Lt. Gen. Victor Ibrado, commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, yesterday said there is nothing official yet, when asked for comment on reports aired over a radio station and published in a national newspaper, that he had already been chosen as the new chief of the Philippine Army by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ibrado, a Negrense, said yesterday he will wait for the announcement from Malacañang.

If Ibrado is chosen as next Army chief, he will be the second Negrense to occupy the position after 22 years, military records show.

Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Canieso, a Bacoleño, became the Army chief after President Corazon Aquino assumed office in 1986.

The next Army chief will replace Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, who will take over as Armed Forces chief when Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. retires May 9.

Mrs. Arroyo was reported to have chosen Ibrado over two other contenders, Lt. Generals Cardoso Luna and Rodrigo Maclang, based on the recommendation of the Board of Generals chaired by Esperon, and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

Esperon and Ibrado both served as commanding general of the Special Operations Command, which supervises the Scout Ranger and Special Forces Regiments, as well as Light Reaction Battalion, the Army’s elite units.

Ibrado used to command the 11th Infantry Battalion, Army’s Intelligence and Security Group, 303rd Infantry Brigade, Special Forces Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division and Special Operations Command, before he became chief of the AFP Central Command in Visayas.*GPB

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