President Gloria Arroyo names General Hermogenes Esperon as the 35th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Esperon replaces General Generoso Senga, who retires July 21. (Zamboanga Journal)
The 54-year old Esperon, a decorated war veteran in Mindanao, will replace Gen. Generoso Senga, the AFP chief, when he retires July 21. Troops in the southern region were also supporting Esperon and that sergeants-major are coming with a manifesto renewing their loyalty to Esperon.
News of Esperon's appointment broke out Wednesday and radio and television reports said President Gloria Arroyo has named him as the 35th Armed Forces chief.
Sergeant-major is not a rank, but the senior non-commissioned appointment in an army unit. The sergeant-major of a unit is normally directly responsible to the Commanding Officer for all matters pertaining to dress, deportment, discipline, and morale of the [non-commissioned members (NCMs) of that unit.
"There are only good adjectives about General Esperon. He is a good leader and is well-respected by fellow generals and soldiers. We supported him as the Army commander and we will continue to support him as the incoming AFP Chief of Staff," Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Obaniana, commander of the 6th Infantry Division in Mindanao, told the Zamboanga Journal.
Esperon served as commander in Mindanao and was largely credited for numerous successful campaigns against communist insurgents and terrorists.
"We know him and he commands as a military man and we can say that General Esperon's leadership and character are unquestionable and beyond reproach. Even ordinary soldiers respect him a lot," said Brig. Gen. Mohamad Dolorfino, deputy commander of the Southern Command in Zamboanga City , the largest military installation outside Manila.
In Basilan, Brig. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said thousands of soldiers on the island are also supporting Esperon. "The morale of the troops is high and the soldiers continue to support General Esperon and we also welcome news of his appointment as the next Armed Forces chief," Ferrer said in a separate interview.
Esperon also commanded the 103rd Infantry Brigade before he became army chief and was instrumental in the defeat of Abu Sayyaf militants and rescue of many kidnapped villagers on Basilan island. "General Esperon has become a model for every soldier in Basilan to strive hard. He is well respected by many and is a very good leader," Ferrer said.
Basilan government officials also lauded the news of Esperon's appointment and pledged to support him. "He is a good man. General Esperon was instrumental in restoring peace and order in Basilan. He led soldiers in defeating the terrorists here and we are all happy about the news that the President named him as the next AFP chief. We are all supporting him," Basilan Mayor Roderick Furigay said by phone from the island.
In Zamboanga City, Vice Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco also welcomed Esperon's appointment, saying, he could very well lead the Armed Forces to stay united.
"He was instrumental in quelling several uprisings in Manila and General Esperon would surely be a good leader, but there is a greater challenge ahead of him and we hope that he would continue to listen to the voices of our soldiers and stay loyal to the Constitution and the country," the influential politician told the Zamboanga Journal.
Cotabato officials also expressed their support to Esperon. Even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) welcomed Esperon's appointment and urged him to continue supporting the government peace process in Mindanao.
"We welcome the news of General Esperon's appointment. He served in Mindanao for a long time and being the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines might spell well for us in Mindanao . We are sure he would continue to strengthen peace and order in Mindanao. He knows very well the problems here," Abdullah Cusain, the spokesman for Cotabato government, said in an interview.
The MILF said it is optimistic the new military leadership would continue supporting the peace talks in Mindanao. "The MILF is optimistic that General Esperon, who was previously assigned in Mindanao, will continue to support the peace process and help us attain peace for everybody in Mindanao ," said Eid Kabalu, the MILF spokesman.
Last month, troops in the southern Philippines, disgusted over the long delay in Esperon's appointment with the Commission on Appointments (CA), hanged banners and streamers at roadblocks and checkpoints.
Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a CA member, threatened to by-pass Esperon if President Arroyo did not surrender the controversial report about the alleged cheating in the May 2004 national elections.
He said he would only approve Esperon's appointment only if Malakanyang provides the Senate of a copy of the report of Navy chief Admiral Mateo Mayuga, the head of the inquiry board who investigated the alleged fraud in the past elections that accused Esperon and Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon and two other military officers of rigging the polls in favor of President Gloria Arroyo.
Esperon and Habacon repeatedly strongly denied the accusations. The Mayuga report also cleared both of them of any wrongdoings.Many soldiers said they were disgruntled by how some politicians try to blackmail or influence the military for their own interests and caprices.
"We know a lot who tries to exert influence or ask favors from our commanders, but if they were not granted, then expect something worse in return, and we feel bad about these things," said Pfc. Jaime Fernandez.
They also defended Esperon. "Look at him, General Esperon, well decorated and respected by the soldiers, is having a hard time now because of too much politics. And many foot soldiers, like me, are disgruntled with what is happening now with General Esperon and how politicians try to get back at him because of all accusations about his role in the May (2004) elections.
"And I always remember what General Esperon told us every time his visits us -- stay united, all of you, and most all stay loyal to the Constitution and remain nonpartisan," said Pvt. Efren dela Cruz.
One sign hanged at a military checkpoint in Zamboanga City reads: "Lt. Gen. Esperon, CG, PA -- We are behind you, you can make it!" Soldiers also hanged similar banners in Davao , Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato cities.
"Our support to General Esperon is unquestionable. The soldiers respect him and he introduced a lot of reforms already that is now benefiting us," said Sgt. Allan Abisa, of the Army's 15th Division Reconnaissance Company.
Even government militias were supporting Esperon, said Sgt. Rogelio Regalado, of the First Composite Company of the military's anti-terror task force in Zamboanga City.
"He is a good officer; General Esperon is like a big brother and a father to all of us. He talks to us and we respect him a lot and they should spare him from dirty politics. Generan Esperon is not a corrupt general, he is not a thief, but a very good leader and deserves high respect," Regalado said. (With a report from Mark Navales)
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