Malacañang to fill leadership vacuum in AFP left by Bangit
06/20/2010 Malacañang has assured that the chain of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be unaffected when AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit bows out of the military service on Tuesday, more than a year ahead of his scheduled retirement after President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino announced plans not to retain him as chief of the 120,000-strong military organization. In an interview with government-owned Radyo ng Bayan, presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo yesterday said the AFP has existing rules governing cases of sudden retirement of the Chief of Staff so as to ensure continuity in the service. “There are rules and regulations in the AFP to continue the functions of the Chief of Staff in case he leaves and there is no specific person designated,” Saludo said. Bangit said on Friday that President Arroyo, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, has granted his request to retire from the military service effective June 22. Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales also said he had signed the retirement papers of Bangit. When asked who will be the next military chief, Saludo replied in Filipino: “Let’s leave that for the President to announce.” “If ever she wants to designate (an acting Chief of Staff), that’s within her power,” he added. The camp of President-elect Aquino has yet to name Bangit’s permanent replacement, but acting AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa is also reportedly being eyed for the post. The military’s Board of Generals (BoG) is also recommending Ochoa to temporarily take over the AFP chief post. In a chance interview in Camp Aguinaldo the other day, Ochoa said the AFP-BoG met on Thursday and discussed the matter.... MORESource: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100620hed4.html |
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