Army defends Maguindanao general's promotion

The Philippine Army stood pat Wednesday on its promotion of a controversial general who was relieved for alleged inaction in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre in Maguindanao province. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the promotion of Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton to vice-commander of the Philippine Army went through the proper procedures of the Board of Generals. "Dumaan yan sa proseso ng ating Board of Generals. Di basta-basta itatalaga kung di dadaan sa proseso (His promotion went through the Board of Generals. The promotion was not done on a whim)," Burgos said in an interview on dzXL radio. But he said the Army is also ready to answer questions from the Commission on Appointments (CA) on the promotion, after relatives of journalists killed in last year’s massacre contested it. "May proseso yan sa AFP at kami naman [ay] handa kung anuman ang ilalabas ng investigation (We followed the procedures in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We are ready to answer questions from the CA)," he said. On Tuesday, families of victims represented by lawyer Harry Roque Jr. filed their opposition to the promotion of Cayton before the CA. [See: Promotion of Army general in Maguindanao massacre case opposed] Cayton and Col. Medardo Geslani were relieved from their posts as commanders of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and 601st Brigade, respectively, for denying requests from the victims for security. But a military board that conducted an investigated cleared them, after both officers claimed the number of available foot soldiers was limited. In clearing Cayton and Geslani, military probers also said the Armed Forces is not inclined to protect politicians as part of its mandate to remain apolitical. Cayton was appointed vice commander of the Philippine Army last week following the recommendation of the Armed Forces’ Board of Generals. He is due to retire on February 14 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. [See: General in massacre case is now Army vice chief] In filing the opposition, Roque cited affidavits of the witnesses in the case that Cayton had received intelligence reports the convoy carrying the relatives of Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael “Toto" Mangudadatu would be ambushed in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao. "His incredible lack of concern about the brewing tension in his area of responsibility was simply inexcusable, if it was not beyond explanation," Roque said. - RSJ, GMANews.TV