IT is said the Board of Generals' (BoG) deliberate and exhaustive process of selection and designation to key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is merely recommendatory to the secretary of National Defense and, finally, the president. It is ultimately the commander in chief — in the exercise of his or her prerogative to choose — who decides. And in respecting the AFP's many considerations in the selection, like seniority, leadership and service reputation, the commander in chief is expected to select from the shortlist of candidates submitted by the BoG. But there are many instances in the current and previous administrations that the recommendations were remanded to the AFP because the shortlist of usually three names does not contain the name the commander in chief is looking for.

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