AFP wants CA powers over military appointments clipped

To stop the "politicizing" of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga proposed yesterday a cut in legislative powers over the appointment and confirmation of military officers.

Senga said the military has already forwarded its proposal along with that of the DND to amend the National Defense Act of 1935.

The proposals focus on the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA), which has the final say on the confirmation of ranking generals and flag officers.

Under the present setup, the CA may approve or turn down the promotion of any ranking officer.

"Officers with the rank of colonel are confirmed by the Commission on Appointments... That early, politicians could have an influence on them so we are proposing that only the highest-ranking officials of the (AFP) should pass through the CA," Senga said.

Senior military officials have long complained about the political body, claiming the confirmation process is often abused by politicians for their own vested interests.

Recently, Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. was bypassed for promotion by the CA.

Esperon was one of four generals linked to the alleged fraud operations during the May 2004 elections.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, the officer who investigated the vote-rigging allegations that named Esperon as among those involved, was confirmed even though his report has yet to be made public.

In October 2005, Marine Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio, now retired, publicly assailed the CA for using military officials as "pawns in (a) political tug-of-war."

Teodosio had a tough time before the CA following his controversial relief of Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani during the 2004 elections.

Gudani was relieved for allegedly going against efforts to rig the poll results.

Aside from limiting the powers of the CA, Senga also reiterated a proposal that the term of office for the AFP chief be fixed.

Senga stressed the proposal would eliminate the unpopular "revolving door policy" of selecting the next AFP chief of staff.

With a fixed term, Senga said the AFP would have a better chance of implementing necessary reforms in the military service.

"We would have a fixed term, for example, three years. Therefore, we would go beyond politics after the confirmation and we would have a longer term so we can pursue the projects we like," he said.

Senga noted that President Arroyo has already appointed eight military chiefs since she assumed the presidency in 2001. Most of the appointees served for less than a year.

When Senga was appointed to replace Gen. Efren Abu as AFP chief, he had only 11 months left in the service before his scheduled retirement in July.

The DND, for its part, is finalizing its recommendations for the proposed revisions in the National Defense Act, defense public affairs office director Rosulo Manlangit said.

Manlangit added the proposed revisions on the National Defense Act are almost complete.

He said they are now scouting for a congressman to sponsor their proposals and certify the measure as urgent.

Senga also said this year’s insufficient military budget has adversely affected ongoing military operations.

Noting that 90 percent of the military budget goes toward the pay and allowances of soldiers, he said the remaining 10 percent is barely enough to finance the AFP’s field operations.

Under the P1-trillion budget for 2006, which was passed on second reading at the House of Representatives, P40 billion was allotted to the DND, the bulk of which goes to the AFP.

"The budget is small, to tell the truth... Kulang na kulang ang funds for operations (The funds are very insufficient for operations)," Senga said.