MANILA, Philippines — In an obvious present of unity, main service branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have rallied behind the management of the reappointed chief of employees, Gen. Andres Centino, over the weekend, amid discuss of unrest amongst their troops.
The Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Pressure on Saturday night time issued separate statements welcoming Centino on his second stint as AFP chief and declaring help for President Marcos’ choice to carry him again on the helm of the army.
Earlier that day, Centino formally assumed his former place and delivered a speech urging the army to cease its “squabbling” amongst their ranks.
In a reversal of fortune, he changed his army academy classmate Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro solely 5 months after the latter took over because the nation’s high army commander in August, leaving Centino on “floating” standing on the time.
On Saturday, the 2 switched roles, with Bacarro handing over management of the army to his batchmate throughout a subdued ceremony.
Marcos’ choice supported
The Army in its assertion stated: “We are going to at all times respect and help the choice of the President and Commander in Chief Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.”
The Navy, describing itself as a “skilled group,” stated it “wholly helps the choice of the Commander in Chief.”
Echoing this, the Air Pressure stated it “stays a steady and reliable group,” because it additionally expressed help for the President’s transfer. But questions concerning the shock turnover persevered, fueling discuss of a destabilization plot among the many uniformed ranks.
Palace faction
On Saturday, an administration official, who requested to not be named for not having authority to talk on the topic, advised the Inquirer that Centino had initially been sidelined as a result of a faction in Malacañang had allegedly orchestrated his ouster by providing him a sham appointment to pave the best way for Bacarro’s ascension.
By reinstating Centino, the Palace was basically rectifying the “fallacious” achieved to Centino, the official stated.
That supply additionally recalled telling a rating Palace official: “What you probably did to Andy was fallacious.”
The supply claimed it was solely then that the Palace discovered the story of why Centino had been changed “to provide technique to Bacarro.”
The Inquirer reached out to these officers however didn’t instantly obtain a reply.
Some observers weighed in on the circumstances behind Centino’s return to the AFP.
“Was the reappointment of Centino meant to right the perceived miscues of then Govt Secretary Vic Rodriguez below whose stint Bacarro was appointed to succeed Centino?” retired AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo wrote in his column within the Manila Instances on Sunday.
“Is that this a method of restitution for Centino and eventually retiring Bacarro who may have retired on Sept. 18, 2022?” he added.
In a put up on Twitter, political scientist Cleve Arguelles puzzled why Centino was reappointed “regardless of probably destabilizing penalties? Why is the appointment definitely worth the hassle?”
“[T]right here’s nothing like making the trail to a four-star common extra unsure that demoralizes and politicizes officers who’re supposedly subsequent in line. And there goes the supposed objective of regularizing the tour of responsibility of joint chiefs chairman to make AFP extra skilled,” he stated.
Fastened time period
Centino will attain the obligatory retirement age of 56 in February.
Malacañang has but to make clear if he’ll serve a contemporary time period below Republic Act No. 11709 — enacted by then President Rodrigo Duterte in April final yr — which set a hard and fast three-year time period on key army posts.
Bacarro, who was speculated to be the primary AFP chief to serve that mounted time period below the brand new regulation, was appointed AFP chief round a month earlier than he was speculated to retire. Saturday’s change of command on the army headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo was held indoors with out the standard army honors and parade.
Appearing Protection Secretary Jose Faustino Jr. skipped the occasion for unspecified causes. Marcos was additionally absent.
Becoming a member of Centino and Bacarro on stage as an alternative had been Govt Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Particular Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, and appearing AFP chief chaplain Col. Daniel Tansip.
Lapsed ban
Faustino was rumored to have filed a courtesy resignation following the sudden change of AFP management supposedly behind his again. However there was no affirmation from both the Division of Nationwide Protection (DND) or Malacañang.
Marcos named Faustino as his protection secretary in June, however resulting from an appointment ban on retired army officers, he may solely be formally designated senior undersecretary and officer accountable for the DND.
The ban lapsed in November, however there was no phrase on whether or not he’ll develop into a full-fledged protection secretary.
Leaked memos from the Philippine Nationwide Police putting its items on heightened alert “in view of the resignation of all of the Division of Nationwide Protection personnel” at Camp Aguinaldo circulated over the weekend, additional fueling speculations.
The PNP neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the memos, solely saying it was on heightened alert in preparation for the annual Black Nazarene festivities.
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