Esperon’s 3rd, 4th stars confirmed in single CA sitting - Malaya 09.28.2006

BY DENNIS GADIL

AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon yesterday breezed through the Commission on Appointments, which confirmed his promotion to three- and four-star ranks in one sitting.

No opposition member invoked Section 20 of the CA rules, which would have automatically frozen Esperon’s confirmation.

Senate President Manuel Villar, CA chairman, said there was no railroading during the proceedings.

"Everything underwent the normal and regular processes," he said.

Villar said after Esperon was found fit to wear three stars, then he was also qualified for four stars.

"I mean kung iko-confirm mo sa three-star, di ba puwede gawing four-star? Either qualified ka sa dalawa or hindi ka qualified at all," Villar said.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile said: "If you confirm an officer to the highest post, you automatically confirm his other promotions, especially if these were to lower ranks."

Aside from Esperon’s, the promotion of 64 other military officers were confirmed after a closed-door caucus among the commission’s members.

Esperon was promoted to three-star rank in August last year when he was named Army chief. The CA had yet to act on this promotion when Esperon was named AFP chief last July. The post of Armed Forces chief is a four-star position.

Villar said Esperon’s smooth confirmation by the CA does not absolve him from his alleged involvement in the cheating last elections as insinuated in the "Hello, Garci" tapes scandal.

"Hindi naman nangangahulugan na makakalimutan na iyan. Wala naman kinalaman iyon. Ang confirmation ay isang proseso rin na dapat natin igalang at kagaya iyan sa (AFP) chief of staff," Villar said.

Rumors of railroading flew after none of the senators who were earlier strongly opposed to Esperon’s confirmation invoked Section 20.

CA member Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico said Sen. Sergio Osmeña, allegedly on instructions of Sen. Jose "Jinggoy’ Estrada, withdrew the reservations he aired during CA defense committee’s Tuesday hearing also on behalf of Estrada.

"He (Sen. Osmeña) said Sen. Estrada was withdrawing his reservation because he could not attend the hearings and the session because he had to attend to his son. He could not find the time. So there was no more block to his (Esperon’s) conformation as chief of staff," Suplico said.
Osmeña on Tuesday said he would invoke Section 20 if asked by Estrada.

Estrada failed to attend the plenary session yesterday because he was still looking after his 13-year-old son who is confined at the Cardinal Santos hospital in San Juan for dengue.

CA defense committee chairman Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said with all reservations withdrawn, "there was no more hindrance to our confirming Gen. Esperon’s promotions."
Esperon, after the confirmation, said a "common friend" facilitated a phone conversation between him and Estrada "some three days ago."

"I don’t think I have to convince anybody. We discussed things on the basis of enlightened discussion and willingness to accommodate each other," Esperon said.

He said: "I am so happy with this double confirmation. I was expecting to be confirmed as lieutenant general but the CA has so graciously given me the fourth star. I sincerely thank them.

This all the more makes my resolve even firmer in pursuing the task given to me by the President, especially that of defeating the No. 1 threat to our national security."

Estrada confirmed the telephone conversation with Esperon when he arrived at the Senate for the afternoon session.

He said Esperon called to reiterate that he had nothing to do with the alleged cheating in the 2004 polls.

On Esperon’s confirmation, Estrada said: "Anong magagawa ko? It’s the majority that confirmed him."