Cruz wants civilian successor at DND

If the administration wants to sustain military reforms, a civilian — someone who is not a retired military or police officer — should be appointed as the next secretary of national defense.

This is according to outgoing Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, who in his two-year stint as defense secretary set in motion crucial military reforms, most of which are among the recommendations of a special commission formed after the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003.

He, however, emphasized that the selection of the defense chief is a presidential prerogative and he had not recommended anyone as his replacement.

He tendered his irrevocable resignation a few weeks ago amid rumors that three Cabinet members want him out of Malacañang due to his opposition to the people’s initiative to amend the Constitution, which is a priority policy of the administration.

After tendering his irrevocable resignation effective Nov. 30, Cruz broke his silence yesterday at the 67th anniversary celebration of the Department of National Defense at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

In his first press conference since tendering his resignation, Cruz expressed hope that the administration would follow the recommendation of both the Feliciano and Davide commissions to appoint civilians –meaning those who are not retired military or police officers –to head the defense department.

"The military matters, the chief of staff and the officers are well versed in these, so you need the fresh perspective of a civilian (at the DND)," Cruz said.

Among those reportedly being considered as his replacement, the one making the loudest noise about readiness to "accept" the defense portfolio is Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Ebdane, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, headed the Philippine National Police (PNP) before being named the national security adviser and later public works secretary.

He was among several police officers led by another former PNP chief Leandro Mendoza who provided security to then Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the tumultuous weeks before Joseph Estrada was ousted from the presidency in 2001.

Mendoza now heads the Department of Transportation and Communications.

As a police officer, Ebdane headed the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force when Pentagon kidnapping gang leader Faisal Marohombsar and two of his henchmen escaped from NAKTAF detention center at Camp Crame on June 19, 2002.

Ebdane was already the PNP chief when convicted Jemaah Islamiyah bomb-maker Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi and two other Abu Sayyaf militants escaped from the supposedly maximum security detention center of the Intelligence Group at Camp Crame, headquarters of the PNP, on July 14, 2003. The escape coincided with the visit in Manila of Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Last year, Ebdane also became embroiled in controversy when he was widely suspected to have hidden and then spirited away from the country former election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, who was accused of rigging the vote in favor of President Arroyo in the May 2004 elections.

Members of the commission headed by former justice Florentino Feliciano, which was formed after the Oakwood mutiny, have lauded Cruz for implementing reforms to create a professional military and insulate the AFP from politics. The moves are embodied in the Philippine Defense Reform Program.

Cruz said that the next defense chief should continue the implementation of the Philippine Defense Reform Program, a comprehensive modernization program aimed at upgrading the capability of the ill-equipped AFP within an 18-year timeframe.

He said that his successor should strictly adhere to the constitutional principle of insulating the military from partisan politics and see to it that the mandate of the DND and the AFP is met in order for the economy to move forward due to a stable peace and order situation.

He said that the AFP through its short-term. medium-term, and long-term plan can address the internal and external security problems of the country.

Through the Capability Upgrade Program (CUP) the defense department wanted to finish first the country’s decades-old insurgency problem before shifting to the external security.

The CUP has already started with troops in the field getting modern firearms, medicines, and airlift capability.

Cruz said that after he steps down from office, he would take a break, and then go back to the private sector, where he worked for the longest time.

"Ang una kong gagawin... when I leave government is to rest and then I will have an abiding interest in good government, in continuing reforms in the government. Magpapahinga muna then babalik ako sa private sector, iisipin ko ano yung aking gagawin pagkatapos," he said, adding that he has no plans running in the coming elections, amid rumors that he is being offered a slot in the opposition’s senatorial slate in the May 2007 elections.

He said for the past six years, he believes he has sufficiently contributed to the government.

Cruz, who was given a tribute by other DND officials and employees during yesterday’s celebration, said that he is having mixed emotions about leaving public service, as he claimed that during his stint in the government, he has learned a lot of things, which according to him includes "saying no to your friends."

"The hardest thing in the government is to say no to your friends but that is part of good governance, you should be able to say to your friends or to your allies when it is the right thing to say madali yung magtrabaho sa gobyerno, mahirap yung mga tough choices. When you are faced with a tough choice e, ako ang suggestion is you decide in accordance with your conscience in a best light. Kapag nahihirapan kang magdecide, tanunging mo yung konsensya mo kung ano tama, yun ang gawin mo, more often than not yun ang tamang desisyon for you in the long run," he said.

Cruz admitted to having discussions with the President, but he said these were done in confidence, which he could not talk about in public.