Alcantara, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1979, was designated The Deputy Chief of Staff (TDCS) of the Armed Forces effective May 3.
The TDCS, a three-star officer, supervises the activities of the members of the Armed Force joint staff.
“I want to thank President Aquino for my promotion,” Alcantara said in a brief telephone conversation.
Born in Manila on July 6, 1957, Alcantara grew up in Bulacan.
Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the 3rd Infantry “Spearhead” Division and concurrent TDCS, will be turning over the post to Alcantara.
Sources said Alcantara would be replaced by Maj. Gen. Rey Ardo, a member of PMA Class 1981.
In November 2009 Alcantara became the first in his batch to become division commander, replacing now- retired Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton Jr., just days after the November 23 massacre that killed 57 people, 32 of them mediamen, in barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Some key personalities involved in the massacre, the Ampatuan clan, had been in jail while the authorities are still hunting down more than 100 persons, mostly former members of the Civilian Volunteers Organization.
Alcantara gave full support to the local police in neutralizing private armed groups, warring clans and rebel activities within the area of operation of the 6th ID.
“Major General Alcantara ably led his command in conductìng security and stability operations in Central Mindanao, especially during the aftermath of the infamous Ampatuan Massacre in November 2009, particularly during the implementation of martial law and state of emergency [in the area],” the military public affairs chief, Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., said.
These operations successfully led to the arrest of many of those who were implicated in the massacre and the reimposition of law and order in the 6th ID’s area of responsibility that enabled the civil government to function anew.
“His sterling leadership and remarkable credibility made the command successfully facilitate the conducts of 2010 national elections, as well as the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which were held afterward. He also ensured the ìmplementation of Internal Peace and Security Plan, dubbed as Bayanihan, in all units within the area. These are seen through the completed infrastructure projects, particularly construction/repair of school structures implemented through convergence of efforts and resources from different entities, including the local communities themselves,” Burgos said.
