黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Retired members of the military and the police are civilians, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday following criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte for appointing former military and police officials to major government posts.

On Thursday, Aug. 1, the President launched a tirade against Sen. Richard Gordon for calling his appointment of retired military and police officials as 鈥渄angerous.鈥�

On Saturday, Lacson, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and a former chief of the Philippine National Police, commented on the issue in response to a question about it in an interview over AM radio station DWIZ.

鈥淥nce retired, an officer is no longer in the military. He鈥檚 already a civilian. He鈥檚 back to civilian life. Maybe that鈥檚 the President was hurt [by the criticism],鈥� Lacson said in Filipino.

He also pointed out that the President鈥檚 appointees would still have to undergo confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

鈥淎t the end of the day, it鈥檚 the President鈥檚 prerogative. The check and balance would come in 鈥� for example, in the case of a Cabinet secretary 鈥� through the Commission on Appointments,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 his prerogative. Don鈥檛 question it鈥� Let鈥檚 not get ahead and prejudge the appointment as wrong,鈥� he added.

Despite being criticized for the practice, the President continued appointing retired military and police officials, saying that these appointees would follow his orders without question or corruption.

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