DND chief: Delos Reyes issue an ‘unnecessary noise’

An unnecessary noise and distraction. This was how Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales described the issue on the termination of Undersecretary Ariston delos Reyes, who saw politics behind his removal from the Department of National Defense (DND). “Unnecessary noise and distractions are the least the department needs in the face f these urgent national concerns," said Gonzales, referring to preparations for the first ever nationwide automated elections on May 10. It was the first time Gonzales spoke on the issue. Gonzales said the relief of Delos Reyes, known for his uprightness even during his stint in the military, was “part of the normal process of Malacañang making appointments and terminating the same anytime it deems necessary." Delos Reyes, in an earlier interview, said he was not informed of the reason for his termination, but said it could be related to his revelations against two DND officials. In October 2009, Delos Reyes filed a dishonesty complaint against a fellow DND undersecretary who allegedly signed a department order allowing the admission of his own son in the National Defense College of the Philippines. Just this month, he reported illegal possession of a cache of ammunition by a DND assistant secretary. Delos Reyes, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class 1971 who retired as Armed Forces vice chief in 2006, was appointed presidential assistant and deployed to the DND as Defense undersecretary for internal affairs in 2007. Gonzales said Delos Reyes was removed because his three-year tour of duty lapsed last January. “His [Delos Reyes] tour of duty, however, reached its maximum allowable term of three years in January this year. People in the department brought this situation of undersecretary Delos Reyes to our attention and we informed Malacañang about it," Gonzales said. Delos Reyes, however, said he was not aware of any limit to his tenure in the department. - KBK, GMANews.TV