Bangit wants to leave post by June 22
By Mario J. Mallari 06/18/2010 Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit may not render a snappy salute to President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino as Commander-in-Chief as he has already submitted his formal application for an early retirement to President Arroyo. In a chance interview with Camp Aguinaldo reporters during a testimonial parade in his honor at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio yesterday, Bangit admitted that he has already submitted to the Commander-in-Chief his letter requesting an early retirement. Bangit said he wanted to formally retire on June 22. “I can only make official announcement after the approval,” he stressed. “That’s the date (June 22) I am requesting but… the actual date of retirement has to be decided by the Commander-in-Chief,” Bangit added. It was gathered that Bangit submitted his letter to the President, through acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, early this week when he started conducting farewell visits to major military camps throughout the country as military tradition calls. During his exit visits, Bangit urged the troops to remain professional, obey, respect and support the incoming Commander-in-Chief and chief of staff. Bangit has more than a year left in the active service as he is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on July 31, 2011 but is “forced” to retire early as Aquino has announced he will not retain Bangit as chief of the 120,000-strong military organization when he assumes office. Asked if he is not regretting having to leave the military service earlier, Bangit replied “for us in the military, we come and go… I am sure there will be better person to take over. It’s always been progressive, there is no regressive movement.” Source: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100618hed4.html |
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