CA body asks for full term for Defensor

In an unprecedented move, the Commission on Appointments (CA) asked President Arroyo yesterday to extend the tour of duty of Armed Forces chief Gen. Benjamin Defensor to a full three-year term. Defensor is expected to retire on Nov. 18.

The CA is set to formalize the request in the form of a resolution to be adopted during its plenary session this morning after its committee on national defense endorsed Defensor’s interim appointment yesterday, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano said.

The CA committee on national defense crafted the resolution after Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the committee, and Gregorio Honasan criticized the President’s practice of appointing soon-to-retire senior military officials as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In sponsoring the resolution, Albano said Malacañang should give officers appointed to the position of AFP chief of staff adequate time to do his job as provided by law.

Albano said Defensor would only have 69 days to serve his tour of duty.

The resolution will be introduced during the CA plenary session today when the appointment of Defensor will be tackled.

In an interview with reporters, Defensor said he was pleased with the CA request to extend his tour of duty. He, however, said that this was the sole prerogative of Mrs. Arroyo.