MANILA, Philippines – The military leadership has brushed aside talks of grumblings in the Armed Forces over major changes in the command structure highlighted by the relief of National Capital Region Command chief Rear Adm. Feliciano Angue.
Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz, AFP deputy chief for intelligence, said the military has become a professional organization and that coups and mutinies are a thing of the past.
“Anyone spreading rumors of rumblings in the military is doing a disservice to this nation,” he said.
The military is now focused on its mission of protecting the people and the state, Cruz said.
Several unsigned manifestos are being circulated in various military camps questioning the motives of military brass in dismissing some senior military officers for their reported links to former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Angue has gone on vacation after questioning his transfer as Task Force Comet commander.
The post was subsequently given to another military officer.
Now on floating status, Angue is facing investigation over his actions.
Angue: Give me 10 days to reply
Angue asked yesterday a Navy investigating body to give him 10 days to answer allegations that he had violated the military code of ethics.
Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said Angue made the request when he presented himself to the investigating body led by Navy vice commander Rear Adm. Roberto Estioko.
“He presented himself pursuant to the summons sent him last week,” he said.
Arevalo said it was the first time Angue appeared before the investigating panel.
“We are going to expedite the procedure but by expediting, we mean we are going to have a fair and impartial investigation in this case and we would not want to sacrifice objective, impartiality and fairness for expediency,” he said.
Last week, Angue questioned his appointment as Naval Forces Western Mindanao chief, a two star-post, claiming he was demoted since his previous assignment as National Capital Region Command chief is a three-star rank.
The leadership reshuffle came after Angue revealed that some military officers engaged in partisan politics during the last elections to get important posts.
Angue continued to air his gripes in the media even after Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David Jr. ordered him to stop issuing statements.
This prompted the high command to form a panel to investigate whether Angue violated the military code of ethics. – Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero