CA discussions on brigadier general deferred due to child support issues

A Commission on Appointments (CA) committee has deferred the deliberations of the ad interim appointment of a brigadier general due to his alleged failure to provide for the needs of his children.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the CA’s committee on national defense will tackle Brigadier General Ranulfo Sevilla’s promotion to the rank when he submits an affidavit indicating his commitment for child support.

Zubiri said the plan is to defer deliberations on Sevilla’s promotion to general until he provides notarized documents to the Armed Forces of the Philippines as regards providing for his children.

“Basta pumayag si general na mayroon siyang waiver sa kanyang sweldo na itong halaga ay pupunta sa kanyang dependents, pwede raw mangyari yon. I think that’s a good compromise,” Zubiri said.

(The general shoud agree to have a waiver that his salary will go to his dependents. They said that can be done. I think that is a good compromise.)

Sevilla’s appointment has been deferred twice. His promotion was scheduled to be deliberated upon last week but it was deferred upon the request of Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Sevilla is the deputy commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Operations Command in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.

His wife, Mrs. Tessa Luz Aura Sevilla, wrote to the CA to oppose the promotion of his husband.

Mrs. Sevilla appeared at the Senate on Tuesday to personally oppose the promotion of her husband.

She told the CA committee that the AFP officer should not be promoted due to alleged adultery, alleged abuse against them, and for refusing to give support for their children despite a court order.

According to her, the AFP officer only gave their family P2,000 for the needs of their two children, the youngest of whom has special needs.

Mrs. Sevilla also disclosed several incidents where the AFP officer allegedly pushed, slapped, and hit her during their marriage and while she was pregnant.

A petition for annulment is currently pending at the court.

Reporters tried to get Sevilla’s side but he said he had no comment.

Meanwhile, the appointments of nine other AFP officers have been confirmed by the CA:

• Romulo Quemando II to the rank of Brigadier General
• Juan Gullem to the rank of Colonel, Philippine Army
• Mandy Libertino to the rank of Colonel, Philippine Army
• Ted Cerezo Jr. to the rank of Captain, Philippine Navy
• Nereo Simbahan to the rank of Colonel, Medical Corps
• Clifford Catubigan to the rank of Colonel, Philippine Army
• Lemuel Espartinez to the rank of Commodore
• Josel Zuñiga to the rank of Brigadier General
• Samuel Manzano to the rank of Brigadier General

Further, the CA also confirmed the ad interim appointments of the following:

Flerida Ann Camille Puzon Mayo, Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Edgar Tomas Quilino Auxilian, Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Kiribati and Solomon Islands

• Stacy Danika Alcantara-Garcia, Foreign Service Officer II
• Bojer Bada Capati, Foreign Service Officer II
• Edward Daguplo Chan, Foreign Service Officer II
• Maria Christina Cecelia Caballero Hernandez, Foreign Service Officer II
• Jake Robin Sucgang Ramintas, Foreign Service Officer II
• Jomar Tumarong Sadie, Foreign Service Officer II

—NB, GMA Integrated News