Army officer in Maguindanao massacre gets promotion

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday approved the promotion of 89 military officers, including Army Brig. Gen. Medardo Geslani who was chief of the Maguindanao-based 601st brigade when the Maguindanao massacre took place on Nov. 23, 2009.

Voting 7-1-1, the CA defense panel chaired by Capiz Rep. Antonio del Rosario approved the promotion of Geslani despite opposition by Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu and a group of journalists.

Mangudadatu also opposed the promotion of Col. Rolando Nerano, but was prevailed upon by his colleagues at the committee level.

Seven members of the CA voted for the promotion of the military officers, while Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano was against it. Sen. Vicente Sotto abstained during the proceedings.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, CA overall chairman, presided over the plenary session.

Other military officers promoted to brigadier general were Arthur Ang, Manolito Orense, Enrique Reyes, Johnny Macanas,  John Oliviamore Estabillo, Armando Banez, Vicente Yordan, Edgar Gonzales, Job Yucoco and Adrien Quidlat.

Those promoted for major general were Mayoralgo de la Cruz, Glorioso Miranda and Salvador Mison Jr. Lt. Gen. Felicito Virgiolo Trinidad Jr. also passed the CA scrutiny.

Members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) slammed the promotion of Geslani.

NUJP head Rowena Paraan said Geslani’s promotion was an insult to the families of the massacre victims, 32 of whom were media practitioners.

His failure to act on a request from the Mangudadatus for security escorts for their convoy might have sealed the fate of the massacre victims, according to Paraan.

Geslani and his former commanding officer Lt. Gen. Alfredo Cayton had been cleared by the military of any involvement in the massacre. – Christina Mendez, Artemio Dumlao