The Cabinet is almost filled with former military officers who can easily launch a coup attempt against the government, President Duterte said Thursday.
The President made the candid comment as he defended anew the appointment of several military men to lead various government agencies.
“If you would notice, halos ang Cabinet members ko military na. Iyong isang side sa Cabinet, puro military ‘yan sila diyan nakalinya. Tapos ang civilian kaharap. Puwede ng mag-coup d’etat kung gusto talaga nila. Kumpleto na,” Duterte said during the birth anniversary celebration of former political adviser Francis Tolentino in Tagaytay City.
“You know why my penchant to get the military? Alam naman kasi ng military, in my experience for 23 years with them as mayor, pulis. Hindi naman ako mag-utos ng mali. At sabi ko sa kanila ‘pag inutos ko, akin ‘yan,” he added.
Among the new Cabinet members with military background are Information and Communications Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II, presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr., and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista.
Honasan was a former rebel soldier, Galvez, a former Armed Forces chief of staff, while Bautista previously served as Army chief.
Other ex-military men in the President’s official family are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council chairperson Eduardo del Rosario, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Isidro Lapeña.
The President earlier expressed his preference for former military and police officers in key government
posts because they follow orders and get the job done fast. (Genalyn Kabiling)
