Appointing military men in gov’t posts advantageous: Arroyo

MANILA — House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes there is an advantage in appointing military men in key government posts.

Arroyo made the statement on Friday following President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement to transfer Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and designate Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Rey Leonardo Borja Guerrero to take over the BOC.

“They are literally good soldiers that’s why,” she said in an ambush interview during her inspection of her retaining wall project in Sasmuan, Pampanga.

Arroyo added that President Duterte knows what he is doing.

“Let me just say that I’ve been president and I know more or less that the President has to consider so many things when he makes his decision so I’m not going to be a part of the peanut gallery making comments on his actions,” Arroyo said.

Duterte made the reshuffling announcement in front of military and government officials, including Lapeña and Guerrero, during the 117th anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Port Area, Manila on Thursday.

“General Lapeña will move to TESDA. I will promote you to a Cabinet member position,” Duterte said after reading his prepared speech.

“So, Sid (Lapeña) ‘yung trabaho ng (work there in )TESDA it’s quite something of a — it could be messy at times. But I’m sure your training as a military man, just like Jagger (Guerrero), would all go well for the country,” he added. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)

Popular

D.A. eyes expansion of P20 rice program in Mindanao

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Buoyed by the success of the P20-per-kilo rice program which premiered in Cebu on May 1, and was followed by subsequent...

Marcos: Set aside politics, time to work hard after elections

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency In a statement on Saturday, May 17, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed the need to set...

PBBM to PMA ‘Siklab-Laya’ graduates: Stay mentally sharp amid cyber threats

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday called on 266 members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)...

DOTr terminates Common Station contractor over excessive delays

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has issued a notice of termination against the contractor for the...