AFP exec’s promotion bypassed after wife’s physical abuse accusation

MANILA, Philippines — An aspiring Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) brigadier general accused of domestic abuse by his wife was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday.

Ranulfo Sevilla, a deputy commander of the AFP-Special Operations Command, is back to being a colonel after he failed to get the CA confirmation due to the opposition of his wife Tessa Luz Aura Reyes-Sevilla.

Sevilla was not among the 129 AFP officers whose ad interim appointments were confirmed by the CA yesterday.

It was Sevilla’s first time to be bypassed, according to CA Chairman and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

A nominee can only be bypassed three times during the confirmation process. A bypassed nominee is one whose appointment was not acted upon by the CA before the adjournment of Congress.

Congress is set to go on recess from March 23 to April 28. It will resume session on April 29 to May 24, before it adjourns on May 25.

Sevilla was bypassed to allow him to put into writing his commitment during the CA hearings to give child support to their two children, one of whom has special needs.

He was accused of beating up his wife and neglecting his children, contributing a measly P2,000 for his two kids with Reyes-Sevilla.

“He was bypassed, so he has to come back. But he still has a chance. He still has three more years,” Zubiri said.

During the hearing, Sevilla promised to give half of his take-home pay to support their children.

He was initially reluctant to give beyond P30,000 as child support. But he later gave in and said he would give P50,000 of his take-home pay, even though all he would be left with is food for himself.

When informed that there was an amount that the committee set during the previous CA executive session, Sevilla said he was not aware of it.

“I hope you also consider my willingness to comply. There was just a miscommunication as to how much money I should give monthly,” he added.

This compelled CA national defense committee chairman and Camiguin Lone District Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo to call out Sevilla for lying before the committee and feigning ignorance.

Romualdo said Sevilla’s being bypassed led to his being denied the CA confirmation.

Sevilla, however, has another chance to seek the CA confirmation as long as he does not get bypassed again.

CA member and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel urged nominees to be faithful to their wives and keep a good record both in their work and at home.

“May this be a warning to you. You will be assigned to different stations and you will be tempted when you meet beautiful, sexy women.  So don’t be playboys. I urge you to be loyal and faithful to your wives,” Pimentel said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who blocked Sevilla’s confirmation, said “no wife or child should have to beg for basic child support.”

“This is also a teaching moment for all our institutions: character is just as important as competence,” Hontiveros said.

Sevilla’s wife lauded the CA for bypassing her husband undeserving of the promotion, saying that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for the armed forces to discipline their ranks, especially those with extramarital affairs.

“May this be a lesson for our gentlemen in the AFP to love their families, their partners and children,” Reyes-Sevilla said.

Gemini Baladad, another victim of domestic abuse by a retired general, accompanied Reyes-Sevilla yesterday to call on the military to call out their errant officers.

“I am here to spread awareness that this is really happening and something must be done. The unsung heroes here are the wives of soldiers,” Baladad said.

Baladad, who suffered three miscarriages due to the abuse, added that “something must be corrected so that we can have a safer place.”