At least two lawmakers on Wednesday asked the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) to defer the confirmation of the promotions of several officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). During the day's CA defense committee hearing, Sen. Panfilo Lacson asked to defer temporarily the confirmation of the promotion of 21 military officers who allegedly have "derogatory information" regarding alleged property, money, and acts of lasciviousness charges. He said that among these 21 officers were:
Jose Alberto (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Rogelio Unson (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Jeavy Resurrecion (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Henry Robinson (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Erwin Neri (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Adriano Perez (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Alex Albano (for promotion to brigadier general, AFP) Ramona Go (for promotion to brigadier general, AFP) Rolando Tenefrancia (for promotion to brigadier general, AFP) Pio Dinoso III (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Ramon Mabalot, Jr. (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Navy-Marines) Michael Chiong (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Claudio Yucot (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Dorvin Legaspi (for promotion to captain, Philippine Navy) Jesus Lomeda Jr. (for promotion to brigadier general, AFP) Carlos Corpuz (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Francis Lardizabal, Jr. (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Teoforo Llamas (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Army) Alexander Bote (for promotion to brigadier general, AFP) Nestor Herico (for promotion to colonel, Philippine Navy-Marines) Armando Banez (for promotion to Colonel, Philippine Navy-Marines) But Lacson, a former National Police chief, stressed that he does not wish to destroy the reputation of the said officers. He said he merely wants to confirm the information that they have received regarding them. "We want it resolved right now," he said. Generals On the other hand, Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino asked the CA to defer the confirmation on the promotions of military officers with the rank higher than major general pending a review of the confirmation process. "It is my fervent request to my esteemed colleagues in this committee and the commission to support my advocacy and not to endorse for confirmation all those nominated for promotion higher than the rank of major general or its equivalent rank in the naval service until the committee has determined the qualifications and fitness of each of the nominees via a review of the promotion process," Antonino said during the CA defense committee's hearing on the confirmation of 131 military officers. There are at least eight military officers who are for promotion to major general and above. Among them are: Ramiro Alivio (for promotion to major general, AFP) Arthur Tabaquero (for promotion to lieutenant general, AFP) Romulo Bambao (for promotion to major general, AFP) Tristan Kison (for promotion to major general, AFP) Nonato Alfredo Peralta Jr. (for promotion to major general, AFP) Elmir Dela Cruz (for promotion to major general, AFP) Pompeo Limbo (for promotion to major general, AFP) Joel Marayag (for promotion to major general, AFP) Antonino said he made the move after learning that there might be a "Mafia-like" body which determines which military officers are promoted or who are bypassed. He likewise said that there are no resources that would document the promotion process within the military. Sen. Franklin Drilon had also earlier sought a review of the CA confirmation process amid the scandals which have recently rocked the military. Antonino, however, asked the military officers concerned not to consider them their "nemesis." "My interest is the well being of the Armed Forces that I know you love and for whom you sacrificed so much for love of God and country.... I am standing up only in the best interest of the AFP in the hopes of uplifting the morale of the entire Armed Forces by asking for a review of the promotion process and its cleaning," he said. "Some of you that are here may not be deserving but I am sure that many more of you are deserving of a higher rank than what you are being nominated to," he added. The CA hearing was ongoing as of posting time. - RSJ/KBK, GMA News 
GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
