Last week, the nation was stirred with the revival of Charter change in the House of Representatives. This week something ominous happened: the sudden retirement of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, Gen. Alexander Yano and Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. Cardozo Luna.

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This development further confirms the sinister move of the current administration – stay in power beyond its constitutionally-mandated term.

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In an unusual move that broke protocol and defies conventional wisdom, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, announced that Yano will relinquish his post 44 days before he reached 56, the mandatory age of retirement for AFP generals.

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buy Puff, Puff, Pass Yano is the only Chief of Staff in recent memory to leave his post well ahead of his official retirement date. Why not wait for the official retirement date which is just six weeks away?

To sweeten or sugar coat the early departure of Yano and his deputy from military service, Teodoro said both generals were given diplomatic assignments – Yano as ambassador to Brunei and Luna as ambassador to the Netherlands. This prompted immediate protest from the leadership and the rank in file of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Protocol dictates that it is the DFA that usually makes an ambassadorial announcement. Teodoro’s announcement breaks protocol, highly unusual and patently inappropriate.

Rank and file employees of the DFA are circulating a petition slamming Malacañang for making diplomatic posts gifts to its favored persons, tools of appeasement or for political accommodation. According to the petition, the appointment of Yano and Luna were “the latest instances of a disturbing trend that has caused demoralization and weakened professionalism in the merit system in the DFA and the foreign service… The appointment of non-career ambassadors prejudices the professional advances of career foreign service officers who have extensive training and deep experience in advancing Philippine national interests in the international community.”

Stories circulating, however, say Yano did not got on early retirement but was actually fired or replaced. Yano and his politically expressive deputy (Luna) belong to a dwindling rank of military officers who are highly esteemed and regarded, as well as respected by the rank and file in the military organization. Both insulated the AFP from politics and politicking, vigorously promoted professionalism among the rank and file, and were not tainted with corruption. They also reined in rogue units, lost commands or liquidation squads who eliminate “suspected enemies” of the state through salvaging or summary execution

For trying to restore sanity, professionalism and respectability in the AFP, Yano and Luna unsettled and irritated the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA). Doing good, being honest or professional and not playing politics are anathema to the standard operating procedure and practices of the present administration.

Men like Yano and Luna are threats to the leadership of PGMA and could comprise the grand design of the administration – rule this country to eternity. Certainly, professional soldiers like Yano and Luna who are steadfast constitutionalists would never go along with the ultimate evil scheme of PGMA and her gang to bastardize the Constitution and shred it to pieces.

The real story behind the highly irregular early retirement of Yano and Luna is this. Their departure paved the way for the appointment of Gen. Victor Ibrado to the post of Chief of Staff. Ibrado is just a transition guy for he will also retire before the May 2010 election. PGMA’s favorite general, Delfin Bangit takes over as Army chief and upon Ibrado’s retirement early next year, Bangit becomes AFP chief of staff.

With a pliant and submissive chief of staff, PGMA will have the AFP in the bag to do her bidding. Or so she thought. Martial law remains a tempting option to stay in power for the President

This course of action is not original. The late dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, did something similar prior to the declaration of Martial Law in 1972. He first consolidated his control of the AFP, appointing his men and removing possible threats. Upon the inauguration of his dictatorial rule, Marcos offered diplomatic posts to generals like Rafael Ileto, then vice chief of staff and Manuel Yan. Both were named ambassadors to get them out of the country and neutralize their objections to Martial Law.

As events unfold before the 2010 polls, it is getting clearer and clearer to the Filipino people that PGMA will not relinquish power once her term expires and become a teacher as her son Mikey wants everyone to believe. It would be foolish to assume that the Arroyos will vacate Malacañang next year.

The continued attempts to change the Constitution and this sinister move to get rid of Yano and Luna from the AFP are all part of a grand plan – power forever. Expect more unusual and highly abnormal actions and moves from the administration. Consumed by insatiable and burning desire for power, their thirst will never be quenched.

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