It’s been a while since rumors of destabilization and military unrest circulated in this country. The Philippine National Police said it is investigating the possible sources of purported memoranda leaked from regional PNP commands, placing all units including Special Action Force battalions under the highest alert last Saturday “due to destabilization movements” in the Armed Force of the Philippines.
The alleged destabilization was attributed to several military and defense personnel reportedly resigning in protest against the unceremonious replacement of Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro as AFP chief with Gen. Andres Centino, who himself was previously relieved of the top military post when President Marcos assumed office.
Centino, who was set to retire from the AFP this Feb. 4 upon reaching age 56, was awaiting confirmation as ambassador to India. Now he has received an extension in the service as AFP chief, under Republic Act 11709, which sets a fixed three-year term for the eight most senior positions in the military. Bacarro himself, however, was also set to retire from the AFP in September last year. With his relief as AFP chief, he is now retired. The two officers are both members of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 1988.
If the destabilization rumor managed to gain some traction, it is partly because there is no clarity in the organizational changes in the AFP. Picking the military chief is purely a prerogative of the president and commander-in-chief, who is expected to select someone that he fully trusts. Kicking out Centino as AFP chief and placing him on floating status for about half a year prior to his retirement, however, hardly looked like a gesture of presidential trust.
Now Centino has been restored to the post, with a three-year extension of his military service. Over the weekend, photos and video circulated, showing armored personnel carriers on standby at PNP headquarters at Camp Crame.
The PNP has clarified that the heightened alert was for the activities related to the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, which began last Friday and will culminate today.
The AFP has also reassured the public that there is no destabilization and “everything is normal.” Centino urged AFP members to unite and stop the “squabbling” as he called for “professionalism and meritocracy” in the military. Attaining these objectives and keeping any coup or destabilization virus from re-emerging will depend a lot on the appointing power, and the system of appointment and promotion in the uniformed services.