by Victor Reyes
Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said he does not see it in the horizon but he would be honored if President Arroyo would extend his tour of duty as head of the 120,000-strong military beyond Feb. 9, 2008 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Esperon, the only one still active of so-called Hello Garci generals who supposedly helped rig the 2004 presidential elections in Mindanao to ensure President Arroyo’s victory, said the AFP chief’s tour of duty can be extended for a maximum of three years under the Constitution but the retirement age remains at 56.
Article XVI, Section 5 of the Constitution says the laws on retirement of military officers shall not allow the extension of service beyond three years but “in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress, the President may extend such tour of duty.”
Esperon assumed as the military chief in August 2006, 16 months ago, replacing retired Gen. Generoso Senga.
“It is provided for under the Constitution that the chief of staff can serve for a maximum of three years but our retirement laws also tell us that our retirement is at 56. I’m turning 56 on Feb. 9,” Esperon explained. “So I could be retired, I could be extended, and if I will be extended it will be an honor but you know I don’t see it in the horizon. Look at these officers, there are a lot of competent people who can take over.”
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano is reportedly the frontrunner in the race for the next AFP chief. Esperon and his two immediate predecessors – Senga and Gen. Efren Abu – were Army chiefs before they were appointed AFP chief by the President.
Three of the eight AFP chiefs who served under the Arroyo administration – Abu, Gen. Roy Cimatu and Gen. Benjamin Defensor – all enjoyed brief extensions of their tour of duty by the President.
Asked if he has recovered from the stigma being called a Garci general, Esperon said: “I never took it as a stigma, my conscience is clear about it.” He also denied playing a role in rigging the 2004 elections.
Esperon was, however, one of three military generals mentioned in the controversial Hello Garci tapes who supposedly helped the President win in the elections. He was then the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations and the concurrent deputy commander of the military Task Force Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections.
A fourth general also mentioned in the tape, Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, supposedly supported actor Fernando Poe Jr. instead of Arroyo. Gudani has appeared before the Senate where he detailed alleged cheating by allies of the President in Lanao del Sur.
Esperon added: “I will also tell you, I think the elections were generally honest orderly and peaceful.” When asked if he voted for Arroyo, he laughed and said: “Of course.”
Esperon said one of the best accomplishments of his watch as AFP chief was the crafting of a Memorandum of Agreement – signed with the Commission on Elections last year – that limited the role of the soldiers in the conduct of elections. – Victor Reyes
Honor for extending his service?
Asspweron is out of his mind for thinking that his Kwin Korap patroness, the one who will extend his service, has still honor left, and he, an accomplished liar also has already been disowned by the “Men of Honor” long, long time ago…
What honor this King Toadie is talking about? The meaning of this word is foreign to him! Mahiya ka kahit sa sarili mo man lang, Ass!
Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nito. Honor F*c*k U… Kulang yata ang kurakot or bigay ni Tiyanak at gusto pang dagdagan. Maawa ka naman sa taong bayan.. Sinisuka na kayo.. Ang kakapal ng mukha.
Honoured? It’s his way for begging for it… What a dog!
“Esperon added: “I will also tell you, I think the elections were generally honest orderly and peaceful.” When asked if he voted for Arroyo, he laughed and said: “Of course.”
Yeah, he voted a thousand times! In some parts of Mindanao, not only are the dead, the birds and the bees vote, but also one man voting a hundred or thousand times. He just adds 0s’ to the number.
This is what happened in Tawi-Tawi, as a clear example. The military under Esperon did a not-so-brilliant job by stuffing the boxes with additional ballots for GMA, forgetting that they needed to “deduct” those from FPJ. Results? More ballots counted than registered voters.
No wonder Garci remarked “hindi naman marunong ang mga military natin dun, ma’am!”
Pare-perhong gunggong!
Extend? Hala! sige! agitate some more and we’ll see another uprising.
Yeah, will it make a difference if someone tuta rin ni Gloria takes the place of Asspweron?! Si Gloria rin naman ang fake commander-in-chief! Ang dapat sipain na una ay si Glorilla.
Sige nga, extend Ass’ service and let’s see more defiance from the military. Exciting ‘yan!
Oh! Lover boy Assperon. Hindi niya puedeng iwanan ang kanyang crush. Garapal talaga. Gustong i-extend ang kanyang pag-abuso sa karapatan pantao at kurakutan.
Amphh, kung hindi pa naman yan maextend, sayang lang ang mga patak ng luha niya sa syota niya. Naaalala pa ba inyo yung punas-pawis? Yung subuan ng lobster? Yung malagkit na ngitian at titigan? (Letse, kadiri)
Siguradong extended si palkups!
Wag lang magselos si Edong.
The title should have been “Esperon Would Be Honored To Be Executed”.
Extended? Why? Mahaba ka ang kanya?
Ang kanyang pasensya?
Malamang na ang mga junior officers at mga pangkaraniwang sundalo ang unang aapila sa extension ng isang corrupt na general na nagbigay ng malaking kasiraan sa kanilang oganisasyon dapat ay marangal.
Naaalala pa ba inyo yung punas-pawis? Yung subuan ng lobster? Yung malagkit na ngitian at titigan?
******************
Damn what a weird pair. Nora Aunor with Roderick Paulate.
Bakit? NAPOCOR na ba si Mike A? Frequent power failures?
Takot na mawala under the shield ng PD464.
Tinatanggal na ang BGen, MGen, at LtGen.
Magiging FG na.
Favorite General.
Hey, watch out… That TRANSCO Sale deal is being pushed low profile… Lintek na mga ito, talaga! Walang patawad! Firesale na naman… Ang nakabili, malapit sa mga Arroyo… head nang Energy Committee ( kaya pala yun ang hiningi.. ) e si Mikey Arroyo… kung baga sa bulalo… ayos na ang buto-buto… bwisit talaga!
“Esperon would be honored to be extended”
kapal talaga ng mukha ng kupal na ‘to!
mas matigas pa kaysa hollow blocks na ginagamit namin dito sa disyertong pumasa sa ASTM at british standard!
esPWEron, puwede ka na sa ISO 9999! ikaw lang ang magkakaroon ng ganoong category dahil wala kang katulad mula sa mga nauna sa iyong tunay na naging heneral subalit ewan lamang sa mga susunod na opisyal na maaaring mamulot ng iyong kabulukang iiwan!
Siya honored, kami hindi.
Isa na siyang konsomishen ng ating Nashen. Wag niya ng dagdagan pa until the next generashen.
Esperon the magnificent!
A Garci boyz, one of GMA’s tuta during last 2004 election.
Matakot ka sa Karma! Ingat ka baka yong bata-batalyon mong boyskwatz eh di na makapagtimpi sa iyo eh ibartolina ka.
A message to Esperon:
You do not need an extension! My advice to you is to use your military position wisely. You have to eliminate your competition!
Figure out a way in getting rid of Mike Arroyo and you can have GMA to yourself!
You might not be the first gentleman but not too late to be the FAMOUS GENTLEMAN!
The initials (FG) are the same! Good luck Esperon!
JC,
“Figure out a way in getting rid of Mike Arroyo and you can have GMA to yourself!”
The Ass has been figuring this out for too long already, heheh!
Chi: Gotcha!
Now I understand his needs for an extension…. I didn’t know Esperon like gorilla, did you?
I would also be honored if Assperon will immediately have a fatal heart attack, it would be a welcome good news for change, heaven knows we could use one.
FG has a heart problem while the other FG has no heart problem. A good combi. Good choice to be around and near the president always after retirement.
O ayan na. Heard on the grapevine, and I hope I’m wrong:Esperon extended six months!
valdemar,
spare tire?
klingon says: “…….hope I’m wrong:Esperon extended six months!”
tang-#**^&% @#!$#%^&$*&^%#$@ uk??*#@$# to@#%$!!!