MANILA -- Outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero is proud to leave behind a more professional military as he formally steps down from office on Wednesday.
Guerrero made the statement when sought for a comment on what legacy he has left behind during his six-month stint as AFP chief.
"You can look around, makita n’yo naman (you can see) that our soldiers are professional and I believe during the months that I have been the Chief-of-Staff, I was able to strengthen (our) professionalism, (our) culture of excellence (in the) Armed Forces and this has greatly contributed to the accomplishments of the AFP in the past months," Guerrero said.
Guerrero was appointed as AFP chief last Oct. 26, 2017, replacing Gen. Eduardo Año.
Guerrero was supposed to retire on Dec. 17, 2017 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 but his term as AFP chief was extended by another four months by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The outgoing AFP chief said there is still a lot of things to improve in the AFP which his replacement, incumbent Western Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, can do once the latter officially assumes the top military post.
"(Things you want to do, but wala nang time) organizationally marami pang ano e, mga dapat (there is much to) improve sa (in the) systems and processes ng (of the) Armed Forces but I believe given yung (the) initial steps, I have already taken the initial steps to make sure that the next Chief-of-Staff will be able to follow through dun sa nasimulan (what has been started)," the outgoing AFP chief stressed.
These include measures to improve the nation's security, he added. (With reports from Ericka Cirera, OJT/PNA)
