DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte said he is keeping his hands off the screening of the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

AFP chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya is retiring on Dec. 8. The AFP has its board of generals that goes over the selection process.

“I leave it to the AFP board of generals, they have to go through the process,” Duterte told reporters over the weekend.

Duterte said he would let Visaya and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana go over the selection process, but the President stressed that the next AFP chief must not be tainted with corruption.

But being the commander-in-chief, the President still has the prerogative to choose.

Under the law, even an officer with a rank of a full colonel could also become chief of staff provided he is appointed by the President who trusts him.

“The position of chief of staff of AFP is a position of trust and confidence. Whoever he will choose must have his trust and confidence,” a ranking military official said.

The source also told The STAR that all three-star generals are contenders to become the next AFP chief.