Angue can still be promoted - AFP

MANILA, Philippines - Controversial Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue will not be deprived of a chance to be promoted if he performs well as Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Ricardo David Jr. said.

David stressed that the promotion of military officers is based on their performance and not on their connections or politics.

“In the military, your service is continuous. If the commander-in-chief sees or if his advisers learn that you are good then you could rise,” he said.

Angue has been named commander of the naval forces in Western Mindanao, a two-star position. Before this, Angue served as National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief, a three-star post.

The reshuffle came after Angue revealed that some military officers supported politicians during the last elections to get important posts.

Angue complained that he was demoted but the military leadership insisted that his new assignment is appropriate to his rank as a two-star general. The rear admiral rank is the Navy equivalent for major general in the Army and the Air Force.

Angue also claimed that the AFP promotion system has been politicized and that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is meddling in the assignment of posts. Military and defense officials have belied the allegations.

Angue continued to make statements and hold press briefings even after David ordered him to stop talking about the issue.

The AFP is now investigating whether the Navy officer violated its code of ethics.

Angue’s assumption as Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief has also been deferred pending the results of the probe which will start this week.

The AFP, however, claimed that Angue was not placed on floating status since his assumption to his new post was only deferred.

David said this is not the first time an officer who had held a three-star position was transferred to a two-star assignment.

He noted that Western Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino was named Marine commandant, a two-star post, after his stint as NCRCOM chief.

“Does this mean he (Dolorfino) was demoted? No. In fact, General Dolorfino is now a lieutenant general. Because he is a good commandant, he got promoted,” David said.

David stressed that all soldiers should obey and respect the directives of their commander-in-chief.

“In the armed forces, you do not question, you follow. But there is a grievance system in the armed forces… He (Angue) can talk to me, he can write the commander in chief, there are a lot of ways,” he said.

The AFP chief claimed that the recent wave of reassignments is in line with President Aquino’s aim to introduce positive changes in the military.

“The marching order of our President is to transform our armed forces (to be) more responsive to our public. We cannot allow this organization to be static… We should reform,” David said.