Push Admin

'I can rely on them': Duterte defends 'militarization' of Cabinet

Article (news)

Davinci Maru, ABS-CBN News

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday defended his decision anew of appointing former military and police officers to key positions in government.Speaking before agrarian reform beneficiaries in Davao City, he said he choose to fill his Cabinet with former men in uniform because he can rely on them.&quot;When a military man retires, he is for all intents and purposes nothing but a civilian. And second, because I can rely on them. And third is because most of them are fundamentally honest,&quot; he said.The president made the remark after Sen. Richard Gordon criticized his choice of appointing ex-military and ex-police men in the administration.&quot;So sabi nga ni Gordon, he says militarization of the Cabinet because most of the members of the Cabinet are former military officers. He’s a lawyer but I just don’t know why he choose to interpret it,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/01/19/fart-away-from-disaster-duterte-hits-gordon-for-comments-on-military-appointees">&#x27;Fart away from disaster&#x27;: Duterte hits Gordon for comments on military appointees</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/02/19/gordon-says-not-offended-by-dutertes-insults">Gordon says not offended by Duterte&#x27;s insults</a></li></ul>Duterte earlier slammed Gordon over the issue, saying the senator is a &quot;fart away from disaster.&quot;Reacting on the president&#x27;s remark, Gordon said no offense taken, saying &quot;we cannot be onion-skinned about such things.&quot;Gordon, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said his comments were made &quot;in good faith and out of concern for our country and the President.”Among Duterte&#x27;s appointees with military and police background include Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan, formerly of the Philippine Army and most recently senator; Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff; Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, former Philippine Army chief; Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista, former Philippine Army chief; Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, former AFP chief of staff; Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, also a former military chief; and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Isidro Lapeña, a retired Philippine National Police operations chief.

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday defended his decision anew of appointing former military and police officers to key positions in government.

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday defended his decision anew of appointing former military and police officers to key positions in government.

'I can rely on them': Duterte defends 'militarization' of Cabinet

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

'I can rely on them': Duterte defends 'militarization' of Cabinet

Davinci Maru,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 03, 2019 12:55 AM PHT

|

Updated Aug 03, 2019 01:17 AM PHT

Read More:

Rodrigo Duterte

Davao City

military

police

Cabinet

administration

appointees

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.