MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 13, 2011) – Filipino leader Benigno Aquino named Lieutenant General Jessie Dellosa as the new Philippine military chief replacing General Eduardo Oban who retired at age 56.
Dellosa, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1979, vowed to protect the sovereignty of the country and uphold the professionalism in the armed forces.
He served as chief of the Presidential Security Group’s Light Reaction Unit during the administration of Aquino’s mother President Corazon Aquino.
The human rights Makabayan Coalition on Tuesday have challenged Dellosa to make good on his promise to uphold peace and “all-out justice” with armed rebel groups, both with the communist National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Both groups have been pursuing peace negotiations with the government but the current administration is seen to have junked previous agreements and thus set backed the talks.
“For one, General Dellosa should command the military not to oppose the release of political prisoners and refrain from filing trumped-up charges in court against political opponents,” Makabayan spokesperson Liza Maza said.
She said some 356 political prisoners are now languishing in jails – 78 of them arrested under the Aquino administration. Much of the charges were filed by AFP units and their release has been repeatedly opposed by the military through government prosecutors, she said.
“If he is truly for peace, even with his less than two years as AFP chief, he can forge meaningful reforms in the way the military treats civilians and revolutionary armed groups. The people’s demand for the immediate pullout of military units, especially in civilian facilities such as schools and barangay halls, should be heeded. The military should not be used as a private security of warlords, mining companies and plantation corporations,” she said.
Aquino said the “principled and straight-forward leader” that Dellosa is, will serve as the AFP’s anchor on which its advocacy and aspirations will be built on. He told Dellosa to take to heart the concepts of bravery, integrity and honesty in order to achieve his sworn duty to the country and to the flag.
“Kay Lieutenant General Dellosa: huwag mong tatalikuran ang mandato mo sa taumbayan. Isabuhay mo ang katapangan, integridad at katapatan sa bansa upang mapanghawakan mo ang iyong sinumpaang tungkulin sa bandila,” Aquino said.
“Alam kong marami kang repormang nais ipatupad, at huwag ka sanang panghinaan ng loob sa mga pagsubok na darating; kasangga mo ang administrasyong ito sa pagharap sa anumang laban na kailangang supilin ng Sandatahang Lakas. Lagi mong tatandaang nakaatang sa iyong balikat, hindi lamang ang seguridad ng ating estado, kundi maging ang dangal ng lahing Pilipino,” he added. (Mindanao Examiner)
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