Esperon’s term extension is possible under the law – Army chief

By Ronron
December 19, 2007

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. can continue holding on to his post if desired by the President even if he reaches already the mandatory retirement age of 56 in February next year.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, who is incidentally one of the possible successors of Esperon, said that under the law, the President has the prerogative to extend the term of the chief of staff beyond the mandatory retirement age so long as it does not go beyond three years since his assumption.

Esperon became the AFP Chief of Staff last July 21, 2006 and will reach the mandatory retirement age by February 9 next year.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had already made brief extensions of the terms of the following military chiefs of staff: Roy Cimatu, Benjamin Defensor, and Efren Abu.

“Technically, the Chief of Staff can finish his three year term. Unlike other officers who retire at 56, the chief of staff can technically complete his term of three years,” Yano told reporters in an interview Wednesday at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.

“He (Chief of Staff) is the only officer who can go beyond the (age of) 56,” he added.

Asked if he sees a need for an extension of the term of Esperon, who has been described as the most loyal officer to Arroyo, Yano said: “I did not even want to talk about it. We are busy doing our job… I think it’s best that we leave that to the wisdom of the President. She is the appointing authority.”

Yano said it would not be proper for him to think about “personal ambitions” when reporters asked for his feelings about the extension, considering that he is a likely successor to Esperon.

“That (Esperon’s term extension) is a prerogative of the President. And if that is the decision, then I’m sure that is a well-advised decision,” Yano said.

He added that “the soldier will follow the dictates of the appointing authority.”

The Army chief downplayed, however, thoughts that Esperon’s term extension could be because of imminent threats from the ranks of the military as proven by the November 29 incident in Makati City.

“I do not see any major threat to the stability of the government and the country coming from rightist elements at this point,” Yano said.

He pointed out that even during the November 29 incident, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim failed to muster support both from the civilian sector and the armed service.

Yano said none from the Army joined the November 29 incident.

“If that is an indication, then I think and I’m very confident that the Armed Forces will stay in tact and united and follow the chain of command all the way up to the commander-in-chief,” he said./DMS