he served different positions, he was spokesman of the Philippine Army when Sec. Voltaire Gazmin was Army Chief and also became Gazmin’s senior military adviser and spokesman.
Gen. Iriberri also served as a platoon leader and company commander of the 23rd Infantry Batallion of the 4th Infantry Division, assigned in the province of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur.
The newly appointed Chief of Staff, will serve as AFP chief until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 in April 2016.