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Sunday, January 27, 2008
Arroyo extends Esperon's term as AFP chief
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Saturday extended by three months the term of Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr., and named Army Chief Alexander Yano as his successor.
Radio dzRH reported that Arroyo made the announcement while in Switzerland, even as Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the extension would give Yano time to "adjust."
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"I learned that the three-month extension is to maintain our momentum in national security efforts, and to give Yano time to familiarize himself with his role," Ermita said.
During a command conference earlier this month, Arroyo ordered the military to maintain the "momentum" against threat groups like the New People's Army (NPA) and Abu Sayyaf.
Ermita said the "transition period" between now and May 9 will give Esperon a chance to "put everything in motion" and Yano to maintain the momentum.
"Esperon will have the chance to put everything in motion, and his successor will be on board later to further implement what has been started," he said.
During the interview, President Arroyo belied speculations that Esperon lobbied for an extension of his post.
The President admitted that her decision stemmed from "consultations" with junior officers.
The same interview quoted her as saying that from a military standpoint, it would be better to have "continuity of leadership" and not to derail the campaign against the NPA.
Not happy
A former military bishop, citing Esperon's involvement in controversies, is not happy with the extension of his term.
Former military Bishop Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles noted Esperon had been "involved in many controversies," including the "Hello Garci" wiretap scandal.
"Many are against him (Esperon) in the military. There's dissatisfaction," he said in a statement posted Saturday on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website (www.cbcpnews.com).
He added that Arroyo should assign "someone who is not controversial" to head the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) once Esperon's term ends February 9.
Besides, he said there are other options in the military leadership who are "equally capable" to lead the government forces.
"There are many others who are worthy of trust and who can also deliver," said Arguelles.
Arguelles also said his (Esperon) successor should be loyal to the Constitution and not just to the Commander-in-Chief.
"I hope that our people in the Armed Forces will not be beholden to the politicians but to the people," he said, adding that the military has been so "politicized which should not be."
Military politicization
For Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a former AFP chief, the extension of the term of Esperon may well be a throwback to the Marcos years that spawned the Reform the AFP Movement (RAM).
Biazon said the extension shows the politicization of the military under the Arroyo government.
"It's not good. We know the problem that hounded the military under Marcos where 65 percent of generals were extendees. That prompted the birth of RAM," he said.
RAM, "godfathered" by Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and headed by Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, played a key role in the Edsa-1 revolution that toppled former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
According to Biazon, the extension of Esperon's term is sure to have an effect on the rank-and-file.
He said an extension is justified only in case of war, an insurgency, or a rebellion. None of the three conditions is met in Esperon's case, he said.
"If he (Esperon) is really needed, why extend his term by only three months? This is all a political accommodation. That's the problem when the AFP is politicized," he added.
The lawmaker also said Esperon's extension bolstered his suspicion that the January 22 destabilization plot claimed by Palace officials was all a yarn to extend Esperon's term.
Esperon will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9.
Esperon's successor
With the term of Esperon extended to three months, President Arroyo also named Yano to be Esperon's successor.
Yano graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on February 17, 1976. PMA Class of 1976 includes PMA uperintendent Leopoldo Maligalig, Western Mindanao Command head Nestor Allaga, Marine commander Benjamin Dolorfino, Ilocos Regional Police Director Leopoldo Bataoil, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Police Regional Director Joel Goltiao, Task Force Usig head Jefferson Soriano, Southern Police District head Luizo Ticman, and Quezon City Police Director Magtanggol Gatdula.
Yano underwent extensive military schooling both here and abroad, including an Infantry Officer Advance Course in the US Army Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, USA in 1986; Pre-Command Course for Battalion Commanders at the PA Training Command in 1991; and the Command and General Staff Course at the Tradoc PA in 1998.
He was chief of staff and deputy commander of the Presidential Security Group from 1998 to 2000, and deputy commander of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Task Force Aduana in 1999.
From 2000 to 2001, Yano served as the assistant chief of staff for operations, G3, Army, and as operations officer of the Ground Component of Joint Task Force Libra during the height of the siege of Malacañang on May 1, 2001.
In June 2001, he was designated as the commanding officer of Task Force Zamboanga, responsible for securing Zamboanga City from terrorists and other lawless threats.
He was overall ground tactical commander during the two-day Cabatangan crisis involving 300 armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Breakaway Group.
Yano earned four Distinguished Service Stars, the Presidential Legion of Honor (Degree of Officer), four Outstanding Achievement Medals, a Gold Cross Medal for gallantry in combat, a Bronze Cross Medal, 26 military merit medals, 14 military commendation medals, and various campaign medals and ribbons including plaques and letters of commendation from both military and civilian organizations.
He was also named one of the Most Outstanding Zamboanga del Norte Citizens during the 51st Zamboanga del Norte Founding Anniversary in June 2003 and as an "adopted son" of General Santos City.
Yano was born on June 13, 1953 in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte. He is married to Estela Aragon Yano, a retired military nurse from La Union. They have a son, Ervin Andrew. (JMR/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (January 27, 2008 issue)
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