ARMED Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon
Jr. yesterday said he has lined up farewell visits as he nears
the retirement age of 56 next month.
On talks his tour of duty will be extended,
Esperon said: "It’s the media which is hyping it when we
should not be talking about it. It’s the prerogative of the
President… It’s not actually illegal if I will be extended.
It’s not also illegal if I will be retired."
Esperon has publicly been making a pitch
for an extension, saying he would be "honored" if the
President decides to allow him to stay so he could continue to
lead the fight against insurgency. He said the Armed Forces
has gained "momentum" in the anti-insurgency drive and the
biggest challenge for the military this year is sustaining
that momentum.
Esperon belied allegations that government
was floating reports on destabilization to justify an
extension of his term. "They will always say that but can we
keep quiet when we are indeed discovering some plans to
transport or preposition some firearms?" he said.
"It’s not us doing that," he said adding
that some are opposing his possible extension because "they
are mad" at those who are against coups.
Nevertheless, he said he has a list in case
the President asks him who he would recommend as successor.
The law says all military personnel should
retire at the age of 56 but the Constitution allows the
President to extend the tour of duty of the AFP chief, which
shall not exceed three years. Esperon assumed the AFP chief
post in July 2006.
Esperon said he was in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday
for a farewell call to his Malaysian counterpart.
"I’ll be visiting my old units where I was
a platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander,
brigade commander, division commander. I’ll be visiting those
units and those are normal," he said.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the
AFP public information office, said that if there is no word
on extension by Feb. 9, Esperon will retire as mandated by
law.
Senate President Manuel Villar said that he
will not object if the President decides to extend Esperon’s
term. Arroyo has extended the terms of at least four AFP
chiefs.
Sen. Manuel Roxas II has expressed
opposition to an extension. He said only by appointing a new
AFP chief of staff would government be enable to restore some
of the trust that it lost over the years. – Victor Reyes
and Dennis Gadil
