Drilon urges Duterte to appoint civilian, not military official, at DSWD helm

(Eagle News)–Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon urged President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint a career officer at the helm of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, instead of a military official.

“The President should reconsider his decision to appoint a retired military officer as DSWD secretary. The DSWD is a very sensitive and crucial social welfare agency,” Drilon said in an interview with DZBB on Sunday, Oct. 7.

He was referring to Lieutenant General Rolando Bautista, who Duterte said would become the next social welfare and development secretary in a recent speech.

According to Drilon, while it was President Duterte’s prerogative to appoint, we should not militarize the government.”

He noted the appointment of active military officers to civilian posts was a practice during the time the country was under martial law  but this was later stopped because of that danger.

At present, several retired miltary officers occupy government posts, including former Armed Forces chiefs of staff Roy Cimatu as Environment and Natural Resources secretary, Eduardo Año as Interior and Local Government secretary, and Ricardo Visaya as head of the National Irrigation Administration.

Other former miltary officials are also appointed to government posts such as Delfin Lorenzana as defense secretary and Danilo Lim as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, among others, a statement by Drilon’s office said.

Drilon noted the DSWD plays a very important role in the government’s poverty alleviation program, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

“I am certain there are those from the civilian sector who are equally, if not more qualified and competent, to hold government positions, particularly the DSWD,” Drilon said.