Angue bids men farewell, cites clean polls as biggest legacy

As he formally stepped down from his post Monday, Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue cited a clean election last May as his and his unit’s most important achievement. Speaking at the NCRCom flag ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Angue stressed at least twice that the military remained "non-partisan and professional" during the May polls. "As I take my leave of NCRCom, I have the honor and privilege of having served in this post in the only way I know how: by being a professional soldier, by being true to my calling a public servant, loyal to the Constitution. I shall confidently continue my career as a professional soldier. And wherever I am assigned I will do my duty and perform my mission to the highest standards," he said. Earlier, Angue was relieved as NCRCom chief and was reassigned as chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Zamboanga City. Replacing him is his mistah (classmate), Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, head of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division. In turn, Tabaquero will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Mario Chan, 4th Infantry Divison chief. All are members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1978, which counts among its honorary members, former President-now-Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the recent moves were not to go after those perceived close to Mrs. Arroyo, but to improve the system in the Armed Forces. "Dumadaan ito sa Board of Generals. The purpose of reshuffling is the professionalization of the AFP (All these movements go through the Board of Generals. The purpose of reshuffling is the professionalization of the AFP)," he said on government-run dzRB radio last Saturday. On Sunday, the military said Angue was not demoted with his new position. (See: AFP denies controversial general was demoted) 'Professionals' During his flag ceremony address, Angue said that as professionals, the military dedicated themselves to pursue their military careers. This includes suppressing their personal beliefs to protect the Armed Forces’ image as a non-partisan and professional organization. "We as soldiers have had to suppress the expression of these basic rights in the higher interest of transparently serving the public and protecting the image of the AFP as a NON-PARTISAN and professional organization. That I would rest. A NON-PARTISAN and professional organization," he said. But he thanked his men for staying with him in the last political exercise and for being apolitical. He said this would be his biggest legacy aside from disaster preparedness. "Nguni’t sa lahat ng iyon, ang isang pinakaimportanteng nagawa natin ay yung ating pagkakabigay sa ating bayan ng isang malinis na eleksyon. Sa lahat na yan pinagsamahan natin, maraming salamat sa inyo (One of the most important achievement was ensuring a clean election. And for that I thank you)," he said. He said they can tell their grandchildren when they were called to deliver clean elections, they did their job. — RSJ, GMANews.TV