ANY observer of current political events will not fail to notice that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in just over a week, has tweaked his national defense and security team so wholly and quickly that it would seem the President and Commander-in-Chief was reacting to a perceived emergency.
One reason, although not very compelling, is that the Chief Executive was leaving for Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum and had to ensure that everything is secured in the country while he is away.
Another reason for the revamp is the need for a clear-cut response to the reported pockets of restiveness in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the double changes made in the office of the chief of staff.
‘Many in the military and the police said Año’s appointment as NSA would “intensify” efforts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in ending the insurgency.’
The latest in the reorganization is the easing out of professor Clarita Carlos as national security adviser (NSA) and her replacement by former Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. This came on the heels of the appointment of former Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as secretary of national defense, vice Jose Faustino Jr. who had resigned in disgust over the changes made in the AFP top leadership, with Gen. Andres Centino replacing Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro who had earlier replaced him.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Carlos had decided to continue “her pursuit of scholastic endeavors” and rejoined the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives. It is interesting to note that Carlos had said in a television interview that she was “confused” and wasn’t notified prior to Centino’s return as AFP chief of staff, the same complaint aired by Faustino which he said prompted his resignation.
Many are glad, among them policemen and soldiers who are at the forefront of the fight against the communist insurgency, that Carlos is finally out as security adviser, as she seemed to be a square peg in a round hole in that office. Also, the professor has contributed little apart from rhetoric in the nation’s security concerns, and was perceived to be soft on the communist party.
Many in the military and the police said Año’s appointment as NSA would “intensify” efforts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in ending the insurgency.
With former Army generals, Año, Galvez, and Centino who had vast experience in fighting the enemies of the state as their leaders, the security forces’ rank-and-file are happy and basking in high morale, hopeful that they could finally attain the government’s objective of ending the 53-year-old communist insurgency that all previous administrations promised but failed to accomplish.
