Gazmin retains PNoy's confidence

You were tricked.

This was reportedly President Aquino’s response when Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin asked the chief executive about rumors that he is on his way out of the cabinet.

“Actually, I went to him (Aquino) and asked him about that rumor. He said ‘pinagtitripan ka lang’ (you were tricked),” the defense chief told reporters Monday.

Gazmin said the president did not tell him who was behind the ‘trick,’ which made its way to the media reports last week.

“I wanted to know if it was true. If it was true, why would I stay? I told you if I am retained, thank you. If he removes me, thank you also. My grandchildren have been waiting for me for so long,” he said.

Aquino’s kind words for Gazmin during Monday's awarding of soldiers involved in the Zamboanga crisis seemed to reinforce the president’s trust on him.

The president praised Gazmin for contributing to the Defense department’s aims to protect the state and ensure its territorial integrity.

Aquino also cited Gazmin’s efforts to protect his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, when he was the commander of the Presidential Security Group.

“My mother’s administration weathered several coups but Sec. Volts was never demoralized,” the president said in Filipino.

“Amid the firefights and the hovering of air force bombers, he (Gazmin) could have been nervous and he could have panicked. But he did not abandon us. He chose to protect our republic and protect our democracy” he added.

Aquino said he is thankful to Gazmin for his loyalty and for his dedication as defense secretary.

Gazmin said the president’s kind words belied the rumors that he is about to leave the Aquino administration.

“It’s a way of saying that the rumor is wrong,” he said.

When asked how he reacted to ‘the trick,’ Gazmin said: “That’s a hard question.”

“It meant nothing to me. I serve at his pleasure.”

Reports about supposed plans to replace Gazmin as defense chief surfaced after confusion ensued over concrete blocks spotted in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Last September, officials revealed that about 75 concrete blocks have been spotted in the shoal, which is well within Philippine territory.

The Defense department said the putting of the concrete blocks could be a prelude to a construction project.

China has denied installing the concrete blocks but continues to conduct maritime patrols in the area.

The president, however, contradicted the Defense department’s claim and revealed that the concrete blocks were very old. He said there is no need to remove the concrete blocks as they do not pose a threat to navigation.

Gazmin, however, stressed that while the blocks may by old, these were just spotted recently by their surveillance teams.