Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri was appointed as the new Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff. He assumes command of 125,000 strong military. Before his appointment as Army chief, Iriberri commanded the 7th Infantry Division in Nueva Ecija and the 503rd Brigade based in Abra, a traditional election hotspot. No less than President Benigno Aquino III credited him for the orderly election in Abra in 2013. Iriberri unit was instrumental for the attainment of the most peaceful election in the province of Abra,” Aquino said during Iriberri’s assumption as Army chief on Feb. 7, 2014. Aquino also revealed that Iriberri was known as “Superman” by his colleagues for topping physical examinations.
