Palace keeps mum on Ibrado term extension
01/20/2010 | 09:51 AM
Amid the reported support by senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a term extension for military chief Gen. Victor Ibrado, Malacañang remained mum on the matter Wednesday.
Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a radio interview the matter of extending Ibrado's term beyond March is still not being discussed in the Palace.
"Sa ngayon wala pang usap-usapan sa Palasyo. Wala akong personal na nalalaman sa posibleng extension ng termino ni AFP chief of staff Ibrado. Wala akong nahagilap na balita tungkol diyan (The matter is not being discussed in the Palace, at least for now. I have no personal knowledge of any extension of Ibrado's term)," Bello said in an interview on dzXL radio.
Only last Monday, Bello disclosed that a consultation process is now in progress on whether to extend the term of Ibrado, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976. [See: 'Talks on AFP chief’s term extension ongoing']
Bello said then that Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales Jr. is in talks with the AFP top brass to get their inputs on the matter.
Speculations are persistent on whether Ibrado will be retained at his post to maintain the stability of the AFP during the election period. Ibrado is set to retire on March 10, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age.
On Wednesday, the Philippine Star newspaper quoted unnamed senior military officials as expressing support for a term extension for Ibrado.
Honorary member
But the same military officials denied that their support for Ibrado was aimed at preventing any move to appoint Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit.
Bangit is a member of the PMA Class of 1978, which counts President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as one of its honorary member. Bangit is perceived to be fiercely loyal to Mrs. Arroyo and is widely believed to succeed Ibrado.
In November, the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President 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] - RSJ, GMANews.TV
Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a radio interview the matter of extending Ibrado's term beyond March is still not being discussed in the Palace.
"Sa ngayon wala pang usap-usapan sa Palasyo. Wala akong personal na nalalaman sa posibleng extension ng termino ni AFP chief of staff Ibrado. Wala akong nahagilap na balita tungkol diyan (The matter is not being discussed in the Palace, at least for now. I have no personal knowledge of any extension of Ibrado's term)," Bello said in an interview on dzXL radio.
Only last Monday, Bello disclosed that a consultation process is now in progress on whether to extend the term of Ibrado, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976. [See: 'Talks on AFP chief’s term extension ongoing']
Bello said then that Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales Jr. is in talks with the AFP top brass to get their inputs on the matter.
Speculations are persistent on whether Ibrado will be retained at his post to maintain the stability of the AFP during the election period. Ibrado is set to retire on March 10, when he reaches the mandatory retirement age.
On Wednesday, the Philippine Star newspaper quoted unnamed senior military officials as expressing support for a term extension for Ibrado.
Honorary member
But the same military officials denied that their support for Ibrado was aimed at preventing any move to appoint Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit.
Bangit is a member of the PMA Class of 1978, which counts President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as one of its honorary member. Bangit is perceived to be fiercely loyal to Mrs. Arroyo and is widely believed to succeed Ibrado.
In November, the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President 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] - RSJ, GMANews.TV
