BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the Senate committee on national defense, wants Armed Forces’ chief Gen. Victor Ibrado to rethink his stance against the possibility of the extension of his tour of duty beyond March 10.

“I would ask him to stay on in service to this country. I think his extension will be contributing to stability. His desire to retire is a personal issue. He should set aside that personal issue and serve this country all the way up to June 30 to provide stability to this country,” said Biazon of Ibrado.

Biazon, a former Armed Forces’ chief of staff himself, said President Arroyo has to extend Ibrado’s term if she wants to re-build her image before the public.

Ibrado, a few weeks ago, had said he does not want his term extended beyond his retirement age of 56 so that military officers who are next in line can succeed him.

He said there are capable military officers who can replace him.

Biazon, however, is asking Ibrado to reconsider.

“I would advise him to set aside that personal belief. I admire him for that but he should rethink that position of his,” said Biazon of Ibrado who assumed as military chief in May 2009.

Many other legislators have earlier appealed to the President, over a month ago, to extend Ibrado’s term. The believe that Ibrado’s extension would ensure a smooth conduct of the May presidential and local elections and would give the new President the free hand to appoint a new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Biazon said he believes any appointment in the middle of the campaign period, which started February 9 for national candidates, can be construed as “political maneuverings” that may undermine the results of the coming polls.

“We cannot continue on having this move, raising concerns, raising suspicions because these suspicions can only weaken the institutions and institutional processes of the country,” said Biazon who was in Baguio City for the annual Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming.

“There will always be the suspicion that the one replacing him is being put into position because of political consideration, especially if we have not yet resolved the issue of the Garci tapes and the alleged participation of some generals,” he said.

Three generals, including now Presidential Management Staff head Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., were implicated in the controversial Hello Garci tapes and were alleged to have helped in the rigging of the 2004 presidential elections to ensure the victory of President Arroyo.

The Garci tapes, a compilation of wiretapped conversations allegedly between President Arroyo and then elections commissioner Virgilio Garcialiano, supposedly proves that the results of the 2004 elections were indeed manipulated in favor of Mrs. Arroyo.

Talks are rife, especially in the military, that Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit would succeed Ibrado, once he retires next month. Bangit is described by some as a “loyalist” of President Arroyo.

Bangit, who served as Presidential Security Group commander during the Arroyo administration, belongs to the PMA class of 1978 that has adopted the President as an honorary member.

Biazon also said: “Then, whoever is going to put in place (of Ibrado) will be suspected of being a puppet of President Macapagal Arroyo.”

Asked if appointing Bangit as AFP chief would put to question the results of the elections, Biazon said: “It might, it might. Remember, this is a common concern by the public. That is why the President will serve her efforts of image-building by extending General Ibrado.”

The former Armed Forces’ chief and now senator said Ibrado has displayed professionalism that warrants the extension of his term. The President has extended the term of 4 AFP chiefs, the last beneficiary of which was Esperon who got a 3-month extension in 2008.

“Ibrado had manifested a certain level of professionalism so my proposal is to extend him all the way up to June 30 so that we can give the next President the prerogative who will serve with him when he assumes office,” said Biazon.

“My position is extend him. There had been precedence in the past of extending or the extension of the services of the Chief of Staff and to me there is an institutional reason why we should extend Ibrado,” added Biazon.

Biazon said he intends to talk to Ibrado and convince him to consider rethinking his stand on the matter of his possible extension.

“But of course, the final decision is the President’s and I would ask her to extend Ibrado as the last act that can be admired. If she is after image-building effort, one such thing that could contribute towards that is extending Ibrado all the way up to June 30,” he said.

Further pressed why he favors extending Ibrado’s term, Biazon said: “Well, his public body language. For example, the way he handled the Maguindanao Martial Law. I admire him for that because he showed that he understood (the limitations) provided by the Constitution in the implementation of the declaration of a Martial Law.”

President Arroyo imposed martial law in Maguindanao in December following the gruesome massacre allegedly perpetrated by the Ampatuan political clan and their armed followers that left at least 57 journalists and civilians dead. The declaration of military rule was lifted 8 days after.

Biazon said the civilian officials sent to represent President Arroyo during the joint Congressional session seemed not aware of the limitations of the imposition of martial law.

“Only Ibrado and (Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus) Verzosa of the PNP seem to have a full understanding of what are the limitations in the implementation of martial law. That singular act of Ibrado, among other things, tells me that General Ibrado is professional,” said Biazon.

Biazon also chided chief presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez for saying that it may be against the Constitution if Ibrado’s term is extended.

He said Gonzales’ recent statement was short of accusing President Arroyo and former Presidents Ramos and Estrada of violating the Constitution for extending the term of former AFP chiefs.

“She had extended the services of some of the former Chiefs of Staff. Did President Macapagal-Arroyo therefore violated the constitution? That’s my point, there had been precedence. Flimsy reasons had been used as an excuse to extend the service of some former chiefs of staff extended in the past. Now, with that statement of secretary Gonzales, he is now accusing President Macapagal-Arroyo of violating the constitution,” added Biazon.