Corpus described yesterday as "character assassination" reports that former ISAFP commanders have protested to President Arroyo his appointment as intelligence chief.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Dio-medio Villanueva replaces Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes in turnover ceremonies to be attended by Mrs. Arroyo at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City today.
Renato Corona, Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff, told The STAR yesterday that Villa-nueva has the job of handling the questions reportedly being raised against the appointment of Corpus.
"That’s the prerogative of the new AFP chief," Corona said.
He said Malacañang has not yet received a copy of what is said to be a manifesto against Corpus, who as a young Constabulary lieutenant in 1971 led a raid on the armory of the Philippine Military Academy at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City. He then defected to the New People’s Army.
"(The manifesto) is still at the level of the AFP," Corona said. "That’s purely internal to the AFP."
The manifesto was reportedly signed by former ISAFP commanders and other retired military offi-cers led by Brig. Gen. Go-dofredo Mendoza.
Corpus told The STAR yesterday reports of alleged demoralization within the ISAFP are "unfair and baseless," adding that his life "is an open book" and he has nothing to hide.
"We have reputations to protect and we are human, too," he said.
Corpus refused to comment on reports that opposition to his designation as ISAFP chief was connected to the bid of Reyes to become the next secretary of defense.
On several occasions, Mrs. Arroyo told reporters Reyes has a "very, very good chance" of being named to head the Department of National Defense.
The possible appointment of Reyes as defense secretary was met with mixed reactions by military officials and members of the defense establishment.
The 600-strong Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) said Reyes has a "thorough grounding" of all national security and defense issues.
"The President would be making a wise decision if she appoints Gen. Reyes to the DND," said retired Brig. Gen. Jaime Echeveria, AGFO president.
On the other hand, some officials of the Armed Forces and the defense department are not happy with the prospect of Reyes being appointed secretary of defense.
"Reyes has on many occasions made questionable decisions, which showed his lack of leadership qualities," the officials said. "These include his controversial order to sack Rear Adm. Guillermo Wong as Navy flag-officer-in-command following a quarrel with Marine officials over alleged procurement anomalies."
But the shadowy Young Officers’ Union (YOU) praised the appointment of Reyes to the defense department as a means to professionalize the military.
"We will fully support him and the incoming chief of staff," said a YOU official who refused to be identified.
However, the political opposition insists that Mrs. Arroyo name a civilian as the next secretary of defense instead of Reyes or any former military officer.
Meanwhile, former President Fidel Ramos denied yesterday newspaper reports that he is part of a group that wants to gain control of the Armed Forces.
"Don’t point a finger at me," he said in an official statement. "I have absolutely nothing to do with the squabbles involving groups within the Armed Forces of the Philippines."
Ramos said Mrs. Arroyo, as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and upon advice of the chief of staff, has the prerogative to assign or reassign senior military officers in any unit within the Armed Forces.
"You cannot take that away from the President," he said. "The assignment or reassignment of military officers are based on the assessment of the President as to where and in what area these officers can be more effective," he said.