After griping, Navy's Angue placed on 'floating status'

After airing his gripes against the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the media, Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue – former National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) head – was placed under "floating status" on Friday. AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David said Angue would not be allowed to hold any military post until the investigation on an ethics complaint against him is completed. "Nasa Code of Ethics na airing in media grievances is unethical... Ang Code of Ethics ng [Philippine military] ay bawal magsalita except in the proper forum at hindi doon sa media," David said in a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo. David said Angue's transfer to the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) could not yet push through because investigations are being held in Manila. "Hihintayin natin kung ano ang magiging resulta ng imbestigasyon, then we'll find out kung ano ang pwesto or mangyayari sa kanya," David told radio dzBB in an interview. While Angue is being investigated, Marine Commander Gen. Eugene Clemente will head the Naval Forces Westmincom in an acting capacity, David added. Angue earned the ire of the military leadership after he hurled allegations through media interviews against the AFP, including the supposed meddling of senior military officials in the May 10 automated polls. He had also claimed that several of his classmates from the Philippine Military Academy "Makatarungan" Class of 1978 used their influence to get plum posts in the military. He also questioned the promotions of several military officials. [See related: Angue: Only 1 in 10 mistahs climbed to top via ‘power play’] David had issued a gag order on Angue, advising the latter to raise his concerns before the military grievance body and not before the media. "Kaming mga sundalo, hindi puwedeng pumunta sa isang press at doon kami magsumbong... Ang grievance committee natin sa AFP ay gumagana," he said. Angue was first heard airing his complaints last Monday, when he said his re-assignment from the NCRCom to the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) was considered a demotion. Angue also resented the fact that he only learned about his supposed "demotion" not from his superiors but through the media, who quoted military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta about the announcement. However, David said even if he first heard about the news in the media, Angue should at least have waited to get an official confirmation from the AFP's adjutant general, the military chief administrative officer tasked to inform officers about their assignments or appointments. "Huwag sila masyado mag-depend sa media. Kung minsan, hindi buo or tama, mayroong kalahating tama [ang mga lumalabas]," the military chief said. In a separate radio report, Angue refused to comment on his being placed on "floating status," adding that the would just express his sentiments once the House committee on defense starts its probe on his allegations against the military. Angue said he has no choice but to accept his current status even with a heavy heart, the report added. Mabanta had earlier said Angue's transfer from the NCRCom to the Westmincom was not a demotion. The military spokesman said the Westmincom post actually suited Angue, who is a two-star general. His post as head of the NCRCom, meanwhile, was a three-star position. David said Angue should not belittle his being sent to Mindanao, adding that his [David] assignment in southern Philippines allowed him to rise from the ranks. Promotion The military chief assured that the ethics investigation on Angue would not hurt his chances of being promoted to a three-star general. "He is not deprived to be promoted to a three-star general. He can assume a position of three-star general, magpakita lang siya ng galing sa Naval Forces Western Mindanao [as long as he shows an exemplary performance in his command]," he said. David said he would have been willing to have Angue's accusations against the military investigated but so far Angue has not filed any complaints. "Ang hirap imbestigahan kung walang complainant. Dapat right there and then... wala naman nag-submit [It's hard to investigate without a complaint. I was waiting for one, but none came]," David said. He also challenged Angue to identify the military officials whom he accused of allegedly engaging in "politicking" in the last elections. Stop bickering Catholic Church officials from the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) appealed to Angue and the military leadership to stop hurling tirades against each other. "I hope they will just set aside all their conflicts and help President Aquino in bringing about change. Instead of fighting each other, they should work together for the good of the country," AMRSP co-chairwoman Sr. Mary John Mananzan said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. She made the appeal amid fears that with Angue's "demotion," there could be a "second coming" of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) that rose during the Martial Law era. The RAM was an organization founded by junior military officers disgruntled by patronage politics and corruption in the AFP during the Marcos regime. While RAM helped oust then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, it also launched coup attempts against Marcos' successor, the late President Corazon Aquino, mother of the incumbent President. However, Manzan expressed confidence said the rift between Angue and the AFP leadership was "too shallow to cause instability in the military." Mayuga report It was not the first time that Angue raised concerns against the AFP. In 2004, Angue had already testified before the "Mayuga Board," the body created in 2005 to investigate servicemen implicated in alleged poll rigging, including the controversial "Hello Garci Generals." Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's victory in that year's elections was contested after the so-called "Hello Garci" tapes surfaced. In the wiretapped recording, a woman believed to be Arroyo, was heard speaking with poll commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about cheating in the elections. In his testimony, Angue claimed there had been attempts to rig polls results in Tawi-Tawi, where he was assigned then. The body later cleared the military general for lack of evidence and witnesses. — Mark Merueñas/LBG/VVP, GMANews.TV