House defense committee questions plan to transfer Southcom

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The House committee on defense frowns on President Arroyo’s plan to transfer the military’s largest unified Southern Command to Pagadian, saying it was a hasty move, officials said.

Defense Committee chair Rep. Roilo Golez said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has to consider the logistical requirement for the transfer of Southcom to Pagadian considering that the military is cash-strapped.

AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, who represented AFP chief Gen. Efren Abu in the inquiry last Monday, said they will still recommend a survey board to study the feasibility of Mrs. Arroyo’s transfer order to Pagadian.

Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Alberto Braganza disclosed earlier that they have already sent a survey team composed of representatives from the major branch of service to Pagadian.

It was learned that Braganza attended the hearing and cited that everything is ready for the transfer.

However, Adan told the committee it has no choice but to follow the order of their Commander-in-chief.

The President gave her order to transfer Southcom during her visit to Pagadian last March 16, which caught military and local officials by surprise.

Mayor Celso Lobregat urged the military to clarify what he described as an "unjustifiable urgency of the relocation of the military base."

Members of the defense committee led by House minority leader Rep. Francis Escudero and Reps. Rolex Suplico and Vincent Crisologo noted that there is no plan or study that justifies the transfer and its implementation would cost millions of pesos for the government.

"The military should consider the logistical requirements of the transfer," he said. — Roel Pareño