Outgoing AFP chief gives one of his final orders

Outgoing AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri ordered all military units to ensure peace and order in the coming May 9 elections.

This was stressed by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla in a message Wednesday when asked on what orders Iriberri has given his commanders during his last command conference in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“Main agenda was AFP preparations for the national election this May. Gen. Iriberri since his assumption last year has been visiting all AFP units to reiterate his instruction and share best practices in ensuring the AFP delivers on its mandated tasks as a deputized agency of COMELEC (Commission on Elections),” he added.

Iriberri will retire on Friday after reaching the military mandatory retirement age of 56. He is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983.

He was appointed the 46th AFP chief last July 10, 2015. Prior that Iriberri was named head of the Philippine Army in February 7, 2014.

“In 2010, Gen. Iriberri was a brigade commander in the then infamous election hotspot Abra. He was credited for significantly contributing towards Abra’s reversal as one of the most peaceful areas with the highest voter turn out during that year’s national elections. The CSAFP (Chief-of-Staff, AFP) considered the event his last intimate session with AFP’s key leaders and availed of the occasion to personally thank all the AFP’s senior leaders for their dedication, professionalism, sacrifice and support during his tenure as CSAFP,” Padilla added.