DND undersecretary quits due to personal, health reasons

MANILA, Philippines - A senior security official and classmate of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has resigned.

Defense Undersecretary Eduardo Batac left his post about two weeks ago, according to Arseno Andolong, public affairs chief of the defense department.

“He resigned due to personal and health reasons,” Andolong said but did not elaborate.

Batac used to oversee the agency’s civil, veterans and retiree affairs. He was also chairman of the defense department’s Special Bids and Awards Committee-2, which handles key military projects like air surveillance radars, base upgrades and coast watch systems.

Andolong said Batac had filed for a leave of absence before tendering his resignation.

Defense Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta, also a classmate of Batac, has been named officer-in-charge of the Office of the Undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Retiree Affairs.

Batac, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class ’68, used to be the spokesman for the defense department.

A retired Air Force colonel, Batac also served as spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.