DND chief to play critic upon resignation on June 30

MANILA, Philippines – Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said yesterday he would resign as defense chief on June 30 and assume the role of an opposition and critic of the new administration.

He added that he would not wait for the next president to ask him to quit his post because he would resign by June 30.

Gonzales said he would re-assume the chairmanship of his party, the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP).

“I am not a military man. I am a politician. We will begin to become the opposition,” he said.

Gonzales said he would also initiate efforts that would be beneficial to the military as he would bring issues in his “filibustering of the government.”

“I will keep reminding our people that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is composed of the best and finest men and women. What the AFP truly deserves is respect being the most important pillar of our society,” Gonzales said.

Also in his farewell speech yesterday to the men and women of the Philippine Navy, Gonzales, who installed Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez as the 31st flag-officer-in-command of the Navy, said he is sad that the just concluded-elections, despite its overwhelming success, “came like a devastating typhoon for the entire country to prepare.”

“I am very sad it has to take the lives of so many soldiers to make this election fair and conducted in a manner that is deserved by our people. I can’t thank enough the AFP for performing such job,” Gonzales said.