The waiting game is still on  for the successor of Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, chief of the 75,000-strong Philippine Army.

Considered strong contenders for the Army chief position are Negrense Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command in Visayas, and Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, AFP Northern Luzon commander.

Yano who was announced earlier by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the one to succeed Gen. Hermogenes Esperon as AFP chief, said  Ibrado has all the chances being a three-star general and a very qualified officer.

He, however, said it is the prerogative of the President to choose and announce his successor.

Before he was designated as chief of the Army’s elite Special Operations Command, Ibrado served as commander of the 11th Infantry Battalion, 303rd Infantry Brigade and 3rd Infantry Division in Regions 6 and 7 and later as AFP Central Command chief.

Maclang, Ibrado and Yano are all members of the Philippine Military Academy Class ’76.

Yano takes over as AFP chief on May 9 upon the retirement of Esperon, whose term had been extended for three months by President Arroyo.

Esperon chairs the Board of Generals who will recommend the next Army chief to President Arroyo, with Yano among the members.*GPB

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