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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Imee Marcos hopes 'unrest' in AFP would be resolved ASAP

Imee Marcos hopes 'unrest' in AFP would be resolved ASAP

Published Jan 10, 2023 11:06 am

Birth pains. A period of adjustment.

This was how Senator Imee Marcos described the current "confusion" at the military establishment on the return of General Andres Centino as the country’s Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff under a three-year hold over position based a law passed in the last Congress.

The change of leadership in the AFP saw Medal of Valor awardee, Lt. General Bartolome Bacarro, being replaced at the top AFP post after serving for five months.

This triggered "rumors" of destabilization at the AFP and and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who both issued denials.

During a brief interview in Bustos, Bulacan, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s sister expressed hopes that the matter could be settled in the shortest possible time.

"Dahil nga may bagong batas, kung may bago, alam natin nagkakagulo talaga, may bagong batas na may hold-over ng tatlong taon na ipinasa naming noong nakaraang (Expect confusion because of a law passed by the previous Congress providing for a three-year old over at the AFP chief of staff post). Ngayon nagkakaroon ng birthpains, ika nga, nag-aadjust tayo, sana mapag-usapan ng maige ng lahat ng sector ng lahat ng pangkat para walang alinlangan at walang pilitang magreresign o pagtatanggal (Now, we have birth pains .so we adjust, I hope all sectors should discuss the issues to avoid forced resignations or dismissals)... Sana mapag-usapan ng maayos, pag may bagong batas may magagalit talaga at may aaray (I hope this could be discussed amicably because a new law causes disagreements and somebody will get hurt)," she said.

Marcos is referring to Republic Act No. 11709, which sets a fixed three-year tour of duty for the AFP's chief of staff and other key military officials.

Asked about a rumored destabilization of the administration of her brother, the senator said she expected the report to be simply ‘’fake news.’’

"Pero ang totoo when there is smoke, there is fire (But what is true is that when there is smoke, there is fire). Kaya kinakailangan yata na mag-usap-usap ang lahat dahil everytime there is a new bill (There is s need for a wide discussion whenever there is a new bill)," she added.

"There is a need to reassess, there is a need to convene and consult all the concerned stakeholders and that doesn’t only goes for the military but for everyone. Marami kasing pagbabago ang sinimulan ni Presidente Duterte sinisimulan ng aking kapatid kinakailangan na tingnan ng maige at konsultahin lahat ng matatamaan kung meron man (The many changes initiated by then President Duterte and later by President Marcos should be looked into and find out if there is a need for consultation to determine who would be hurt)," she pointed out.

Related Tags

Bartolome Bacarro imee marcos AFP revolving door Andres Centino Republic Act No. 11709
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