Aquino to military: Set policies to address security threats

MANILA, Philippines - Incoming president Benigno Aquino III ordered military officials to formulate a new set of policy directions to address the country’s internal security threats.

Aquino met top Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers last Monday afternoon at the AFP headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City as part of overall preparations for his oath taking today as the country’s 15th president.

He said that despite the current overwhelming military force, soldiers are still getting kidnapped and military command posts or detachments are being overrun by communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

“NPA figures only showed 5,000 fighters and the AFP has a 120,000- to 150,000-strong force. That’s almost 30 to one ratio but we often saw and read media reports that there are still a lot of detachments being overrun and soldiers getting kidnapped,” Aquino told media men.

The country has the longest running insurgency problem in Asia, and outgoing President Arroyo had ordered the military three years ago to wipe out the communist insurgency before the end of her term.

Mrs. Arroyo is leaving Malacañang today but after spending billions of pesos and deploying troops and resources against the NPA, the rebels are still in various areas in the Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon.

When Aquino was asked if he plans to adopt new policies for the AFP to handle internal security threats, the new president said yes.

“Definitely. We have (limited) resources and we have ensured that these resources are utilized in the best means possible,” he said.

Aquino said that the soldiers’ welfare would also be a concern of his administration.

He wants soldiers and policemen to have enough salary to bring home to their families.

“What I want is for the guardians of peace to be taken care of and not forsaken,” Aquino said.

Defense chief to get briefing

Defense officials would provide an initial briefing to incoming Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin in preparation for a major reorganization at the Department of National Defense.

Officials including retired generals whose designations are co-terminous with President Arroyo are currently holding key posts at the defense department.

“If asked, we are all ready to give them our exit briefing. We are prepared for that,” said Defense Undersecretary for AFP Modernization Affairs Antonio Romero.

Romero, a retired general, said the briefing would give Gazmin the time to see and appreciate how things function and are run in the department.

He said that as a former military officer he is already accustomed to changes, of being “relieved” if that’s what the new leadership wanted to happen.

Romero said Gazmin is a straightforward person and the defense department will be in good hands.

Gazmin, a retired Army general, also served as Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander during the term of the late President Corazon Aquino, mother of incoming president Aquino III.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Noberto Gonzales also shared the same observation on Gazmin, describing him as a very able person to handle the defense portfolio.

Defense department records showed that at least 18 top officials of the department would be terminated unless they are re-appointed by Aquino.

These officials are considered political appointees and do not have the civil service requirements needed to keep their posts.

Not included in this list are defense officials who are career service eligible but with temporary appointments. They have the option to remain in the department but may be reassigned to other posts.

Leading the list of political appointees in department is Secretary Gonzales, who will be replaced by Gazmin.

Three defense undersecretaries – Antonio Romero II, Ernesto Carolina, and Arturo Lomibao – are also co-terminous with Mrs. Arroyo.

Romero, who was appointed in June 2008, is undersecretary for finance and armed forces modernization. Carolina, who assumed his post last March, is undersecretary for civil, veterans and reserve affairs. He is also administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

Lomibao, who assumed his post last July, is handling legal affairs and special concerns.

Romero said he is ready to become a private citizen in case the government decides not to keep him on. – With Alexis Romero