Esperon invites Yano to join top-level meetings for smooth transition

By Ronron
January 28, 2008

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has invited Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano to join the meetings of the joint staff for a smooth transition in May.

Yano was named by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Esperon’s successor when his extended term ends on May 9th.

“I intend to and I have in fact discussed this already with Gen. Yano that I have authorized him to meet with my joint staff every now and then so we can have a smooth transition,” Esperon told reporters Monday at his office in Camp Aguinaldo.

The joint staff Esperon is talking about consists of the military deputy chief of staff for personnel (J1), deputy chief of staff for intelligence (J2), deputy chief of staff for operations (J3), deputy chief of staff for logistics (J4), deputy chief of staff for plans (J5), deputy chief of staff for communications, electronics, and information system (J6), deputy chief of staff for civil military operations (J7), and the deputy chief of staff for reservist and retirees affairs (J8).

Esperon said that even if Yano is already aware of the battle plan of the military leadership in the coming years, his attendance in meetings with the joint staff will prepare him some more for the chief of staff post.

Among the goals of the military is to defeat the New People’s Army (NPA) by 2010, decimate the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and their allies, and give primacy to the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He said that in his three-month extension, the scenario could be “bloody” in their attempt to achieve said goals.

“Bloody doesn’t necessarily mean blood. It means more sweat, and more impact, and we intend to route them,” Esperon said.

He said the military approach will be coupled with developmental efforts.

And he hopes his successor will do the same.

“They could even be better… I believe in the potential of my successor,” Esperon said.

Yano has yet to issue a statement on Esperon’s term extension and his appointment as next AFP chief of staff./DMS