Bangit out, Verzosa in

MANILA, Philippines - President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III yesterday declared he would not retain Gen. Delfin Bangit as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

At a news conference following his proclamation by the joint session of Congress, Aquino explicitly said Bangit “will not be my chief of staff.”

Aquino, however, said he would retain Director General Jesus Verzosa as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Bangit, whose appointment as AFP chief was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA), declared earlier that he would not resign but would simply wait for his successor to be named.

Bangit insisted it would be a violation of his duty as a military officer and tantamount to abandonment of post if he resigned.

Bangit also lashed out at critics pressuring him to tender his courtesy resignation to Aquino, saying they are attempting to politicize the military.

Aquino had questioned the appointment of Bangit, pointing out that it was made during the two-month ban before elections.

He also said Bangit’s appointment and his rank as four-star general were not confirmed by the CA.

Aquino said allies of the administration of President Arroyo should not be calling on the CA to convene only for the confirmation of Bangit while Congress was busy with the task of convening as the National Board of Canvassers to proclaim the next president and vice president of the country.

Aquino said he would review and resubmit the appointments of the other “deserving” officials that were bypassed by the CA, “with the exception of the chief of staff.”

Aquino said it would be difficult to deal with Bangit “who at the present time, with his comments and insinuations, does not indicate a harmonious relationship with us.”

Stay put

President Arroyo ordered Bangit, as well as the 301 senior military officers whose appointments were also bypassed, to remain in their positions “to preclude a hiatus in the service and gap in their appointments, and to avoid prejudice to public service or endanger public safety.”

Apart from Bangit, the 301 bypassed by the CA include three lieutenant generals, 10 major generals, one rear admiral, 35 brigadier generals, and five commodores, with the rest being colonels and Navy captains.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raoul Victorino and Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Prospero Pichay said the President issued the directive on the possibility that Aquino would not resubmit Bangit’s appointment as AFP chief.

They also noted the position of AFP chief has a four-star rank of a full general.

They said the directive would also mean Bangit would retain his rank as lieutenant general.

“Since he (Bangit) was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments because they have already adjourned sine die, therefore his appointment which is ad interim in nature or promotion which is ad interim in nature ceases to exist. So he’s back to three-star general,” Pichay said.

Pichay said it would entirely depend on the next president to retain Bangit and his corresponding military rank.

“That will depend on the next president because if the next president will not promote him as four-star general, then he has no more chance,” he said.

Victorino also said the position of AFP chief carries a four-star rank that he would enjoy until the end of the term of the appointing power.

“When the time comes, when the next president appoints the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces, then whoever he is will carry the four-star rank,” Victorino said.

Pichay, however, said Aquino has the option of abiding by the rigorous promotion process of the Armed Forces.

“If the next president will respect that process, then that would be good. I hope that the next president will not politicize the Armed Forces but rather respect the promotion process in the Armed Forces of the Philippines so that it will not be politicized,” he said.

Pichay said Mrs. Arroyo could have reappointed Bangit ad interim to allow the next Congress the discretion to confirm the appointment.

It was not clear, however, why she did not do so, he said.

“Maybe the advice given to her is not to rock the boat,” Pichay said.

Pichay though admitted such a move would not necessarily increase Bangit’s chances of being retained.

Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, a retired police general, refused to speculate on the fate or the possible posts that would be given to Bangit, noting that he has still over a year before his retirement.

He said the issue would be resolved internally by the AFP and the new commander-in-chief.

The PNP, for its part, welcomed Aquino’s decision to retain Verzosa.

Verzosa was not available for comment but PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said the police force would benefit from Aquino’s decision to retain the incumbent national police chief.

‘It’s your problem’

One of the senior military officers whose promotion was bypassed by the CA called on Bangit to spare the AFP from the troubles of his bypassed appointment.

Describing himself as a “snappy colonel from war-torn Mindanao,” the officer called on Bangit to spare the AFP from political attacks.

“Don’t drag us into your problem of having been bypassed by the CA. That is your own problem and not of the entire AFP,” the colonel said. “He should deal with his problem on his own and not hide behind the AFP as an organization.”

The official also took exception to the statements made by Bangit insinuating demoralization among the ranks of the 300 senior officers whose promotions had been bypassed.

“It seems that because of me, the Armed Forces is being dragged into politics. Several of our officers, some officers who needed the confirmation of their rank, have been denied the privilege just because I am one of them,” Bangit said in an earlier statement.

But the official denied allegations that they were demoralized.

“There is no truth to the rumor that promotees are demoralized. We understand that there is a process and that the special session was for canvassing of votes only. We understand also that confirmation is done during regular sessions. Besides, we were even surprised and we really did know that the CA would meet then,” the official said.

Bangit had claimed his appointment as AFP chief was bypassed by “politicians who do not understand what the Armed Forces is all about.”

The official said Bangit should not drag the AFP into political issues, including the possibility that he would be replaced by the incoming Aquino administration.

“You have a professional Armed Forces that adheres to the Constitution and remains steadfast to the chain of command,” said the official.

For their part, the colonel said they could wait for the proper time for their confirmation in the next administration.

He said Bangit should have shielded the AFP from political wrangling since the issue of his being bypassed by the CA only concerns his status as AFP chief, not the military institution.

Former defense chief Gilberto Teodoro urged President-elect Aquino to afford Bangit the dignity and honor by allowing him to retire from the military service.

By forcing Bangit to resign, Teodoro said, would be undignified and would result in the forfeiture of military benefits due him.

He said Bangit himself knew that he serves under the pleasure of the incumbent President, but as incumbent AFP chief, he must also serve as an example to the uniformed services.

Bangit repeatedly declared that he is not resigning from his post and would continue to serve as AFP chief until the next president appoints a replacement. - Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado, Jaime Laude, Cecille Suerte Felipe and Alexis Romero