AFP names new spokesperson

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Generoso Senga has recalled Air Force Brig. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado as AFP spokesman and restrained public information chief Col. Tristan Kison from speaking to the media.

In a verbal directive, Senga ordered Honrado, AFP deputy chief for reservists and retireees affairs and former senior military aide of former President Corazon Aquino, to reassume the post he held when Gen. Efren Abu was AFP chief.

Kison is now restrained from dealing directly with the media — a job he has been performing since taking office several months ago.

The AFP-PIO is directly under the office of the AFP chief.

Since Kison’s infamous media pronouncement — "The military holds the nation together" and without it, the "country will collapse" — the AFP has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism from both public and private sectors.

Kison issued the statement several days after the Feb. 24 foiled coup involving the Marines and the Army Scout Rangers.

However, Senga said Honrado’s reassignment was in no way connected to the recent controversies involving the military.

"No... Brig. Gen. Honrado was appointed earlier, since last week. Colonel Kison has always been reported incorrectly as spokesman, but officially, he is only the chief (of the) Public Information Office (PIO)," he said in a text message to reporters.

On the other hand, Honrado said Kison could still speak for and in behalf of the Armed Forces.

"I was directed to grant interviews again... Kison is still the PIO (chief)," he said in an effort to dispel speculation that Kison had been rebuked by Senga.

After Honrado’s official designation as AFP spokesman, Kison could no longer be reached for comment.

Honrado served as AFP spokesman and chief of the AFP Civil Relations Service (CRS) during Abu’s term.

However, he disappeared from the limelight in September last year when then AFP deputy chief, Lt. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, was named military spokesman.

Following Bagasin’s designation as Armed Forces Central Command chief, the post of AFP spokesman was left vacant.

On Wednesday, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon got back at Kison for declaring that destabilizers had been trying to undermine the military establishment "because we are the strong pillar that holds (together) the nation."

Himself a former AFP chief, Biazon viewed Kison’s remarks as indicative that the AFP was setting aside all democratic institutions by assuming sole responsibility, propriety and authority over the government and the people.

Aside from Biazon, Kison has been the subject of attacks from the media for this statement.