Noynoy: Bangit knows own fate By Angie M. Rosales and Mario J. Mallari 06/09/2010

Noynoy: Bangit knows own fate

By Angie M. Rosales and Mario J. Mallari 06/09/2010 President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino said he is carefully studying his options in dealing with the case of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit but it seems the fate of the President Arroyo appointee has been sealed. Despite the call of Bangit the other day for the incoming administration to treat the 120,000-strong military organi-zation with “honor and dignity,” Aquino, it seems, is not inclined to keep the current AFP chief. “I think we will have to sit down and talk soon. I have yet to talk to him because we’re yet proclaimed and I dont want to preempt whatever moves to take in the future. “But I think he and I both understand our respective positions and we’ll arrive at a solution that will take into cognizance that issue along with others,” Aquino told reporters in an interview. Yet Aquino gave hints as to the fate of Bangit, answering in the negative on whether he will try to reach a consensus with the AFP chief, adding that the latter knows where he is coming from. “I’m having that studied. But I can challenge anybody to go back to all the statements of people who had that position or any position in the Executive department and the oft-repeated phrase is ‘serving at the pleasure of the president’,” he said. Aquino’s camp had called on Bangit to resign from his post to give the incoming president a free hand in installing new officials. Taking the hint from Aquino, military sources believe a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1977 looms as the next AFP chief in place of Bangit. Several military sources, who requested anonymity, noted Aquino’s pronouncement that his choice for the AFP chief is a member of a class more senior than the PMA Class of 1978 of Bangit.  “From that statement, obviously we can conclude that the next CSAFP may come from PMA Class of 1977 or even PMA Class 1976,” one of the sources said, citing there are still two members PMA Class of 1976 qualified to be appointed as AFP chief. A source, however, said that Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, the most senior among three-star generals in the AFP, could be among the top contenders to replace Bangit, who is reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on July 2011. The official, however, said the appointment of a member of PMA Class of 1976 is remote, saying “the class has already two members who were appointed AFP chief.” The source was apparently referring to Bangit’s predecessor Victor Ibrado and Alexander Yano. Aquino emphasized that he is aware of the fact that it’s the rank of Bangit that is up for consideration before the Commission on Appointments (CA).... MORE     Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100609hed6.html

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