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By APD writer Carmelo M. Acuña
**MANILA, Oct. 16(APD) – **Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte defended his choice of retired military and police officers because “they are honest and competent.”
This was the gist of his speech at the Change of Command ceremony at the Philippine Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City this afternoon. He said his choice of newly-retired General Rolando Joselito Delizo Bautista to the Department of Social Welfare and Development was not due to friendship. General Bautista is the latest military officer to be named cabinet secretary. Major General Macairog Alberto.
This was his direct reaction to criticisms of his choice of a combat-trained military command to lead a department led by professional social workers.
“Many are questioning me even some of the ambassadors who are close to me: Why do you choose not most of them military or police-retired?” he said. He explained he was not elected by the military nor the police.
“I was elected by the Filipino people. You have your mandate, I have mine,” he added.
During his speech, President Duterte credited General Bautista for more than 100,000 combat operations, “most of which were against the terrorist CPP-NPA.” He said the operations “resulted in the neutralization and apprehension of rebels and the recovery of hundreds of firearms from various lawless elements.”
President Duterte added General Bautista supervised the development of training interventions and the activation of additional Infantry battalions, light armored and intelligence security units to further support the (competencies) of Filipino soldiers.
To date, a significant number of retired military and police officials have been appointed to civilian positions immediately after they have retired from active service. Among them are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu. Some others have been appointed to the position of Undersecretary and Asst. Secretary to various government offices including government-owned and controlled corporations.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
