Press Statement on the
Changes in Leadership of Major Army Units
The Philippine Army as a professional organization recognizes that
changes or movements in leadership of major Army units (Division/
Command level), reshuffle of key officers, promotions, and change of
positions are part of the dynamics and essential mechanisms in a
military institution.
Maj. Gen. Mario F. Chan's new assignment as the Army's 8th Infantry
Division chief is only appropriate to his competence, skills, talent and
expertise, just like Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue's new assignment. We
are placing the best commanders where they are most needed
Let Rear Adm. Angue speak for himself, in his personal capacity but in
the proper forum. As far as our senior Army commanders are concerned, we
have not heard of any grumblings, we know that they are professional
enough to understand what these movements are all about. A call to
explain the movements is not necessary because all we need is an order
to move or be where we are supposed to be.
If indeed there is truth to Rear Adm. Angue's statements, we urge these
military officers to come out in the open and go through the grievance
mechanism in airing their complaints. There are proper venues to air
grievances and they know that the AFP Grievance Mechanism exist and is
functioning We would like to request military officers making such
accusations to provide substantial evidences to support their claims. We
hope that the Truth Commission will finally bring light to the case and
put an end to this.
The Philippine Army will cooperate and support the conduct of
investigation regarding his allegations that some officers were involved
in partisan political activity last May 10, 2010 elections and we hope
that those who are really guilty of the crime will be prosecuted before
the regular courts or before the military justice system. Their
involvement will be dealt with if duly established and proven by
competent evidence. We will not tolerate acts perpetrated by our
personnel, of whatever rank or position they may have. We strictly
adhere to the constitution and the chain of command. We assure the
public that any military personnel who may be implicated in such cases
shall be charged in court or made available to any investigative body.
The Philippine Army Board of Senior Officers (BOSO) has always been a
professional body recognized by the PA officer corps and composed of
competent senior officers. Its recommendations of PA officers to key
positions in the AFP are all based on merits, service reputation and
seniority; and is approved by a unanimous consensus of the board. No
other recommendations are considered, BOSO is the sole and final body
that makes recommendations for promotion and designation to key
positions in the Philippine Army. In the same fashion the Army trusts
the credibility of the Board of Generals (BOG), as the functional
mechanism at General Headquarters (GHQ) level.
Despite these allegations, we would like to assure the public that these
movements will not in any way affect the organization. Our trust remains
with the AFP, which is geared toward achieving our operational goals and
further intensifying our Internal Security Operations campaign with the
end-goal of delivering lasting peace and development in the country. Our
common interest is to meet our ISO targets and put all our efforts to
attain it by putting the right man on the right job or position. #
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