Party-list groups wary of military men in govt

Military and police officers must not be appointed to sensitive posts in government, according to party-list lawmakers.

Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi De Jesus, both of Gabriela party-list, raised constitutional issues over the Aquino administration’s decision to appoint several generals some active and others retired, to agencies in government.

“The practice of appointing military and police officers to sensitive positions in government contradicts the provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military,” De Jesus said.

Ilagan cited the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reports that said at least 20 military officers have been assigned to the Department of National Defense.

Ilagan said that at least 26 retired and active-duty military officers have also been assigned to the Department of Transportation and Communications since Marcos fell from power in 1986.

“At least 37 military officers were appointed in GOCCs as well as in special economic zones under the Ramos, Estrada and Arroyo administrations,” Ilagan said.

De Jesus lamented that the police organization has also been militarized since many of its leading officers come from the Philippine Military Academy.

“They are, therefore, imbued with military discipline and culture. The Armed Forces, currently in hot water,over charges of massive graft and corruption, suffers from a stained reputation,” De Jesus said.

For her part, Ilagan recalled that the militarization of the bureaucracy began after the late President Ferdinand Marcos appointed military men to civilian positions.

“Succeeding administrations continued with the practice to ensure the loyalty of the military,” Ilagan said. –Maricel Cruz, Manila Standard Today