Congress confirms appointments of generals in Burgos, Morong 43 cases

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the designation of 18 generals and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines including those tagged in enforced disappearance and illegal arrest cases.

Capiz Rep. Antonio del Rosario, chairman of the CA committee on national defense, confirmed the ad interim re-appointments of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Brig. Gen. Eduardo Año and Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad.

Año is one of those tagged in the abduction of activist Jonas Burgos while Baladad is linked to the tortures and abduction of the "Morong 43"

"The committee on national defense went through the individual records of the said military officers now present and the committee found them fit and qualified to the ranks that they have been promoted to," Ubando said.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy ranking officer, said that Año and Baladad were recommended for promotion as there was no sufficient evidence against them in the case.

Gen. Raul Ubando, who was recently promoted to the rank of commodore, was also confirmed despite currently being on official mission in Malaysia.

Other confirmed military officers are:

• Commodore Bayani Gaerlan
• Brig. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan
• Brig. Gen. Roger Salvador
• Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.
• Rear Admiral Jose Renan Suarez
• Maj. Gen. Jet Velarmino
• Maj. Gen. Virgilio Hernandez
• Brig. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos Jr.
• Brig. Gen. Vic Castro
• Brig. Gen. Manuel Gonzales
• Brig. Gen. Alex Capina
• Col. Hilario Frigillana of the Philippine Air Force (reservist), Col. Patrick de Leon of Medical Corps (reservist)
• Real Admiral Caesar Taccad
• Brig. Gen. Ricardo Jalad