Defense official unceremoniously sacked

By Anthony Vargas (DateLine Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines – A senior official of the Department of National Department (DND) was sacked from his post early this month for still unknown reasons, dateline.ph learned on Tuesday.

Ariston delos Reyes, a retired navy vice-admiral, was sacked last March 9 from his post as the defense department’s undersecretary for internal affairs without citing any reason.

Delos Reyes said that he had received a letter from Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza informing him that his duty as undersecretary in the defense department has been recalled.

Delos Reyes added that he reported two days later to Mendoza’s office and was told that he was being terminated from the defense department due to some government re-organization.

“I reported to the executive secretary who informed me that due to reorganization, my designation was terminated,” delos Reyes said. “My termination was unceremonious, I had no forewarning,”

Delos Reyes, who was appointed to the department sometime in early 2006 after his retirement from the military service, said he felt no ‘frustration’ over his termination.

“I am not frustrated over it. It already happened, but I do hope that proper authorities would have acted on it so there will be due process,” delos Reyes said.
He declined to say if his being sacked from his post was a result of his move to initiate an investigation on two erring officials of the defense department said to have strong Malacañang connections.

“I am not saying that is the reason, what I am trying to say is the timing was bad and others might misconstrue it because of those things. I was removed. I don’t want to speculate,” delos Reyes said.

Sources from the defense department said delos Reyes might have been sacked from his post when he wrote a letter to the President asking for an investigation on two erring officials of the department.

Delos Reyes reportedly filed a complaint of dishonesty against another defense undersecretary who reportedly used his position to allow his son from the private sector to study for his master’s at government expense.

The said official allegedly signed a memorandum allowing his son to take his master’s at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) despite a lack of qualification or being underqualified.

Delos Reyes also initiated the filing of a complaint against another defense assistant secretary found to be keeping in his office assorted serviceable and unserviceable munitions.

The munitions were reportedly kept in his office despite the fact that the Defense assistant had been relieved some two years ago. (http://dateline.ph)