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 Drive on Saturday night time issued separate statements welcoming Centino on his second stint as AFP chief and declaring assist for President Marcos’ resolution to deliver him again on the helm of the navy.
Earlier that day, Centino formally assumed his former place and delivered a speech urging the navy to cease its “squabbling” amongst their ranks.
In a reversal of fortune, he changed his navy academy classmate Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro solely 5 months after the latter took over because the nation’s prime navy commander in August, leaving Centino on “floating” standing on the time.
On Saturday, the 2 switched roles, with Bacarro handing over management of the navy to his batchmate throughout a subdued ceremony.
Marcos’ resolution supported
The Army in its assertion mentioned: “We are going to all the time respect and assist the choice of the President and Commander in Chief Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.”
The Navy, describing itself as a “skilled group,” mentioned it “wholly helps the choice of the Commander in Chief.”
Echoing this, the Air Drive mentioned it “stays a secure and reliable group,” because it additionally expressed assist for the President’s transfer. But questions concerning the shock turnover continued, 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, instructed 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 way in which for Bacarro’s ascension.
By reinstating Centino, the Palace was primarily rectifying the “mistaken” performed to Centino, the official mentioned.
That supply additionally recalled telling a rating Palace official: “What you probably did to Andy was mistaken.”
The supply claimed it was solely then that the Palace discovered the story of why Centino had been changed “to present strategy 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 underneath 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 at last retiring Bacarro who might have retired on Sept. 18, 2022?” he added.
In a publish on Twitter, political scientist Cleve Arguelles questioned why Centino was reappointed “regardless of doubtlessly destabilizing penalties? Why is the appointment well worth the hassle?”
“[T]right here’s nothing like making the trail to a four-star normal extra unsure that demoralizes and politicizes officers who’re supposedly subsequent in line. And there goes the supposed aim of regularizing the tour of responsibility of joint chiefs chairman to make AFP extra skilled,” he mentioned.
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 underneath 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 navy posts.
Bacarro, who was alleged to be the primary AFP chief to serve that mounted time period underneath the brand new legislation, was appointed AFP chief round a month earlier than he was alleged to retire. Saturday’s change of command on the navy headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo was held indoors with out the standard navy 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 a substitute 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 as a result of an appointment ban on retired navy officers, he might solely be formally designated senior undersecretary and officer in control of the DND.
The ban lapsed in November, however there was no phrase on whether or not he’ll turn into a full-fledged protection secretary.
Leaked memos from the Philippine Nationwide Police inserting 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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