MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE 2) Lieutenant General Delfin Bangit, the newly appointed military chief, said Wednesday that he has not received ?illegal orders? from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and vowed that he would not allow himself to be used for partisan politics.

In his speech during the formal turnover of command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Bangit said he has "so much respect" for Ms Arroyo because "never have I received illegal orders from her." He quickly added, "I'm sorry if that is not what you want to hear, but that is the truth."

Bangit, chief of the Philippine Army, took over from General Victor Ibrado who turned 56 on Wednesday, the mandatory retirement age in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

While he said he was honored to lead the military, Bangit also conceded that his appointment came at a "very delicate time" when the AFP was nearing its deadline to crush the communist insurgency and the nation was gearing up for it first automated elections.

"[So] critical is this forthcoming elections that all possible scenarios, even the most unlikely scenario that I am here to destroy democracy, have been brought to the fore," he said.

But, he said, "I will not allow anybody to use me for partisan politics," dispelling speculations that he would be used by Arroyo in the May elections in the same manner that the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos used his military chief Fabian Ver.

"Sa Diyos lang ako magapapagamit [I will only allow myself to be used by God]," Bangit said.

He also called on to politicians to "spare" the military from politics.

"Please, spare your Armed Forces from politics. We can do more for our country if you let us focus on our mission," said Bangit in response to criticisms that his appointment was the ?prize of loyalty.?

In his more than 32 years in the service, Bangit said, he has learned that the toughest responsibilities were "wrapped in the guise of a reward."

He served as Ms Arroyo's bodyguard when he was commander of the Presidential Security Group from February 2003 to September 2007.

He was also Ms Arroyo's senior aide-de-camp when she was vice president.

He tried to banish the perception that his military career took a fine turn when he became head of the PSG.

"What happened to my years of work and sacrifice?" he asked. "I have done my duty well. But ever since I left PSG, every time I got promoted, people think that I was there either because I kowtowed or because I will be used for something illegal."

Bangit said his career began in the "struggle and sacrifice" he endured from separation from his family as a young lieutenant and then later, when he was sent to the battlefields to fight for the freedom and safety of his countrymen.

"I rose from the ranks just by doing my best every single day... despite the sight of death among my comrades, imperfections of our organization and despite the absence of appreciation from my countrymen," he said.

Before he became Army chief when Ibrado was appointed chief of staff in May last year, Bangit also served as chief of the Southern Luzon Command, chief of the Intelligence Service of the AFP, and commanding general of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division, among others.

Acknowledging that it was reasonable for the nation to exercise "extreme cautiousness" during the election season, as the image of the AFP has been tainted by "some unfortunate twists in history," Bangit pleaded to his critics to spare the Armed Forces from politics.

Though he did not particularly say so, he appeared to be referring to the alleged involvement of some high-ranking military officers in ensuring the victory of Ms Arroyo over Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 presidential election.

He said the AFP has moved on and improved itself over the years. Its critics must have not taken a second look as to why they were still carrying the stigma up to now, he pointed out.

"Amidst all the fears, controversies and issues, I want to assure each and every Filipino that I am for the healthy exercise of democracy," he said.

"I will do everything in my power to fight the enemies of democracy.... We will always be on the side of what is good and what is right," he said.

"Our country needs to move on. For this we need credible elections," Bangit said.

For his part, Ibrado in his farewell speech, reminded soldiers to "actively work" for credible elections and must not fixate themselves on promotions. "It distracts us from our jobs.... Our interest is our people and that is what we should think about day and night," said Ibrado.