Ex-general Esperon is Duterte's pick for National Security Adviser

From InterAksyon (May 22): Ex-general Esperon is Duterte's pick for National Security Adviser

Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte has named as his National Security Adviser (NSA) a former Armed Forces chief of staff who was once linked to the "Hello Garci" poll fraud scandal but cleared.

Retired General Hermogenes Esperon was earlier among those also being considered for the defense portfolio, sources said, as Duterte's top choice, ex-Tarlac congressman Gilbert Teodoro, had not confirmed acceptance.

Meanwhile, sources from Duterte's inner circle said Duterte wants Colonel Rolando Bautista to head the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

Bautista is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sandiwa” Class 1985 and is now commander of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade based in Basilan.

Retired Gen. Dionisio Santiago, the former anti-illegal drugs agency chief who ran but lost in the last Senate elections, is being "highly considered" to be Senior Military Adviser (SMA), sources added.

Esperon was considered for DND

Esperon confirmed his appointment to the NSA during a phone interview.

“It’s a very challenging job but I’m honored to become part of his Cabinet and he has may things in mind to change and we’ll be focusing , our concern is national security. The job calls for enhancing or maintaining the way of life of the Filipino. It is very broad and it also covers national sovereignty and strengthening of institutions."

Esperon expressed hope his experience in the bureaucracy from the military as well as the Cabinet "could be put to use as we go about nation building.”

 Asked why he was not appointed defense secretary, Esperon said: “I would have been; it would have been a happy occasion. Maganda sana [It would have been good] but I believe I could do more. I have an assignment from President Rody, so dito tayo, o di ba?”

Pressed on who will be the DND secretary, he advised media to simply await the Cabinet announcements, saying "no one can dictate who will be in his Cabinet."

Esperon and Teodoro both served in the administration of former president and recently reelected Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The latter, as then president, named Esperon as the AFP chief military chief after a special commission cleared him of any role in the "Hello Garci" scandal.

Four generals were said to have helped elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano fix 2004 poll results in favor of Mrs. Arroyo.

Teodoro at one time was Arroyo's secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND). In 2010, she endorsed him as her candidate for president in a race won by landslide by Benigno Aquino III.

http://interaksyon.com/article/128095/ex-general-esperon-is-dutertes-pick-for-national-security-adviser