‘System overhaul’ of military
“In whatever manner the appointments may have been made or whatever petty row or imbroglio they created in the defense or military hierarchies, the fact is the President eventually approved them.
The term “class interest”, in light of our state of affairs, may likewise apply in the defense and military establishments — ruled up to now — by what Dr. Carolina Hernandez calls the “military elites.” As products of the Philippine Military Academy or
foreign academies, their esprit de corps influences their rise in the hierarchy.
However, class interest is never a good gauge of professionalism or excellence in the armed or uniformed service since this monolithic organization also tends to self-destruct. When leadership is determined in terms of the graduating class the candidate appointee belongs to, the more important criteria to guide selection is swept aside and whosoever is chosen sometimes proves to be a disservice.
The recent reshuffling in the defense and military establishments could be cause for concern since appointments to key positions gravitate around three central givens, namely: 1) line of succession; 2) “mistah” culture; 3) relevant laws. The third factor largely dictates appointments as AFP Chief of Staff and as DND Secretary while the second factor indicates who become the “ruling class” in either the AFP or DND.
Notably, two specific laws “interfere” with appointments to key positions, even affecting career growth and undemocratizing opportunities in a supposedly level playing field. For one, Section 18 of Republic Act No. 11709 has rendered Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino, Jr. ineligible when it bans the appointment of a retired military officer as Secretary of National Defense within one year from the date of his retirement.
For another, Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8186 imposes a prohibition in that “no officer shall be assigned or designated to certain key positions including as Commanding General of the Philippine Army if he has less than one year of active service remaining prior to compulsory retirement at the age of 56.” As though by destiny, the same Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino, Jr. was removed as then acting Commanding General of the Philippine Army in favor of General Andres Centino.
The 9th of January 2023 could be marked as a milestone in defense and military history. It was when the President appointed General Andres Centino as CSAFP and General Carlito Galvez, Jr. as SND ultimately displacing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro and Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino, Jr., respectively.
No counterfactual narrative can contradict the fact that there had been a kind of “embargo” in the entire appointment process where it concerned the case of Lt. Gen. Faustino as well as Lt. Gen. Bacarro who were earlier appointed by FM Jr. himself as OIC-DND and CSAFP, respectively. However quickly downplayed, it triggered a row between and among military elites — one class against another — in a mute tug of war.
A crucial provision in Sec. 4 of RA 8186 begs mention, viz: “Provided, That except for the Chief of Staff of the AFP, no officer shall be designated to the key positions (as cited) or promoted to the rank of Brigadier General/Commodore or higher if he has less than one year of active service remaining prior to compulsory retirement.” Verily, luck is not on the side of Lt. Gen. Bacarro.
In whatever manner the appointments may have been made or whatever petty row or imbroglio they created in the defense or military hierarchies, the fact is the President eventually approved them. Such choice, by presidential fiat, has legs to stand on.
Whether or not the selection pathway was followed (i.e. nominees of AFP
Board of Generals to SND to the President); the
CSAFP turnover ceremony was held at short notice, even indoors; the National Security
Adviser was left uninformed or confused, the crux of this whole affair is that this imbroglio is below the threshold to cause demoralization or restiveness in the entire officer corps.
If RA 11709 and RA 8186 have jeopardized career futures in the cases mentioned, what makes the new S ND, Gen. Galve z—retired since 2018, a Duterte hold-over, 60-years old — unique? Humor us or walk us through.
“Notably, two specific laws “interfere” with appointments to key positions, even affecting career growth and undemocratizing opportunities in a supposedly level playing field.