Lieutenant General Eduardo Ano on Wednesday became the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), replacing Gen. Ricardo Visaya, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 on the same day.

Prior to his appointment, Ano had been the chief of the Philippine Army as well as the chief of the Intelligence Service of the AFP.

At a ceremony presided by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, the military's commander-in-chief, in Camp Aguinaldo, Ano said the military, with him at the helm, will support the government's initiative for the "peaceful resolution" concerning all "ideologically- based" armed groups.

He referred to Abu Sayyaf, Maute Group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, among others.

Duterte thanked Visaya for his service to the people and ordered Ano to continue the military's assistance to the police in his administration's war against illegal drugs.

source: Xinhua