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The Association of General and Flag Officers (AGFO) joined calls from government agencies and lawmakers to investigate Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez for his remarks urging the military to withdraw its support to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
In a statement Monday night, the group, represented by its president and board chair, retired Vice Adm. Emilio Marayag, said the lawmaker's statement during the April 14 rally in Tagum City, Davao del Norte is "a glaring attempt, in pursuit of a purely political end" to test the organizational ethos of the country's Armed Forces.
As this developed, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. defended Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte anew amid mounting calls for her to resign from the Cabinet.
Such calls came from several local officials in Western Visayas and members of the House of Representatives who said they viewed VP Sara as a non-team player in the Cabinet. By attending rallies in Davao which were patently anti-Marcos administration and failing to defend the President from criticisms which is just expected of a Cabinet member, the Vice President has been perceived to be remiss in her Cabinet duties, although not as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
“I don’t see the reason behind that,” President Marcos said on the sidelines of the Town Hall Consultation with Farmers and Fisherfolks in Occidental Mindoro when asked to react on suggestions to remove her as secretary of the DepEd.
Reservist
"As a reservist officer, Alvarez must have exercised prudence and restraint in expressing his position that deviates from the norms of conduct of an officer and a gentleman and violates certain laws of the land," the AGFO noted.
The group also said it was not the first time Alvarez made comments contrary to the country's interest.
"Based on previous news accounts, Representative Alvarez made efforts in 2005 for One People Mindanao movement to declare independence in response to a government initiative to vest broader opportunities to our brother Muslims' autonomous region," AGFO pointed out.
It added that the lawmaker renewed his call for Mindanao's independence in 2023, while the government was beefing up efforts to protect its maritime zones in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
"(Alvarez) Further proposed to educate people about his Mindanao independence advocacy," the group noted.
Bongbong in Occ. Mindoro
President Marcos visited Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday to provide cash assistance and other services to farmers and fishermen affected by the El Nino phenomenon. He also listened to their grievances amid the effects of the punishing weather condition.
He said that he will meet with Vice President Sara Duterte to discuss important matters.
ALL SMILES President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte share a light moment during the 45th Philippine National Police Academy Commencement Exercises for the "Layag-Diwa" Class of 2024 last Monday. Marcos said he does not see any reason to replace Duterte as Education secretary amid her reported rift with First Lady Liza Marcos. PCO
Asked if he will give assurance to the Vice President that she will keep her post, the chief executive emphasized that he does not see the need to do it.
“She doesn’t need my assurance. She knows that,” he said.
The President also said that the Vice President will remain as Education Secretary, adding that cabinet members will only be removed from their posts if they are inefficient or corrupt.
“Any of the cabinet secretaries will be replaced ‘pag hindi na nila ginagawa ‘yung trabaho nila,” President Marcos said.
“All the other things are not part of the discussions. ‘Pag hindi na kaya, eh nagkasakit sabihin mo na, eh ‘di papalitan ka namin, o hindi talaga marunong o corrupt ‘di ba? Tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Eh hindi naman ganun si Inday Sara eh,” he added. PNA and PND
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