Nagpagpahayag ng paghanga at papuri si Senador Panfilo Lacson sa pagsunod ng Malacañang at Department of National Defense (DND) sa pagtalaga ng bagong commanding general ng Philippine Army.

Ayon kay Lacson, chairman ng Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation at vice chairman ng Committee on National Defense ng Commission on Appointments (CA), nasunod ng Palasyo at DND ang Republic Act 8186 sa pagkakatalaga kay Maj. Gen. Andres Centino at pagpalit kay Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr.

Sa Commission on Appointments nitong Marso, kinwestyon ni Lacson ang pagtalaga kay Faustino bilang Army commanding general noong Pebrero. Nakatakdang magretiro si Faustino sa Nobyembre sa edad na 56.

Related: Lacson Hails Upholding of Rule of Law in Army Leadership Change

Nakasaad sa Sec. 4 ng RA 8186 na “except for the Chief of Staff of the AFP, no officer shall be assigned/designated to the aforementioned key positions (including major service commanders) or promoted to the rank of Brigadier General/Commodore or higher if he has less than one (1) year of active service remaining prior to compulsory retirement.”

“I thank and commend Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for rectifying an oversight in appointing Lt. Gen. Faustino, and for their adherence to Section 4 of RA 8186. Under the said law, Lt. Gen. Faustino is not eligible to head a major service command of the AFP as he has less than one year of active service remaining prior to reaching the age of compulsory retirement,” pahayag ni Lacson.

Nilinaw din ng mambabatas na hindi niya personal na tinututulan ang pagkakatalaga kay Faustino.

“That said, let me repeat what I said last March when I brought up the issue at the Commission on Appointments: I have nothing against Lt. Gen. Faustino. While he may be considered the most competent, he is not qualified because there’s a law saying he’s not qualified. Between the memorandum issued by the Executive Secretary and the law, it is the law that should take precedence,” ayon kay Lacson.

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