Of ‘variables' and ‘weather'
IT is said the Board of Generals’ (BoG) deliberate and exhaustive process of selection and designation to key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is merely recommendatory to the secretary of National Defense and, finally, the president. It is ultimately the commander in chief — in the exercise of his or her prerogative to choose — who decides. And in respecting the AFP’s many considerations in the selection, like seniority, leadership and service reputation, the commander in chief is expected to select from the shortlist of candidates submitted by the BoG. But there are many instances in the current and previous administrations that the recommendations were remanded to the AFP because the shortlist of usually three names does not contain the name the commander in chief is looking for.
The variables
When politicians and other people with influence meddle in the crucial internal affairs of the AFP, such as the selection and designation to sensitive positions and the promotion in rank this entails, they destroy the long-held tradition of meritocracy, and this consequently leads to the breakdown in morale and discipline.
Candidates for certain positions may possess the seniority, notable accomplishments, and good service reputation, among other excellent qualifications that AFP members want from their leaders and commanders. It is disconcerting to realize, however, that those attributes were reduced to mere “independent variables” that do not guarantee selection to key AFP positions. It pains to see senior officers who, for many years, have worked hard to earn, establish and keep their reputations unblemished, only to realize near the culmination of their military careers that those are of little worth or consequence.
These are instances when the revered process is corrupted by a cabal of politicians and subverted by power brokers in the Palace. The “connections” to the appointing power become the “dependent variable” — the determinant as to who ultimately gets the post. That despite the many years of preparations to assume higher responsibilities, political “connections” carried more weight on judgment day. And there goes the rub! When the rise to the totem pole of command and leadership positions is relegated to “who you know” rather than “who you are” in terms of qualifications, accomplishments and service reputation established over 30 years or so, demoralization sets in.
The ‘weather’
The rumbling within the ranks is unapparent as the AFP endeavors to ward off the nuisance and remain focused on performing its mandates. The members of the organization somehow learned to accept that “militics” — politics within the military — have been at play since its inception and continue to be so today. Soldiers have learned to cope with it, as it is integral to military culture. But it’s an entirely different story altogether when power brokers who barely understand the culture of the men and women in uniform dip their dirty fingers in the internal affairs of the armed services and engender the “weather-weather” culture.
The “prevailing weather” is not determined by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, but by the occupants of Malacañang. When we had presidents from the Ilocos Region, Ilocanos had their heydays and occupied lofty government positions. The same was also true when we had a chief executive from Pangasinan; Panggalatoks and Ilocanos were present in high places in government. The AFP, as an agency of the government, is no exception. Positions of confidence, command and administration in the defense establishment were given to generals and flag officers who mostly hail from the north.
In Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, for instance, it was common knowledge and begrudgingly accepted by many that the “overarching qualification” for positioning was having been assigned in Davao City. This is not to say all those given positions in government and the AFP during the previous administration were underserving. We all know of many generals and flag officers with impeccable records who have retired and served with distinction in the Duterte administration and are still serving the administration of his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with high distinction. But it is an inconvenient truth that not too few took advantage of and benefited from the “weather.”
Bearers of the burden
I have interviewed former AFP chiefs, and they conceded that the manner, form and extent of interference in the selection and designation process depend on and varies from one commander in chief to another. They admitted that, as the president’s adviser on matters concerning the defense establishment, the defense chief’s support was crucial.
One of them admitted that he was fortunate to have a commander in chief and defense chief who never dipped their fingers in the said process by virtue of the BoG’s recommendations. And where two public officials who personify civilian authority over the military desisting from the inordinate use of their political power over the AFP, no other politicians and power players dared to.
The AFP chiefs I have interviewed acknowledged that not all of them may have the moral courage to uphold the recommendation of the BoG over the attempts of some unscrupulous individuals to impose their will on the integrity of the process. One chief admitted to having experienced “many instances of intense pressure” from an influential aide of a president. But his moral suasion prevailed and impressed upon the latter that there is a stringent AFP process that deserves respect.
This is the burden that top defense officials bear. While their recommendations in filling vacancies in critical AFP positions are not the all and be all of their esteemed posts, they weigh heavily on the morale, discipline and professionalism of the military organization. Defense and AFP chiefs are expected to perpetuate the interest of the defense establishment against the purveyors of undue political power and influence over the AFP. Otherwise, the innumerable sacrifices of the soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines who earned the trust of nearly nine out of 10 Filipinos in the recent OCTA research survey will be for naught.