AFP denies controversial general was demoted

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday justified the assignment of controversial officer, National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue, to what is widely perceived in the military organization as a lower position. Angue, who exposed alleged politicking by senior military officers during the May 10 elections, has been designated as commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Westmincom) Command based in Zamboanga City. Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said Angue has no reason to reject his new assignment. “He cannot refuse because that is the oath we have taken — that we move on orders," he said. Mabanta said Angue may pursue a complaint before the duly-constituted military grievance mechanism if he doesn’t like his new assignment. “We always have the grievance mechanism and other committees where [complaints] can always be aired." Angue’s assignment at the NCRCom is a three-star position, which means he is eligible to be promoted to the next rank of vice admiral. On the other hand, his new assignment is a two-star position, meaning he is not qualified for promotion in rank. Mabanta, however, said Angue is not being demoted. “He [has] not yet been promoted nor was ever recommended for a third star so that means that he is still, from all points of view, a two-star. So in essence, there is no demotion because the position that he will be going to carries the rank also of a two-star," he said. The NCRCom is the military’s anti-coup force in Metro Manila, while the Naval Forces Westmincom deals mainly with the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf and other armed groups in Western Mindanao. Angue, who was appointed to the NCRCom only last March, became controversial early this month when he asked for the investigation of several military officials whom he said sided with politicians in the May 10 elections. Angue, who claimed to have fought efforts to rig the results of the 2004 presidential elections in Tawi-Tawi, went as far as saying that these officials, whom he did not identify, have been promoted to key positions in the military in exchange for their support on winning candidates. Aside from Angue, also affected by the re-assignments announced by the Armed Forces last Friday were Air Force vice commander Maj. Gen. Eduardo Oban and Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, who were designated Armed Forces deputy chief of staff and commander of the Western Command, respectively. - KBK, GMANews.TV