AFP deputy chief retires with aplomb

His last official exchange of snappy salutes was with the president of the most powerful state in the world.

Just-retired Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), officially exchanged military honors with visiting United States President George W. Bush during the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Rizal monument in Manila’s Rizal Park yesterday.

Carolina and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza led the welcome ceremonies for Bush at Rizal Park, where Bush made his first stop to lay a wreath at the monument to National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

In full dress uniform, Carolina shook hands with Bush, a rare honor by military standards. Carolina reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 yesterday.

"What a way to go," middle- and junior-grade military officers said as they watched the live television coverage of Carolina’s exchange of salutes with Bush in the Rizal Park rites.

Before the Rizal Park event, a military testimonial parade was planned by the AFP for Carolina on Thursday.

Yesterday morning, in the presence of the entire AFP headquarters staff at Camp Aguinaldo, Carolina’s flag was officially lowered for him by a senior military aide, signaling that Carolina was closing his military career.

AFP public information chief Lt. Col. Daniel Ulcer, meanwhile, defended Carolina’s presence at the Rizal Park welcome rites amid criticism that the AFP deputy chief should not have been at the welcome ceremonies because he was officially retired yesterday.

"Apparently we had a breach in security yesterday, because a civilian dressed in military uniform was walking beside the US president," some critics said sarcastically.

However, Ulcer said Carolina’s military career did not end abruptly with the lowering of his flag at AFP headquarters. "He was still in the active military duty until midnight Saturday," Ulcer said.

Carolina’s colleague, AFP deputy chief of staff and spokesman Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia was designated by AFP chief of staff Gen. Narciso Abaya to lead the planeside military honors for Bush at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1970, Carolina became controversial during his disastrous stint as chief of the AFP Southern Command (Southcom) last year and due to his reported resignation from the AFP out of sympathy with anti-government forces.

During Carolina’s tenure, a good number of soldiers died while carrying out his orders to bring the war to the doorsteps of the Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Because of this aggressive doctrine of war, Carolina, then one of the strongest contenders for the AFP helm, was relieved as Southcom chief.

From Zamboanga City, where the Southcom is based, Carolina was transferred to the Southern Luzon command (Solcom) based in Lucena City, Quezon.