Bangit faces professionalism question as AFP chief — Biazon

When he assumes his post on Wednesday, new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit faces the burden of proving his professionalism. Senate defense committee chairman Rodolfo Biazon, a former AFP chief of staff, said Bangit will be particularly pressured to prevent a failure of elections. "Bangit has to prove he is a professional soldier. This is due to the track record of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of disregarding institutions and processes just to protect her interests," Biazon said in an interview on dzXL radio. Biazon also said Bangit's appointment threatens to bring instability to the AFP leadership. He noted that there are members of Philippine Military Academy Classes 1977 and 1978 who are still in the military service who may feel bypassed by a junior officer such as Bangit. "This may bring some instability to the leadership of the AFP," he said. Bangit, who takes over from retiring Gen. Victor Ibrado, is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1978, where Mrs. Arroyo is an honorary member. Malacañang’s critics have noted Bangit's loyalty to had Arroyo. He was linked to “Operational Plan August Moon," where members of PMA Class 1978 will be placed in key positions in the police and military. Militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) maintained Bangit’s designation creates greater uncertainties in the upcoming elections. Palace: Give Bangit a chance In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokeswoman Charito Planas chided the Palace's critics for questioning Bangit's appointment. "E kasi yang mga tao talaga ang buhay e magduda (There are always people who have nothing better to do than doubt)," she said in a separate interview on dzXL. She defended Arroyo's decision to appoint Bangit, saying the late former President Corazon Aquino also needed a trusted man in the AFP against destabilization. At the time, she said, Mrs. Aquino would have been ousted had the AFP chief of staff not been loyal to her. Planas also reiterated the Palace's call to give Bangit a chance to prove himself. "Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon tingnan natin at kung may nagagawang di tama, libre tayo magsabi (Let's give him a chance to do his job. If he does wrong, everyone will be free to criticize him)," she said. Caretaker president Meanwhile, Biazon said he will pursue a bill where people may elect a caretaker president in case of a failure of elections. He said the caretaker president will supervise the day-to-day operations of the government and schedule an election immediately after the declaration of a failure of elections. — LBG, GMANews.TV