Esperon won’t assert term extension

By Ronron
December 20, 2007

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Thursday that he will not push for an extension of his term when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 in February next year.

In an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon said: “I’m not one who would go for an extension and assert myself.”

Opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson had warned yesterday that if Esperon’s term is extended by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, it could cause demoralization within the military organization, especially if there is no basis for such action.

Esperon said yesterday that although he has talked with the President very often the past few days, his term extension had not been brought up.

Rather, their conversation is focused on the anniversary of the AFP today (Friday) and their assessment on what happened the entire year.

“We should leave that to the President. On my part, I could only thank the President for giving me the chance to serve as chief of staff. Not everybody could get to serve as chief of staff,” Esperon said.

He said he is aware that there are limitations to his term – one is when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9 next year, and the second is when the President allows him to complete the term of a chief of staff for three years.

Esperon assumed power on July 21, 2006.

“If my term is extended, then I would be honored,” he said, nonetheless.

But he disclosed that in his entire life, he never lobbied for any position except on two occasions – one was to join an infantry battalion that was used as strike battalion in Jolo, Sulu when he was still a lieutenant; and the other one was to get assigned in Zamboanga after the 1995 burning in Ipil town.

“Those were the only assignments that I lobbied for. So I take it as they come and thank them for their trust and confidence,” Esperon said.

Esperon has been described as the most loyal officer to Arroyo, having served as her first Presidential Security Guard chief. His name also cropped up in the alleged vote rigging operations during the 2004 Presidential polls that supposedly benefited Arroyo./DMS