Bangit to critics: Judge me by my actions

You’ve said your piece against me. Now judge me by my actions. On this note, new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit shot back at his critics, as he insisted he will do his job well. In a radio interview hours before formally assuming his new post on Wednesday, Bangit assured the public that he will not take part in any fraud that will mar the country’s first nationwide automated polls. "Ang akin lang, nasabi na naman ang lahat na pagpuna sa akin, sukatin na lang siguro ako sa magagawa ko, depende kung ano yung mga gagawin ko (My critics have said everything they want to say against me. Now it is time the public judge me by my actions)," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. But he said he "understands" President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo critics, saying they are merely being "very cautious." "It is understandable that they are very cautious about what happened. But they must look at what I can do and what I have not done. Still, it is the right of everyone to criticize," he said.

Poll fraud Bangit particularly staved off claims he may take part in election fraud. Critics of President Arroyo had accused her and her allies of planning to engage in poll fraud so there will be a failure of elections that will allow her to stay in power beyond June 30. "That’s their imagination. I do not have a history of such despicable acts. They should judge me by my service," Bangit said. He also contested claims that he skipped over his officials from more senior classes of the Philippine Military Academy. Bangit is a member of PMA Class 1978, which adopted President Arroyo as an honorary member. “Alam ng lahat ang process. Hindi naman talaga easy yan (Everyone knows the process in the PMA. Appointments do not come easy)," he said. Earlier, militant church-based poll watchdog group Kontra Daya voiced fears Bangit may be tapped to manage “cheating" in the May 10 elections. The group raised fears about a "possible" repeat of the AFP leadership involved in poll fraud, as Bangit is close to President Arroyo. "Bangit’s appointment may bring about a repeat of what the so-called ‘Garci generals’ did during the 2004 presidential elections," Fr. Jose Dizon, one of the group’s conveners, said in an article on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site. He was referring to the alleged cheating favoring President Arroyo in the 2004 presidential polls, as indicated by a series of wiretapped conversations between Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and a woman believed to be the president were made public in 2005. Besides being a member of PMA Class of 1978, Dizon noted that Bangit was known as a strong defender of Mrs. Arroyo when he headed the Presidential Security Group (PSG) from 2003 to 2007. 'Project Full Moon?' For her part, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) chairperson Sr. Mary John Mananzan said she has received information that Bangit is involved in the so-called “Project Full Moon." She said the “project" aims to manipulate the result of the 2010 elections using the military. "National Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales Jr. will manage the May election cheating through Bangit and Brigadier General Romeo Prestoza," claimed Mananzan. Prestoza currently heads the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). On Tuesday, Senator Rodolfo Biazon pointed out that Bangit might face the burden of clearing away doubt over the latter's professionalism in dispensing his duties because of his ties with Mrs. Arroyo. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/185648/bangit-faces-professionalism-question-as-afp-chief-biazon But Malacañang on Tuesday dismissed – as a pigment of imagination – claims that Bangit's appointment as AFP chief of staff is part of a plan to keep Arroyo in power in case the May polls fail. [See: Palace dismisses fears of poll failure] During Wednesday's radio interview, Bangit declined to specify his priorities as AFP chief of staff, saying he does not want his plans to be preempted. “Iikot ito sa statement na lahat na sinimulan ni Gen. Ibrado ipagpapatuloy ko (I will just say I will continue what my predecessor Gen. Victor Ibrado started)," he said. Upholding human rights Other than clean polls, ensuring human rights was another major challenge hurled at Bangit by militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan). [See: 43 nabbed in doc’s home are rebel trainees] Soldiers claimed that those arrested in Morong town in Rizal early February were rebels who had training on bomb making. Bayan dared Bangit to uphold human rights, starting with the 43 health workers arrested last month and are now detained in Rizal province. “By virtue of command responsibility, Bangit is liable for whatever happens to the 43 health workers detained in Camp Capinpin. His first act must be to ensure that the rights of the 43 are respected and that that daily tactical interrogations be immediately stopped," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said on the Bayan Website. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV