Esperon welcomes fixed three-year term for AFP chief, commanders

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. welcomed yesterday the enactment by Congress of a bill seeking a three-year fixed term for the Armed Forces chief and the three major service commanders.

"That is a welcome development for us in the AFP, as that is even contained in our proposed amendment of the National Defense Act," he said.

Fixing the term of the AFP chief is among the proposed amendments to Commonwealth Act No. 1, the National Defense Act, being pushed by outgoing Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr.

Esperon said once President Arroyo signs the bill into law, it would pave the way for the AFP chief to chart and execute his own programs for the entire organization.

"When you have a term of three years, you are assured a time plan to execute, to revise your plans again (and) further pursue your plans," he said.

It was not clear, however, if the enacted bill covers officers, including Esperon, who still have more than a year left in active military service.

"I do not know the details yet," Esperon said. "I have yet to see the approved provisions but it’s a very welcome development."

Asked if the fixed terms would do away with the "revolving door" policy practiced in the military, Esperon said: "I do not know the exact provisions of how a chief of staff could be recalled after having been given a fixed three-year term. Let’s wait until we see what are the provisions."

The AFP has already had eight military chiefs, including Esperon, all appointed by Mrs. Arroyo after she assumed power following the ouster of President Joseph Estrada on Jan. 20, 2001.

They are: Generals Diomedio Villanueva, Roy Cimatu, Benjamin Defensor, Dionisio Santiago, Narciso Abaya, Efren Abu and Generoso Senga.

Meanwhile, Esperon said the military will support whoever is chosen by Mrs. Arroyo to replace Cruz who has resigned as defense secretary, effective Nov. 30.

"As I said, the President has the sole prerogative of appointing the next secretary of national defense," he said. "It’s an order from the commander-in-chief so we will follow that, we will respect that."

Esperon said soldiers will respect Mrs. Arroyo’s decision to name Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. as replacement for Cruz if indeed Ebdane is the President’s choice.

He has been receiving reports that Ebdane was set to replace Cruz, he added.

Asked if soldiers would be offended if a former policeman takes over the national defense department, Esperon said: "Not at all."

Esperon said it doesn’t matter to the military whether a civilian or a former soldier or policeman sits as secretary of national defense.

"I must tell you that there have been outstanding civilian defense ministers, but there are also outstanding secretaries from the retired sector," he said.

Earlier this week, Mrs. Arroyo said she would sit as concurrent defense chief for at least two months after the resignation of Cruz. — Jaime Laude