Is Gazmin on the way out?

MANILA, Philippines — It’s simply a rumor.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin believes someone interested in his job is behind rumors he will be removed from his post.

“Maybe some people are interested in the post. I’m not sure,” Gazmin told reporters on Tuesday, October 29.

“They would want to break the relationship most probably. I am identified with the military. At the same time, kaahit paano I am identified with the Aquinos. If you want to break the relationship between the Aquinos and myself and myself and the Armed Forces, sisiraan mo ako di ba?,” Gazmin said. 

Gazmin is no ordinary presidential appointee; he’s known to be a father figure to the President and his siblings. Like the Aquinos, Gazmin hails from Tarlac and was close to the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

President Corazon Aquino would later appoint him the first commander of the Presidential Security Group. He helped Mrs Aquino face various coup attempts against her, including the bloodiest one in December 1989 that wounded now President Aquino.

Malacañang was quick to dismiss rumors Gazmin was on his way out. On Monday, October 28, Secretary Herminio Coloma said the defense chief “continues to enjoy the President’s full trust and confidence.”

Gazmin leads the defense department at a time when the government is aggressively pursuing the modernization of the Armed Forces. Amid a worsening dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea, Aquino allocated at least P75 billion to finance the procurement of, among others, fighter jets for the air force and frigates for the navy.

As Gazmin is known to wield influence on the President, he has been criticized for playing favorites and pushing for his chosen officers to lead plum posts in the military.

Gazmin’s mistake

According to the rumor mill, the plan to replace Gazmin has something to do with false allegations he made that China was building concrete blocks in Panatag shoal, a potentially oil-rich rocky sandbar off the coast of Zambales. It is the subject of a bitter dispute between Manila and Beijing.

Gazmin in September presented to Congress photos of concrete blocks that he said were a “prelude to construction” by the Chinese. This almost prompted the government to file a protest before the United National International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. (READ: China starts construction in Panatag and Chinese construction to bolster case)

President Aquino would later correct Gazmin’s statements — first on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Brunei and again during a press briefing with foreign correspondents in Manila last week. He explained the concrete blocks are old and there’s no evidence that it was China that placed them there.

Gazmin eventually admitted his mistake. (READ: Gazmin admits mistake on Scarborough blocks)

While the rumor was spreading in Manila, Gazmin said the President never raised the issue with him. They were together in Bohol to check government efforts to help earthquake victims there. 

“I was surprised [when] I read in the papers that there are rumors I will be replaced. We never talked about this in Bohol. The issue never came out,” he said.

Gazmin, who was pulled out of retirement to serve Aquino, said he’s ready to step down should the President ask him to. 

“I serve at the pleasure of the President. Kung mapapalitan, thank you. Kung hindi mapapalitan, thank you rin,” he said. — Rappler.com