Acting chief affirms AFP's commitment to peaceful, orderly polls

The newly appointed acting chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday assured the public that the military will do its part to make sure that the May 9 elections will be peaceful and orderly.

Speaking during the turnover ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda also ensured that the military will remain apolitical in the coming local and national elections.

"Our country is nearing one of its finest moments, national and local elections a few days from now. Your AFP is committed to achieving orderly and peaceful conduct of this coming elections," he said.

"As oftenly said, the AFP will remain apolitical and stretch its means to contribute to this end," added Miranda, who assumed his post 17 days before the elections.

President Benigno Aquino III, the military's commander in chief, announced Miranda's appointment Friday, replacing the retiring Gen. Hernando Iriberri.

Iriberri's mandatory retirement came at a time when appointments are banned due to the elections.

"Bagaman hindi na tayo makakapagtalaga ng Chief of Staff dahil sa mga pamantayan ng Saligang Batas, tiwala pa rin tayo na ang papalit kay Gen. Iriberri ay maipagpapatuloy ang maganda niyang nasimulan, sa nalalabing mga buwan ng ating termino. Magiging Acting Chief of Staff si Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, na kilala sa pagiging mapanuri at maparaan bilang strategist at sundalo," Aquino said.

Aquino, who is stepping down on June 30 after finishing his six-year term, also expressed his gratitude to the military, including all who served as chiefs of staffs during his presidency.

"Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa lahat ng naglingkod bilang Chief of Staff ng AFP, at sa mga dati at kasalukuyang service commanders ng Army, Air Force, at Navy na nakasama natin sa loob ng ating administrasyon," he said.

"Siyempre, nagpapasalamat ako sa bawat sundalo, opisyal, reservist, at kawani ng AFP na talagang nakihakbang sa Daang Matuwid at nakiisa sa pagsasakripisyo, para maihatid natin ang ating sambayanan sa dapat nitong kalagyan," Aquino added.

Miranda is the seventh and last military chief of staff to be appointed by Aquino whose six-year term ends in June this year.

Irriberi and Miranda both belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983.

Miranda, former commander of the AFP's Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), was appointed vice chief of staff in March this year.

According to his profile on the Philippine government website, Miranda was born in San Fernando, La Union, on October 8, 1961. He is married to Caroline Miranda, with whom he has four children.

Miranda, who had received commando training in the United Kingdom and Singapore, is a Scout Ranger, a paratrooper, an infantry and intelligence officer.

He has Master Degrees in National Security Administration as well as Business Administration. —Veronica Pulumbarit/KBK, GMA News