Tag: Philippine Army

Ping: Nasunod ang Batas sa Pagpili ng Bagong Army Chief

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
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Lacson Hails Upholding of Rule of Law in Army Leadership Change

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on Sunday hailed Malacañang and the defense establishment for upholding the rule of law in naming a new commanding general for the Philippine Army.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, and is Vice Chairman of the Committee on National Defense of the Commission on Appointments, said the appointment of Maj. Gen. Andres Centino to replace Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr. complies with Section 4 of Republic Act 8186.

Lacson first raised the issue last March at the Commission on Appointments, when he noted Faustino was designated Army chief in February. Faustino is to retire upon reaching the retirement age of 56 in November.

“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,” he said.

Related: Ping: Nasunod ang Batas sa Pagpili ng Bagong Army Chief
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Decisiveness, Not Divisiveness: On the Need to Temper Emotions

While I can easily relate to Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay and understand how he feels about the Army officers slain in Sulu, emotions running high at this point is the last thing they need.

For all they know, their common enemies such as the terrorists and armed insurgents are already celebrating the Sulu incident – and even making plans to exploit it.

These enemies of the State and our people, through their legal fronts, are very capable of fanning the flames of animosity between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police by creating intrigues to further divide the country’s two major security forces.

Such fronts have demonstrated their capabilities in sowing disinformation about the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the National ID system, among other measures designed to improve the lives of the people.

Ultimately, decisiveness, not divisiveness, is needed in dealing with the enemies of the State and the Filipino people.

*****

Lacson Pushes P4.78-B Institutional Amendment for Mindanao Infantry Unit

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Sen. Lacson stresses a point during bicameral conference committee discussions on the 2019 national budget, on Jan. 28, 2019.

Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson is pushing for a P4.78-billion institutional amendment in the P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 for an infantry division that will counter threats from armed groups like the Abu Sayyaf.

Lacson, who disclosed this at the bicameral conference committee meeting on the 2019 budget on Monday, said the funding to mobilize the 11th Infantry Division was requested by the Department of National Defense (DND).

“It is an institutional amendment that I introduced, for the activation of an infantry division as requested by the DND,” he said.

Related: Kontra-Terorismo: AFP Binuhusan ni Ping ng P4.7 Bilyon
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