Arroyo not likely to extend Bangit By Gina Elorde 06/06/2010

Arroyo not likely to extend Bangit

By Gina Elorde 06/06/2010 President Arroyo is not inclined to extend for three weeks the appointment of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit who was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) neither will she appoint a new Chief of Staff, a Palace spokesman said yesterday.  Bangit’s appointment was bypassed by the CA last Friday when Congress adjourned, eliciting a remark from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile urging Bangit to step down.  “We are talking here of only three weeks, so this should no longer be something to be debated on. If the next in line (Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang) is due to retire soon, according to the law, there is an automatic replacement for the next in line to take over as Chief of Staff,” Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan said on radio.  Peyuan said the Palace will inquire “if Bangit’s non-confirmation has an automatic effect for him to immediately vacate the position.”  “I suppose there will be some formalities. Maybe it is just unfortunate that it (his bypass) happened on a weekend. At any rate, this will not prevent the President from doing her constitutional obligation to communicate with the next in line on what to do,” Peyuan said.... MORE     Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100606hed4.html

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