Ferrer on AFP appointments: We can't do anything but follow

The former military governor of Maguindanao on Tuesday said he did not "necessarily feel bad" about being "bypassed" when more junior officers were made to fill in the vacated posts as a result of the assumption of Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit as military chief. Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer said he respected President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s decision to appoint Bangit, as well as the latter's other classmates including Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, who took over the Army post vacated by Bangit. Assuming Mapagu’s vacated post at the NCRCOM was Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue, who was the Philippine Navy’s chief of staff. The three newly-appointed officials — Bangit, Mapagu, and Angue — all belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1978, which counts Mrs. Arroyo as its honorary member. It was ultimately the prerogative of the President whom to "give her trust and confidence" when it concerns appointing military officials to key posts in the AFP, Ferrer said. "The decision has been made. Ganun naman sa military kapag may decision na [It's like that in the military once a decision is made]. We just follow the order," Ferrer said. Ferrer, being a member of the PMA Class of 1977, is among several military officials considered as seniors of Bangit, Mapagu, and Angue. Ferrer, who also is the Eastern Mindanao Commander, briefly assumed the post as military governor of Maguindanao when the province was placed under martial law due to an alleged rebellion by the powerful Ampatuan clan late last year. In an interview with reporters after he took the witness stand for the rebellion trial against the Ampatuans, Ferrer said that despite the newly appointed officials being his juniors, he "will have to work with [whoever was appointed]." Asked if he felt bad about the appointment of other members of the PMA class of '78, Ferrer said, "Hindi naman (Not necessarily)." Malacañang’s critics had linked Bangit to "Oplan August Moon," where members of PMA Class 1978 were supposed to be placed in key positions in the police and military institutions, not only to stage a failure of elections but to keep Mrs. Arroyo in power. The Palace has repeatedly dismissed these allegations. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV