Ex-soldiers in Cabinet

[cdburgh]

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Ex-soldiers in Cabinet nothing to fear
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:51:00 01/25/2009

Ex-soldiers in Cabinet nothing to fear - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos


MANILA, Philippines -- Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile does not share his fellow senators’ concern over the so-called militarization of the Cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Enrile noted that that majority of the members of Arroyo’s Cabinet are civilians, even with the latest entry of retired vice rear admiral Tirso Danga and the possible appointment of controversial former major general Jovito Palparan to the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Danga, who is going to head the National Printing Office, was a key figure in the "Hello Garci" wiretapping scandal of 2005, which involved purported wiretaps of phone conversations between Arroyo and an election official in which they alleged discussed cheating in the 2004 presidential election.
Palparan, on the other hand, is accused of having ordered hundreds of extrajudicial killings in areas he was assigned to while in the military.
Former military officers already in the Arroyo Cabinet are Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, incoming Presidential Management Staff chief (PMS) Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and incoming Presidential Peace Adviser Avelino Razon Jr.
But Enrile said these officers had retired from the service and no longer had influence in the services.
"Because if you are out of the military, you are a toothless person as far as the military is concerned," Enrile said over dzBB radio on Sunday.
"Si Angie Reyes heneral nga, but I don’t think mag-o-order siya sa isang sundalo. No, he will not be obeyed. Gayundin si Jun Ebdane, gayundin si Larry Mendoza. Si Palparan, kahit mag-utos siya, they will not obey him [Angelo Reyes is a former general but I don’t think he would order any soldier around...The same with Jun Ebdane, Larry Mendoza. Even if Palparan gives out orders, they will not obey him]," Enrile said.
But opposition senators continue to question the latest appointments made by Arroyo.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. asked Arroyo not to tap the services of Palparan and instead pursue the recommendation of the Melo Commission to investigate him for the killings of political activists.
"I share the fear of concerned citizens that if the controversial general will be placed at the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) or DDB, he would employ the dreaded tactics he used in the military in dealing with leftist activists. We cannot tolerate a situation where suspects in drug-related offenses will just disappear or be found floating in the waters of Pasig River," the minority leader said.
He reminded the government that the Court of Appeals had ruled there was basis to prosecute Palparan in connection with the disappearance of two University of the Philippines coeds.
Pimentel also doubted if Esperon deserved his appointment as PMS chief, a job "tasked with reviewing and recommending projects for funding by the P2 billion President's Support Fund."
He noted that during Esperon's stint as presidential peace adviser, peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front collapsed when the Supreme Court struck down the memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain.
Senator Manuel Roxas II raised suspicions about the appointment of Danga to head the NPO, the body that will print the ballots for the 2010 presidential polls.
Danga was head of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) when its agents allegedly bugged phone conversations between Arroyo and then elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
"Admiral Danga has yet to answer questions about his role in the Hello Garci case, yet here he is being appointed to the agency that will print the ballots for the 2010 elections. Malacañang is trying to pull a fast one over the nation," Roxas said.
"What assurance do we have that this is not a plot to manipulate the printing of ballots for the 2010 elections so that the administration can dominate next year's elections? None, given this administration's black record of cheating, stealing and lying," he said.

[zagaboI]

maro mani si gloria, in order to control the military, she had ex high ranking afp officials in her cabinet. that way, dali ra cya mka impliment kung unsa iya gusto, and at the same time, naa cyay gunit sa military. iwas coup de etat kung baga. mas sayon sad duguon ang mga sundalo, less questions asked.

[baby_grace]

I think there is no clear preference by the president over ex-generals. It just so happened that the persons she saw fit for the position are ex-generals. I don't see any problem with that, nor any fear for the possibility of militarization. Kaya nga sila tinawag na ex-generals kasi hindi na sila mga generals. They have no command over active military personnel anymore. So I don't understand where that fear is coming from.

[cdburgh]

the danger here is that some of these officers have been accused of involvement in scandals. in the case of Admiral Danga, he was involved in the Hello Garci wiretapping. now, he is going to be the NPO head. we all know that NPO prints all the election ballots. what guarantee do we have that there will be no electoral fraud in 2010? with these people in position, we cannot help but doubt.

[colossus]

^^ The government is planning to have automated elections in 2010, as far as I know. Besides, we still don't know if Danga had anything to do with the 2004 wiretapping. How can we really know if he has any involvement with it? And if it will reveal military secrets at the expense of national interest, it would really be appropriate not to tell anything. After all, these politicians will always say anything for the sake of putting themselves in the limelight at the expense of others.

If these retired military officials are being trusted not only because they work at the pleasure of the president but also because they have the competence to hold their respective posts, I don't think there is anything wrong.

[pinoyapache]

There are ex-generals who are very competent with their jobs and who doesn't grab the limelight like Larry Mendoza of DOTC who preferred to work in the sidelines.

[radiostar]

unsa naman ni oi

[cdburgh]

i agree that there are generals who are brilliant and i don't mind them being appointed as long as they have unquestionable integrity. but, appointing generals involve in controversies, that is something to be concerned about.

[baby_grace]

Ret. Admiral Danga may have made it to the news for some alleged controversies in which he was involved, but all those have not been proven up to this time. Now, with regard to the appointment of many retired military officers to top posts in the executive branch, that is the discretion of the president. These men have the desired and necessary skills and level of competence that made them qualify for the job. Being former military men, they are organized and methodical. They are also good team leaders. I think leading a government agency needs those kinds of characteristics.

[HenryLiwanag]

No question they are qualified. Question is, aren't there more qualified civilians? Out of delikadesa, those with pending cases or accused of irregularities should not take oath as cabinet members. These decisions by the President is making more people question the integrity behind the appointments. It is natural though that she wants loyal cabinet members who will be on her side no matter what