COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) Southern Mindanao Director Alberto Sipaco welcomed the appointment of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as the new Defense secretary amid criticisms.

Sipaco, a human rights advocate, said Gonzales' appointment could signal the remaining days of the armed rebellion.

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He lauded Gonzales' first marching order to put an end to the armed rebellion that's besetting the country for several decades now.

"To my mind, this should usher in, assuming that he would attain success, the supremacy of human rights and peace and progress. I admire his statement for it is a gargantuan task considering that the armed rebellions are so complex in nature that they could not just be done in one sweep," Sipaco said.

Sipaco said he knew Gonzales back in the college days and he knew the secretary to be a very credible person and loyal to the Constitution.

Thus, Sipaco expressed surprise when Senator Rodolfo Biazon said that Gonzales' appointment as Defense chief is "constitutionally risky."

Biazon said in newspaper reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should be "wary" of receiving orders from Gonzales and clearly understand their mandate under the Constitution.

He cited Gonzales' pressure on Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Reynato Puno to discuss a so-called "transition government" and his raising of a no-elections scenario a few months back.

For his part, Sipaco said Gonzales' appointment as Department of National Defense (DND) chief is "very appropriate" considering his stint as the national security adviser for quite a long time now.

"Whatever his political convictions and principles as citizen are, that's personal to him. For as long he stays within the bounds of the law, I see no problem with that. Knowledgeable that he is as the NSA chief and with his credibility, I think no danger will be poised on the Constitution," Sipaco said. (BOT)