MANILA, Philippines?An election watchdog can't help but see something sinister in the appointment of Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit as the armed forces' new chief of staff.

Kontra Daya convener Fr. Jose Dizon said on Tuesday that the appointment of Bangit could bring back a repeat of the ?Garci Generals? controversy, where military officials were implicated in allegations of cheating in the 2004 elections to favor President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Dizon noted that Bangit headed the Presidential Security Group during the period when Ms Arroyo was faced with moves to unseat her, and also served as chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The general also served as Ms arroyo's military aide when she was Vice President, and belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987, which has adopted Ms Arroyo as an honorary member.

?His appointment exacerbates the fears that the AFP will again be used ala-'Garci generals',? Dizon said in a statement.

He said Bangit was a loyal deputy of the chief executive. ?He has yet to prove otherwise,? he added.

Bangit replaced Gen. Victor Ibrado, whose term ends this week and was not extended despite calls from some officials for the President to do so.