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Monday, August 15, 2005
Military will stay apolitical: incoming chief
MANILA -- Incoming Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Generoso Senga said Sunday he would keep the military away from the ongoing political crisis hounding the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He will formally assume office as the next military chief after a turnover ceremony to be presided by Arroyo at the Camp Aguinaldo Grandstand in Quezon City Monday.
Senga replaces General Efren Abu, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 last June 24 but whose tenure was extended by the President to August 15 at the height of destabilization efforts against her government.
Senga and Abu were classmates in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1972.
In a press briefing, Senga asked the officers and men in the military to stay way from the current political tension in the country and just concentrate on their role as soldiers.
The incoming military chief also said he would pursue the investigation against the military officers who were linked to vote-rigging.
In the controversial Hello Garci tapes, it was implied that some military generals, among them incoming Army Chief Hermogenes Esperon, "allegedly conspired with President Arroyo and officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in manipulating the outcome of last year's presidential elections."
The generals are being investigated by a military fact-finding board headed by Armed Forces Inspector General's Office Chief Mateo Mayuga. The military junked calls for the relief of the "erring" officers pending the investigation.
"The ongoing investigation (against those generals) will continue," said Senga.
Abu stint in the military was marred by several controversies, including the expensive renovation of the Camp Aguinaldo pavement and construction of a 60-room resort for the military in Boracay.
To take over Senga's post as Army chief is Esperon in turnover rites scheduled this coming Wednesday. Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz will be the guest speaker.
But the shadowy Young Officers Union new generation (Young) called for the recall of Esperon's appointment.
"The AFP, this coming August 17, will once more mock and add insult to injury to the very foundation of military professionalism if the appointment of General Esperon as the new Army chief is not rescinded," said Young in a statement.
The statement, signed by Young spokesman Arsenio Alcantara, described the appointment of Esperon as "clear manifestation of the existence of political mafia within the Armed Forces and will further erode the rank and file's dwindling trust in the military leadership."
Young also said Esperon's takeover will widen the "crack of horizontal division and mistrust" in the Philippine Army because the officers and men see his appointment as "unfair and politically motivated". (JFF/Sunnex)
(August 15, 2005 issue)
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