The Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday announced that newly-promoted Brig. Gen. Medardo Geslani, the officer commanding the military unit detailed in Maguindanao, during the time of Maguindanao massacre in Nov. 23, 2009, has no legal impediment that would prevent his promotion to one-star rank.
"He was promoted because he had no legal impediments," said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato.
Geslani was promoted to brigadier general last Monday.
Some sectors criticized Geslani for his alleged inaction during the time of the incident.
Geslani, who is the incumbent deputy commander of the Training and Doctrine Command, was the former commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade which was based in Maguindanao.
Rowena Paraan, National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) chair, in a statement, said the promotion of Geslani "is an insult" after the Army colonel rejected the request to safeguard the Mangudadatu convoy which was on its way to file the certificate of candidacy of then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu who was then seeking governorship of Maguindanao.
At the time of the shooting, which resulted in the death of 58 people, 32 of them local journalists, Maguindanao was governed by Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his family.
Before Geslani's promotion, the Office of the Ombudsman cleared Geslani of any involvement in the gruesome massacre.
Detoyato said that Geslani, who topped the 1982 "Sandigan" class of the Philippine Military Academy, was promoted since he had no actions that would merit any legal actions.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=656538
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