Appointing military men in gov’t posts advantageous: Arroyo

“They are literally good soldiers that’s why,” she said in an ambush interview during her inspection of her retaining wall project in Sasmuan, Pampanga. (File Photo by Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)

MANILA — House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes there is an advantage in appointing military men in key government posts.

Arroyo made the statement on Friday following President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement to transfer Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Isidro Lapeña to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and designate Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Rey Leonardo Borja Guerrero to take over the BOC.

“They are literally good soldiers that’s why,” she said in an ambush interview during her inspection of her retaining wall project in Sasmuan, Pampanga.

Arroyo added that President Duterte knows what he is doing.

“Let me just say that I’ve been president and I know more or less that the President has to consider so many things when he makes his decision so I’m not going to be a part of the peanut gallery making comments on his actions,” Arroyo said.

Duterte made the reshuffling announcement in front of military and government officials, including Lapeña and Guerrero, during the 117th anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Port Area, Manila on Thursday.

“General Lapeña will move to TESDA. I will promote you to a Cabinet member position,” Duterte said after reading his prepared speech.

“So, Sid (Lapeña) ‘yung trabaho ng (work there in )TESDA it’s quite something of a — it could be messy at times. But I’m sure your training as a military man, just like Jagger (Guerrero), would all go well for the country,” he added.