Magdalo backs extension of Ibrado's term as AFP chief

Extending the term of Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado beyond March is better than appointing “a very unpopular candidate," a group of reformist military officers and men said on Wednesday. The Magdalo group, through its spokesperson Lt. Ashley Acedillo, said extending Ibrado’s term would be beneficial both to the military’s reputation and the country’s political stability. “He (Ibrado) has shown to be a professional and non-partisan," Acedillo said. Ibrado is set to leave the military service on March 10 – or two months before the May 10 automated elections – upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. Acedillo said extending Ibrado’s term is better than appointing Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, the current Army chief who is reportedly being groomed to replace Ibrado. He said appointing Bangit, a former Presidential Security Group chief and perceived to be a loyal supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, barely four months before the elections “will trigger a lot of suspicions on the part of everyone." “If he (Bangit) will be appointed, the whole (Armed Forces of the Philippines) will have problems. The AFP again will be distrusted by the public. We can’t let that happen," he said. Some members of the Magdalo group are facing charges in connection with several attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration, including the July 27, 2003 siege of Oakwood Premier Hotel (now Ascott) in Makati City. In Malacañang, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said whether or not Ibrado’s term would be extended is up to President Arroyo. He also denied that Bangit has already been handpicked to be the next military chief of staff. “The final approval and decision-maker is still the President, so we should not guess who will be the successor if that thing happens," he said at a press briefing. Ermita, however, admitted that he is consulting Ibrado about the term extension of other military officials. - KBK, GMANews.TV