New Army chief downplays controversy on appointment

NEWLY Appointed Army chief Lieutenant General Reynaldo Mapagu downplayed the controversy arising from his appointment, which allegedly bypassed a more senior military officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In a text message Wednesday, Mapagu, former chief of the Army's 10th Infantry Division based here in Davao City, said they are all good soldiers and will never question the authority of the President and commander-in-chief when it comes to appointments in the key positions of the AFP.

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Lieutenant General Raymundo Ferrer, in an earlier report said he was disappointed for having been bypassed in the appointment of the new Army chief.

Ferrer is more senior than Mapagu and was earlier appointed by the President as caretaker when the martial rule was imposed in Maguindanao late last year after the November 23 Maguindanao massacre.

Mapagu said he has "high respect for Ferrer as an officer and a gentleman."

"I admire him a lot, I will strive very hard to do my job in taking care of the army in order that our people can truly be proud of it," Mapagu said.

Ferrer and other ranking military officers said they are "not clapping their hands or celebrating" the appointment of Mapagu as Army chief.

"But we're not questioning the prerogative of the President. It's a prerogative to appoint military officers whom she trusts to key positions," Ferrer was quoted as saying.

Ferrer also spoke highly of Mapagu saying he is qualified for the position because he also served as a division commander.

A 1977 graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Ferrer was expected to replace Lieutenant General Delfin Bangit as Army chief.

Bangit, a former head of the Presidential Security Group, was appointed AFP chief of staff last week.

But Arroyo appointed Mapagu who, like Bangit, is a member of PMA Class of 1978, which has adopted the President as an honorary member.

The appointments of Bangit and Mapagu were followed by that of their "mistah" (classmate) Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue as chief of the Army's National Capital Region Command (NCRCom).

Angue's appointment further fueled speculation about the alleged "Oplan August Moon," a purported plan designed to extend Arroyo's stay in power and entailing putting members of PMA Class '78 in vital military and police posts. (BOT)