DND mouthpiece tells why he quit

MANILA, Philippines—After saying at a forum last week that President Benigno Aquino III had the power to form a “revolutionary government,” the spokesperson of the Department of National Defense (DND) has resigned after barely a month in office.

Lawyer Zosimo Jesus Paredes II left his resignation letter on his desk on Wednesday without talking to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who appointed him only last month.

Paredes also resigned as Gazmin’s executive assistant.

In an interview with dzMM radio, Paredes confirmed that he had resigned after Gazmin showed displeasure over his comments in which he expressed his opinion “as a lawyer,” but media quoted his official position as the defense spokesperson.

Paredes said his resignation was effective immediately.

In an interview with Camp Aguinaldo reporters, Paredes said he had expressed his regret to Gazmin over the controversial remarks.

“I admitted my lapse although I prefaced my statement because I can’t really dissociate myself from my position,” he said. “It was an academic explanation. I insinuated nothing. It was an explanation of what is in the provisions of the Constitution.”

“I accepted my mistake. I am man enough to accept the consequences,” Paredes said.

He said Gazmin told him that if President Aquino would “not be happy” and that if the President called up Gazmin about the matter, then it meant “you have to go.”

Asked what else Gazmin told him, Paredes replied: “That was it. Since the President called, you have to go.”

In his resignation letter, Paredes said he bade goodbye and thanked Gazmin for the opportunity to serve in government.

Paredes said he did not harbor any ill feelings toward his former boss.

“I’m just a spokesman, being an alter ego of the principal in this case, so I serve at his behest… I do not blame him at all. That is his prerogative. That is his power. He took me in, he can take me out,” he said.

Paredes was asked at a forum last week about possible scenarios should there be a constitutional crisis following the disagreement between the executive and judiciary over whether to allow former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to leave for abroad for medical treatment.

He said a revolutionary government was among the President’s options.

But Malacañang quickly distanced itself from Paredes’ comment and said that it was only the latter’s personal opinion.