Batac resigns from DND post; Azcueta takes over tasks

An undersecretary of the Department of National Defense has resigned his post due to personal and health reasons.

Undersecretary for civil, veteran and retirees affairs Eduardo Batac resigned last month after going on leave.

Public affairs service chief Arsenio Andolong confirmed that Batac had resigned but said he was not privy to the details.

In the meantime, undersecretary for national defense Honorio Azcueta will be the officer in charge of the office that Batac vacated.

Batac was the overseer of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and the Public Affairs Service that Andolong headed. He also oversaw the Philippine Veterans Hospital.

“He helps formulate policies on the welfare of veterans, as well as reservists programs. He also served as spokesperson before,” Andolong said.

Andolong said Batac resigned at least two weeks ago due to personal and health reasons that he was not privy to.

The former undersecretary also took a leave of absence before his resignation, he added.

Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin accepted the resignation.

This means that Azcueta will be heading two offices, as undersecretary for national defense and as officer in charge for public, veterans and retirees affairs.

“His resignation is a loss to the DND. He was part of the team and his rapport with the veterans is going to be difficult to approximate,” Andolong said, but expressed confidence Azcueta would be more than up to the task of filling the void that Batac left.