VFP to DND: Reconsider protest on election of new federation president

The Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) urged the Department of National Defense (DND) to review its move to protest the election of retired Col. Bonifacio de Gracia as VFP’s president.

Jerry Adevoso, adviser to the president of the VFP, asked Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Saturday to disregard the military tradition of following orders from a former senior.

“Alam ko naman na maayos ang inyong pagtingin sa mga beterano, baka naman nadadala lang kayo ng iyong mistah sa PMA (Philippine Military Academy) na si General Ernesto Carolina,” Adevoso said during a news forum when sought for a message to Lorenzana.

“Baka ang umiiral sa isip ninyo ay military tradition na somebody who is more senior to you, you continue to be more senior to you now; pero kayo na ang Secretary of National Defense and si General Caronila ay Undersecretary ninyo,” he added.

Adevoso added that since the two officials of the DND were already outside the premises of PMA, they are now considered as civilians.

“Civilian na po tayong lahat, hindi na kayo dapat gumamit pa ng military traditional thinking lalo na sa kasong ito ang mga naapektuhan po ng mga action niyo ay mga civilian — mga beteranong 80, 90 years old,” he said.

In his closing speech, Adevoso noted that the use of force and any mode of impunity is “never acceptable.”

He also hopes the DND would choose the importance of rule of law over personal interest.

“We hope that you can see, that the rule of law is much better than paying attention to your personal material needs,” he

“There are many ways we can cooperate, not fight. In this world, as soldiers, you know we are not in this world to create enemies, we are here to look for friends,” Adevoso added.

On Thursday, Carolina led a protest at the VFP office in Ermita, Manila following De Gracia’s election as VFP president.

The situation turned tense after VFP personnel blocked officials of the DND from entering the VFP compound. /muf