Monday, October 23, 2006
Senator hits naming of generals to civilian posts
MANILA -- Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. questioned Sunday the propriety of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s practice to name retired military or police generals to civilian government positions.
Pimentel was dismayed by reports that retired general Generosa Senga, former Armed Forces chief, is being enticed by the President to accept a position in her administration, possibly as chairman of the Nation Broadcasting Network 4.
Noting Senga’s key role in foiling the February 24 coup plot by rebel military and police officers, the senator said President Arroyo “is obviously paying him a debt of gratitude for his contributions to saving her government.”
“Even as she (President Arroyo) approaches the second half of her undeserved term, the President is still in payback mode. She forgets that like the morning mist, it is ephemeral as it provides only a fleeting sense of personal utopia for her,” he said.
He criticized the President for dangling well-paying civilian government positions to retired generals without being bothered by the resulting impression that the bureaucracy is being militarized.
Former military chiefs who were given civilian posts include Efren Abu, special envoy to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP) area; Narciso Abaya, president of Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA); Arthur Defensor, special envoy for counter-terrorism; Roy Cimatu, ambassador and head of Middle East Preparedness Team; and Angelo Reyes, environment secretary. (CPB/Sunnex)
(October 23, 2006 issue)
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