Armed Forces chief of staff General Hernando Iriberri said Sunday he respects the opinion of National Security Adviser now Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez, but strongly disputed the latter's description of him as “incompetent” for putting in the backburner a project boosting external defense amid China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“I respect his opinion…As I said during my interview after my assumption, I said my record will speak for itself,” Iriberri said in a phone interview. He once again thanked President Benigno Aquino for appointing him to the top military post.
Golez earlier weighed in on criticisms arising from Iriberri's move to push the realignment of financing meant for the P6.5-billion Shore-Based Missile System (SBMS) Acquisition Project - billed as a plank of the external defense program - for another project acquiring helmets, armor vests and rifles, among others, for ground troops.
Golez said the shelved SBMS project with the government of Israel could have jump-started Aquino’s promise for the military to achieve “minimum credible external defense capability” before he exits 2016. The project was originally planned to be implemented in October 2015, and completed before mid-2016.
Iriberri had justified the move to realign the SBMS project's funds by noting the urgency of protecting the troops who are often wounded or killed on the field because they do not have the basic protection from helmets, armor vests and rifles.
The local representative of the Israel Military Industries (IMI) is the same supplier who earlier filed criminal and administrative charges against Iriberri at the Office of the Ombudsman for delaying the implementation of at least three ammunition projects worth P97.8 million.
The supplier has asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to preventively suspend Iriberri in connection with the complaints.
Golez, meanwhile, has urged the Commission on Appointments (CA) to withhold Iriberri's confirmation.
Golez said he doubted Iriberri's ability to lead the AFP, adding that the latter “obviously does not understand external defense and is unfit to lead the AFP when we are facing a grave external threat.”
To this, Iriberri said, “I respect his opinion,” but raised the possibility that “baka misinformed lang siya [he might have just been misinformed]”.
Iriberri declined to provide, when asked, for an update on developments in the WPS, particularly at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, saying only: “I’m sorry, I cannot”.
Panatag Shoal has been de facto occupied by the Chinese since April 2012, following a standoff between Philippine maritime forces and Chinese vessels in the area falling well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
China last week said it had completed its controversial reclamation frenzy on a huge area of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/115725/iriberri-on-golezs-charge-of-incompetence-i-respect-his-view-but-i-know-my-job
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