Duterte congratulates new AFP chief Año, offers post to Visaya
December 7, 2016 | 8:10pm
In this August 5, 2016 photo, President Rodrigo Duterte assures members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Central Command of his support during his visit at Centcom Headquarters in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City as then AFP Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ricardo Visaya looks on. PPD/Ace Morandante, File
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte lauded Wednesday retired Armed Forces chief Ricardo Visaya and asked him to remain in government as a civilian.
“I’d like to express (my) gratitude (in) behalf of the Filipino people, to Gen. Visaya for a job really well, very well done. I almost fell because of his medal,” Duterte said during the change of command ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo.
“Gen. Visaya, mamili ka na ng pwesto diyan (choose your position), sir. Choose your position, that is how grateful the nation is to you. If you want, you can talk to (Defense Secretary) Delfin (Lorenzana), that would be okay,” he added.
Duterte also congratulated Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año for his appointment as the new military chief.
Duterte also assured the military that he would never meddle with its promotion system.
“Of the many things I promised the people of this nation, one was that I would not tinker with the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the matter of promotion and assignments,” the president said.
“I said, the promotions and all others were the product of the Board of Generals and the recommendation of your head of department,” he added.
“I never asked or whispered to anybody, who, for what, and for whom. I kept my promise to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and it will remain to be so until the end of my term. I won’t intervene.”
Dutuerte reiterated the need for the military to track down drug personalities, which he said are destroying the country’s future.
“Go out and hunt for them,” the president said.
“Look for them. Masisira ang bayan natin kung tamad-tamaran tayo (The country will be destroyed if we become complacent),” he added.
The president also asked the military to ignore criticisms against his anti-drug war.
“And why should we be afraid to destroy the forces that would make us crow in fear? Why should we be afraid? Human rights, you know, you want me, to bring me to fight the International Criminal Court? Gladly. Gladly,” he said.
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