This is somewhat anticlimactic – the promotion of Army commanding general Delfin Bangit as Armed Forces chief of staff.
His designation had earlier been expected as the main announcement at President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo final appearance as keynote speaker at the Philippine Military Academy.
But GMA held back given the most ugly rumors about a new right-wing power grab plot, a plot where Bangit and other key officers were supposedly going to maneuver an ‘emergency situation making it necessary to either declare martial law or installing a military junta with’ the end result of scuttling the May 10 elections.
But such a scheme, if true, appears to have fizzled out after one of the architects, said to belong to the inner circle of Mrs. Arroyo security advisers had to resign.
That such whispers (now proven to be unfounded for now) preceded General Bangit’s appointment, , adds to the burden that the good general bears as a fourth star is added to his shoulder pads.
He certainly is expected to provide vision and highly professional leadership well beyond the hold on power of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
To be absolutely fair to the new AFP Chief of Staff, at least two sources at Camp Aguinaldo and Bonifacio describe the general as “exceedingly amiable and with a hearty sense of humor, and not uptight at all.”
This writer believes this to be true.
But one must still be guardedly optimistic.
Public perception is not on General Bangit’s side.
He’s a ‘mistah’ of Mrs. Arroyo given how his PMA Class of 1978 adopted her as honorary member.
He was also head of military intelligence which oftentimes is suspected on being used to spy on if not harass Arroyo political enemies.
There are those who also wonder if his nickname ‘Emperor’ carries a deeper, albeit, probably unintended meaning.
The recent past is replete with unresolved allegations of certain military officers having aided and abetted election cheating in 2004 and 2007.
There are also persistent complaints about state-sponsored terrorism and human rights violation on a scale exceeding that of the martial law era.
The onus on General Delfin Bangit is to insulate, nay absolutely stop, the military’s exploitation for, and participation in partisan politics.
Add to this the primary tasks of effectively protecting the Philippines from external security threats and shedding its involvement in local counter insurgency operation which are, in essence, really police actions best left in the hands of the civilian Philippine National Police.
It surely goes without saying that the Constitution, in which is enshrined the Bill of Rights, is inviolable.
All right, General Bangit, sir?
Postscript:
I will allow only God to use me.
I will do everything in my power to fight the enemies of democracy democracy.
I will not allow anybody to use me for partisan politics.
My God-given ourpose as AFP Chief of Staff is to provide professional and patriotic leadership to the Armed Forces.
We will pursue the modernization of the Armed Forces to enable it to perform its duties effectively.
We will uphold human rights. We are not above the law.
I will not betray our people.
To move forward we need to be able to hold very very credible elec
Sa Diyos lamang ako magpapagamit.
These are the very first words of General Bangit as he took over the helm of the AFP just minutes ago.
Very well said General Bangit.
Godspeed on your mission.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Oh general general wherefore art thou.
I would like to see a list of all the generals and their current commands. With so many generals, the Philippines must be fighting lots of enemies.
Oh, oops, my bad. You say they are mainly engaged in defending against FILIPINOS?
Oh my.
United we do not stand, fight and shoot we do.
Joe
Good suggestion Joe.
Let me a bit of research on the roster of star rank officers.
what is the general’s service background?
Joe,
I truly like this interview.
This coversation needs no explanation nor introduction. One only needs to read the interview excerpt for him/herself to understand its greatness.
•FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
“So, General Cosgrove, what things are you going to to teach these young boys when they visit your base?”
•GENERAL COSGROVE:
“We’re going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting.”
•FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
“Shooting! That’s a bit irresponsible, isn’t it?”
•GENERAL COSGROVE:
“I don’t see why, they’ll be properly supervised on the rifle range.”
•FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
“Don’t you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?”
•GENERAL COSGROVE:
I don’t see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.”
•FEMALE INTERVIEWER:
“But you’re equipping them to become violent killers.”
•GENERAL COSGROVE:
“Well, Ma’am, you’re equipped to be a prostitute, but you’re not one, are you?“
hahaa… my humble suggestion… instead of prostitute, use whore. whore is a funnier word, gender specific, and it’ll give the punchline an extra kick.
The General must’ve smelled some “Dinah-Moe Humm” from the interviewer. :)
It depnds on your Point on View. The analogy can be interpreted
in different ways. The General is just teling the truth.
It is like a hammer. If you have a hammer. You can use it as
a good tool to build a house, repair a house, etc… However,
you can use it also to bash somebody’s skull!
Yes the AFP has been mainly tapped for counter insurgency ops rather that the traditional territorial (police) units.
“To be absolutely fair to the new AFP Chief of Staff, at least two sources at Camp Aguinaldo and Bonifacio describe the general as “exceedingly amiable and with a hearty sense of humor, and not uptight at all.”
And those are the qualities that one is looking for in an AFP chief?
Surely not Manong.
You know it’s an indication of at least having an agreeable personality.
Nothing more. Not constipated, in a manner of speaking :)
“I will allow only God will use me.”
That scares me, for it means the general puts his faith above his country, and, as it is only his God, not the God or god of those who subscribe to other religions, it says he will listen to the guidance only of the men who interpret for his faith, or to his own heart, which may be anywhere but serving his country.
Kindly get your God out of the barracks and render service to “Caesar”, according to your oath. You and your God can get together in church, and you can confess any sins you partake of during loyal duty to your country, i.e., killing the enemy if necessary.
Joe
My apologies. I corrected the quote “I will allow only God will use me,” to be accurately translate his vernacular “sa Diyos lang ako magpapagamit.”
The essence is the same, Joe.
Methinks Joe the general simply was paraphrasing ‘For God And Country’ in a Filipino idiomatic sense and not in the context of mixing Church-State component in his work.
In the final analysis, how he will actually perform in the coming days will show what stuff this guy is made of.
I am guardedly optimistic.
I’ll give him enough rope to hang himself, in a manner of speaking.
Ding,
Thanks. Yes, I can understand that interpretation, as it makes more sense for a general. Even a priest must allow Caesar to do his work . . .
Joe
Joe,
i know it is always wrong to assume(a bad habit of mine that needs changing),but allow me to assume that that you think that the AFP is used to fight Filipinos instead of foreign invaders.
Partly true(above 90 % w/c is another assumption),but let us not forget that we are a maritime maze and with meager resources and we manage to control some of the crime that needs inter agency and multi lateral partnerships like piracy and drug trafficking and smuggling.(waitaminit some are still done by pinoy culprits,so i give up)I know the past topic reminds us not to bash pinoys,who can be proud of that?
Per wikipedia our military spending is 0.9 % of our GDP.
If we keeep on hearing news that certain suppliers wants equipment to be repaired instead of replaced at lower costs then we are not spending wisely.
about the number of generals it is supposed to be 1.125% of the number of officers. i don’t have the data of the number officers,but wikipedia says that the personnel of the AFP is 113,500 . I can only guess that we have about 120 flag officers, a wild guess. still a big number for a country ill equipped to defend against an attack from a foreign invader.
Karl,
Good points, all. Good to have you around to keep us wayward lips reasonably in line with facts. My comment on the military fighting mainly Filipinos reflects on the problems in Mindanao, clans and terrorists, and the COMELEC checkpoints, manned by soldiers, looking for stray weapons . . . the latter generally a reflection of the wild wild west tenor of things here. I was off on some tangent declaring corruption as an ethic, but was brought back into line by various commentators. However, if behavior were better all around, there would be more it the budget to spend for useful, productive things.
Joe
it is a pleasure discussing with you Joe.
the comment below was written before I read the comment above.
many thanks.
Joe,
I read this comment of yours:
http://filipinovoices.com/taken-for-a-ride-by-the-magdalo-group/comment-page-1#comment-147823
It would make sense that some functions and manpower be transferred to the police ,but having another treaty with the US would not be ammenable to many people,myself included, and besides we still have issues about the balikatan exercises among other issues.
Removing the police and the coast guard form the military is a move in the right direction.(but it won’t address the budget issue)
I would also love to have the backlog of cases be reduced,more spaceous jails and more community service for minor offenses, and proper jail(boy’s or girl’s town) for minor aged offenders.
Karl,
I agree, there should be no need for a treaty with the US. And I think the US would be happy to see the Philippines stand independent and strong.
Joe
Hello Karl, we have around 135,000 soldiers serving in the regular force. Of that value, there are about 10-15% military officers from lieutenants and ensigns to generals and admirals. There is quite a number of generals in the field, primarily because like what you said, Philippines is an operational nightmare. Hindi lang dagat, pero pati bundok. Hence, kahit sa PA, we have 10 Infantry Divisions.
Gloria Arroyo should not toy with the idea. He does not want blood
on her hands. Cory Aquino’s EDSA or Marcos Power grab were successful.
Because, it had the hidden support of the U.S. State Department. Marcos had the U.S. Bases as a bargaining chip. Cory Aquino had the promise to continue the U.S. bases agreement as a bargaining chip. Gloria Arroyo has no bargaining chip. Look at the power grab of President Alberto Fujimori of Peru. He was in power for sometimes. Then was overthrown with the bessings of the U.S. State Department. He exiled himself. Went to seek refuge in Bolivia. Bolivia threw him out. Now Fujimori is in jail in Peru.
Good points, Equalizer.
So I draw from this, the US engages when leaders of supposed democracies go far astray. Hegemony in action.
Joe
Yup when the countries get back on the US radar as more than just blips…
Mario,
Thanks for quoting that imaginary interview to drive home the point that anyone can, indeed, allow himself/herself to be prostituted by choice.
Free will it’s called.
Surely Mr. Bangit, given his avowals, has drawn the left and right margins that will, according to him, define his performance as Chief of Staff.
Tutukan natin kung paano niya isasabuhay ang kanyang panata.
Ding,
Let us hope, that this would not be an added weigh upon his shoulder. Being commission as a Fourth Star General, might cause him to topple over and, lose his “upright” stand. Literally!
Ding, there is something fishy about this followed up comment, by one and only…, PGMA
See link below po.
Ding, I really don’t have a good feeling about this. As we were discussing, it’s odd that some key people were so quiet about this appointment, which could suggest something more sinister… Of course I could be wrong entirely, but naturally Garci does come to mind. A coup is the last thing we need…
Having talked to Melissa Roxas at length, I’m convinced she went through some pretty unspeakable things. She still has internal injuries now and can’t really work anymore (she was trying to get medical insurance when we last talked). She’s deeply concerned about Morong 43, as r we all…
I hope I hope I hope Bangit steps up to the plate, redeems himself for Garci, and addresses extra-judicial abductions, torture and killings once and for all, or at least those that fall under his jurisdiction.
This just out:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100311-257931/PNP-chief-I-wont-support-Bangit-if-
@Lila,
That inquirer article is good news.
Ding made me realize that those pledges are already stating (or pledging)the obvious.With all due respect, it would be better sirs, to just do it.
Could this not be about a null hypothesis and an alternative hypothesis?
We can accept as true what is in fact false or reject as false what is in fact true.
The perception of a Bangit at the helm of the most powerful bureaucratic structure is along this groove.
Waxing philosophical Prime. Expound on this am sure you can…
Yeah, curious about what u might mean, Primer.
Without going out of this thread just yet, allow me to share this from my home blog looking at the Versoza and Bangit statements together:
http://atmidfield.com/2010/03/10/for-god-and-country/
Pareng Ding,
I agree with you and in the lingo of the kawal, “Tanghal….Ta!” (Present Arms!)
Saludo ako sa ino,
Lt. Commander de la Paz (reserves)
In 2009 ,Philippine state of peace was rated very low by vision of humanity. The level of organized conflict is internal. Therefore, it cannot appreciate human rights. The conflict in Mindanao affirms why Philippines is also ranked low on Human Development Index. Conflict has a serious psycho-social effect as it splits cultures apart. Its development in reverse.
The significance of promoting peace and stability if we are also to promote development is to govern those weaknesses. If a presidential candidate has a platform for the country, why not we demand and call for a platform from the AFP chief? The Philippines is ranked 144 on vision of humanity and ranked 105 on human development index. A measurable goal maybe is to enhance our ranking adequate for a democratic society. With that being said, the AFP is called to implement its higher duty to take Philippines as close to 60 in the survey with vision of humanity survey and at least close to 50 on human development index by 2015 for example. These goals are clearly measurable.
How do we measure performance and good governance? Recently the Philippines is ranked number 4rth most corrupt in Asia. Maybe , the country can learn from New Zealand’s style of peace building?
To my mind, the appointment of General Delfin Bangit, him the former Commanding General of the Presidential Security Group (securing the First Family)to the highest level in the military hierarchy as Chief of Staff simply leaves a bad taste to the mouth.
There just isn’t a sure-fire guarantee, despite claim, that the good general will not kowtow to the whim and caprice of one predisposed to be the next constitutional authoritarian.
The long history of division and factionalism in the AFP do not make sound and safe any declaration of professionalism on the part of the AFP Chief of Staff. Come to think of it, even the Honor Code System in the Philippine Military Academy suffers from defects never yet given attention to.
Tumbok mo Prime
another Fabian Ver in the making.