First posted 05:13am (Mla time) June 08, 2006
By TJ Burgonio
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on Page A2 of the June 8, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


STILL HAUNTED by the wiretapping scandal, Army chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday failed to get the nod of the Commission on Appointments on his promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.

After a lengthy deliberation the CA committee on defense, chaired by Camiguin Representative Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, deferred action on Esperon’s promotion on the motion of opposition Senator Jinggoy Estrada to further question him in the next regular session.

“He’s bypassed,” Romualdo said in an interview.

Senators Estrada, Sergio Osmeña III and Rodolfo Biazon had opposed Esperon’s confirmation by the committee this week, saying they would further grill the general on his “fitness” in view of the wiretapping scandal.

Congress adjourns this week and resumes session on July 24. The CA, chaired by Senate President Franklin Drilon, will resume hearing the appointments of Cabinet, military and other officials in August.

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=78458

Isn't Esperon already a Lt. Gen. since service chiefs and command chiefs are given that rank?

Being a major service commander, one has to have a rank of LT. GEN., howver, this is an interim promotion which is subject to the confirmation of the CA, thus Esperon's rank is still technically MAJ. GEN. until such time that the CA confirms his appointment to 3-star rank.

I'm wondering what would happened to Gen. Esperon, now that he's wearing 4-stars, a rank of a full general, technically, he is still a MGEN as the CA bypassed his appointment to LTGEN.


Officials in the executive branch either gets re-appointed or replaced if the CA bypasses their appointments, not sure though if the same applies for the military.