'Talks on AFP chief’s term extension ongoing'

Consultation efforts on whether to extend the term of Philippine military chief Gen. Victor Ibrado are in progress, Malacañang said on Monday. Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales Jr. is in talks with the Armed Forces top brass to get inputs on the matter. “Palagay ko may consultation process na nagaganap sa DND. I’m sure kinakausap na si Sec. Norberto Gonzales, at siguro kinokonsulta na niya ang liderato ng AFP (I believe a consultation process is now ongoing at the Department of National Defense. I am sure Secretary Gonzales is consulting with the AFP leadership)," Bello said in an interview on dzXL radio. Speculations are persistent on whether Ibrado will be retained at his post beyond his scheduled retirement on March 10. But Bello said the Cabinet has not discussed Ibrado's term extension yet. "We have not discussed that yet ... I’m sure the process is there, but I don’t know whether there is a decision to extend the term of Gen. Ibrado or not," he said. Last November, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyyo was considering a call by senators to extend the term of Ibrado until June 30, 2010. [See: Arroyo studying proposal on Ibrado term extension] At the time, Remonde described the AFP as "independent and professional," even as he stressed that the Palace was "pleased" with the trust the senators showed for Ibrado. The call for extending Ibrado’s term came from a resolution signed by Senators Benigno Simeon Aquino III, Francis Escudero, and Manuel Villar Jr. [See: Arroyo urged to extend AFP chief's term] According to the resolution, Ibrado’s stay would ensure to the stability and continuity of the leadership of the AFP during the election period, and the impartiality and reliability of the military institution in a crucial time in the country’s history. “The May 2010 elections is particularly crucial and important not only because the nation would be electing the next President and Vice President who will lead the Republic during the next six years, but also this is the very first time that the Philippines will be conducting automated elections," the senators' resolution said. - LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV