Filipino policemen crossing a wooden bridge during a military offensive on the outskirts of Jolo, Sulu Island, southern Philippines, 27 April 2016. - EPA
An Army commander in Sulu has filed his resignation from his post on Tuesday in the wake of the beheading of a Canadian hostage.
In his resignation letter, 501st Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado said his resignation was “due to conflict of approach [in] addressing the Abu Sayyaf threats in Sulu.”
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Arrojado said he resigned after he learned that he will be relieved on Wednesday without having been informed.
“I am a general of the armed forces that should have been informed accordingly,” he said.
Arrojado was named commander of Joint Task Group Sulu in October 2014 but was later removed from his post last early this month. He kept his position, however, as commander of the 501st Brigade to oversee the 10th, 32nd and 35th Infantry Battalions.
When asked of the conflict of approach in dealing with the Abu Sayyaf, he refused to elaborate and just said: “Iba ang approach nila kaysa sa akin (Their approach was different from mine).”
Col. Jose Faustino replaced Arrojado in a turnover ceremony on Wednesday. The latter will be assigned as Assistant Division Commander of the First Infantry Division in Zamboanga del Sur.
“I will report to my new assignment without reservation as ordered,” he said.
Military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, meanwhile, said that everything is covered by orders in the Army and no officer can resign unless it is a major post.
“There is no blame game here,” he said.
Padilla said that Arrojado “served with distinction” as brigade commander of the 602nd and 501st brigade for a total of two years and five months.
“In the last 18 months he led the campaign against the kidnap for ransom groups in the island of Jolo,” he said, adding that Army officers usually serve a minimum of 1 year & 6 months in major positions to complete their billet requirements. - Philippine Daily Inquirer / ANN
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