ZAMBOANGA CITY, 25 September 2003 — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s appointment of her peace adviser to the top defense post was met with support yesterday, not only by legislators but by separatist guerrillas as well.
Eid Kabalu, spokesman for the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) group, welcomed Eduaro Ermita’s appointment.
“Being a man actively involved in the peace process, we expect ... Ermita to pursue vigorously the peace talks with the MILF until we achieve long and lasting peace,” Kabalu said, adding that Ermita was aware of conditions in strife-torn Mindanao.
At least two senators also described Ermita’s appointment as a “welcome move” amid the “unstable situation” in the country.
“... His (Ermita’s) tested expertise in peace and unification will be vital in his performance as DND chief,” said Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, head of the committee on defense and national security.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, the vice chair of the defense committee, said Ermita’s “vast experience” in the works in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)gave him a “broader view” of the problems of national defense and security.
Ermita once served as military vice chief of staff and a legislator in the House of Representatives before taking on the role of adviser on the peace process.
“His vast experience in practically all aspects of governance will enable him to strike a balance between the peace efforts of government and the military operations against the Muslim separatists,” said Biazon, a former military chief of staff.
He urged Ermita to focus on military reforms to avert restlessness among soldiers.
Biazon and Magsaysay said they expected the president to shift her attention to economic matters with the appointment of a new defense secretary.
Ermita said he would push reforms in the military. He stressed that Arroyo had been cleaning up the military procurement process and bringing more resources to the soldiers in the field long before the July 27 mutiny by some 300 soldiers who cited alleged corruption in the military and neglect of soldiers in combat.
The mutineers had demanded the resignation of Arroyo and then-Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes but their uprising collapsed in less than a day and they are now in detention.
Reyes had resigned last month, saying he wanted to end the restiveness in the military. Arroyo had served as concurrent defense secretary in the interim until Ermita was appointed.
Ermita said: “I am very confident that as far as the (armed forces) is concerned, all we need are a little more resources for them to be able to look after the welfare of the men and improve the operational capability of our men in the field.”
He said he expected to see closer coordination with the defense department of the United States, the Philippines main ally.
