MONTHS after making a pitch for the extension of his tour of
duty as Armed Forces chief and subsequently getting it, Gen. Hermo- genes
Esperon said he is ready to work for government after his retirement in May.
Esperon said there is yet no formal offer from Malacañang of
a position in the Arroyo government which has survived several power grab
attempts principally due to his loyalty to the chain of command.
Weeks before he was to reach the retirement age of 56 last
Feb. 9, Esperon said he would be honored if the President would extend his term
so that he can sustain the fight against the communist New People's Army. The
President responded by giving him a three-month extension and announcing that
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, the erstwhile frontrunner as the next AFP
head, will get Esperon's job after the extension expires. The Constitution
allows the extension of the AFP chief's term to complete a maximum three-year
term.
"(May 9) is too close but as far as I am concerned, many
things can still happen. I am not oto concerned about it. May 9 will come and I
will retire. In fact, I intend to have a turnover of command on May 8," said
Esperon. "If there will be a job that will be offered, we are trained to follow
orders and take on jobs. If there is a job (offered), then we'll just have to
keep working."
Esperon, however, said he will go on vacation with his family
immediately after he leaves the service.
He assumed the top AFP post in July 2006. He is one of the
so-called Hello Garci generals who were accused of helping rig the results of
the May 2004 presidential elections to ensure President Arroyo's victory.
He has played a major role in quelling several attempts to
grab power from the Arroyo government, the latest of which was the Nov. 29, 2007
standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel where the mass action hoped for by the
group of Sen. Antonio Trillanes for the ouster of Arroyo did not materialize. -
Victor Reyes
