LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:6, the Holy Bible).
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CHOICE OF AFP CHIEF A CLOSELY-GUARDED SECRET? For the very first time in the history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the announcement as to who is going to be installed as the next AFP Chief of Staff following the retirement of an incumbent chief was made to wait until the very moment that the turn-over ceremonies from the outgoing chief to the new chief was already going to be held.
Even Malacanang reporters, who usually are given advanced information on the President’s choice for very sensitive positions like that of the AFP Chief of Staff, were kept in the dark until a few minutes before the ceremonies began as to who will succeed outgoing Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang.
DZEC Presidential reporter Vic Somintac, my partner in the daily 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. DZEC program “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas”, told me that even while we were already on air in the morning of Friday, July 10, 2015, Malacanang had not named yet Catapang’s successor, saying the successor’s name appeared to be a closely-guarded secret, constraining us to do some analysis as to why President Aquino did not seem in a hurry to name the new AFP Chief.
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WHY WAS NEW AFP CHIEF’S NAME NOT IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCED? Indeed, Somintac and I wondered if the failure to announce the successor of Catapang three hours ahead of the turn-over ceremonies (which was actually announced only in the afternoon of July 9, 2015) was deliberate, or the result of yet another incompetent selection process, or, what is more sinister, of lobbying for the position.
We thought that since the 2016 elections was just around the corner, the President and his staff would be in a hurry to appoint a replacement for Gen. Catapang, who was retiring mandatorily on Saturday, July 11, 2015, when he shall have reached 56 years old.
It was important, if the President valued a clean and honest election which would determine who is going to be the next president of the Philippines in 2016, that a new AFP Chief would be appointed to enable him to prepare well for the electoral exercise to assure that the will of the people would be respected.
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CHARTER DISALLOWS EXTENSION FOR AFP CHIEF: Now, the AFP has a new chief, Lt. Gen. Hernando Irriberi, the Philippine Army chief prior to his promotion. Judging from reactions I got after Irriberi’s name was announced, it would seem Aquino has made a good choice. The only problem was that, Irriberi would be retiring likewise shortly before the 2016 elections.
Which maybe the reason why, a big newspaper from Manila, immediately carried a news story which was titled “Aquino hints at possible extension for new AFP chief”, which title nevertheless was not supported in any way by the details in the body of the story.
Now, can the President extend the term of a retiring AFP Chief? My two cents’ worth is that, no he cannot grant that extension. The AFP Chief is given a definite term of only three years, and the President cannot do anything about it, unless he does one of two things first: either he amends the Constitution, or violate it outright. Of course, we know what he will do!
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PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way), a Bible study and prayer session on radio, airs Mondays to Fridays, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at DWAD 1098 kHz on the AM band. For replays, go to www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan or www.facebook.com/ANDKNK and scroll for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts. Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0917 984 24 68. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.
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