MANILA, Philippines – Retired general Alexander Yano finally got the approval of the Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday for his appointment as ambassador to Brunei Darussalam.
The CA also confirmed the appointments of several military officers led by Maj. Gen. Arthur Mancenido after they answered queries from lawmakers questioning the large number of generals on the payroll of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Two junior officers – Colonels Jay Tindoy and Paul Pompeyo Dario Jr. – were among the lucky officials whose appointments were confirmed yesterday.
Yano’s appointment as ambassador was earlier questioned by Sen. Richard Gordon, who pointed out that there were many career foreign service officers equally fit to become ambassador.
Gordon said that when ambassadorial posts are given to retired military generals, it would set a precedent to the detriment of civilian career officials.
The CA also questioned Yano over the strategies he employed against the terrorist Abu Sayyaf during his term as AFP chief.
Yano managed to answer questions from the CA over the increasing number of retired generals in public service.
Records showed that there are more than 50 retired police and military generals appointed by President Arroyo to various posts in the government.
Among those who were appointed ambassador were Generoso Senga, Efren Abu, Roy Cimatu, Ernesto de Leon, Noe Wong, Vidal Querol, and Cardoso Luna.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, vice-chairman of the CA subcommittee of foreign relations, vouched for Yano and pushed for his confirmation before the plenary.
“I think that the issue was focused on the issue of politics, internal to the executive department and had nothing to do with the fitness of this nominee,” Biazon, a former AFP chief, told his colleagues in the CA.
Biazon reminded the CA of the law allowing the appointment of retired military men to the foreign service.
Biazon said Yano’s appointment comes within the allowed percentage for career officials under the Department of Foreign Affairs.
He said 49 percent comprised political appointees while the remaining 51 percent is allotted for career officials.
“It is within the provisions of the law and therefore the law is not being violated. The issue of politics is within the executive department which is subject to examination by Congress, not by the CA, in its exercise of its oversight function,” Biazon said.
Gordon initially aired some reservations on the manner of appointment of retired military officials in the executive department, but Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile convinced him that the appointment was perfectly legal.
Gordon also expressed concerns over Yano’s strategies against the Abu Sayyaf.
He said the Abu Sayyaf had been too aggressive, referring to the spate of kidnappings during Yano’s term as AFP chief.
“Why is the (Abu Sayyaf) running rampant all over again?” he asked.
Yano admitted the problem with the Abu Sayyaf but stressed the government and the military are doing their best to run after the bandit group.
“When most of the key leaders were neutralized, there were several others who would like to highlight their own leadership potential,” Yano said.
“I would say it’s now more or less a loosely knit organization, no longer an organization that we had in the past,” he said.
Yano explained other smaller armed groups like to copycat the Abu Sayyaf “to generate some money and just do their own kidnapping activities.”
Yano warned these copycat groups are likely to increase their kidnap-for-ransom operations “in the next several months.”