PH military chief Gapay says he’s open to civilian position after retirement

MANILA, Philippines—Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay said on Tuesday (Oct. 13) that he was open to serving the government again after he retires from service.

“I am open to it, accepting another post,” he said at an online forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines when asked if he was interested in a civilian government position after his retirement.

Gapay, the eighth AFP chief under President Rodrigo Duterte, will reach the compulsory retirement age of 56 in February 2021. He would have served as AFP chief for six months.

He said he would be willing to work again as long as he could take “three months respite after retirement.”

“If there’s an opportunity to help and contribute to make the Philippines great again, I will very much contribute…if they still believe in my capacity,” Gapay said.

Duterte has been criticized for appointing retired generals to key civilian government posts. He said he preferred military men because they are disciplined and obedient.

Among former military generals appointed by Duterte to key civilian posts were Eduardo Ano as interior and local government secretary, Hermogenes Esperon as national security adviser, Carlito Galvez as peace adviser and head of the national task force on COVID-19, Rolando Bautista as social welfare secretary and Ricardo Morales as head of PhilHealth.

Critics have also questioned the President’s decision to appoint retired generals instead of health experts to lead the implementation of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TSB