Press Release
February 6, 2019

ANGARA ENDORSES AÑO'S CONFIRMATION AS DILG SECRETARY

Senator Sonny Angara on Wednesday recommended to the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) the confirmation of Eduardo Año as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Angara, who chairs the CA's Committee on Local Government, described the former Armed Forces chief as a "paragon of competence and bravery," making him worthy of the position of DILG Secretary.

"General Año has since brought his military experience to civilian life, as Secretary of DILG. This shouldn't be seen as a usurpation of civilian authority, as some critics have pointed out, but the introduction of military precision, dogged singlemindedness and patriotic fervor into our police, safety and local government affairs," Angara said.

With Año as the DILG's officer-in-charge, Angara noted that the crime volume had apparently dropped 17.4 percent to 227,757 in January to June 2018 from 275,072 during the same period in 2017.

Angara also noted that Año had also been recognized as an active member of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force that recommended the temporary shutdown of the country's island jewel for rehabilitation.

Key to the rehabilitation efforts were the decisive moves of the DILG to investigate and bring to justice local officials who were complicit or actively responsible for the degradation of Boracay, Angara pointed out.

"Indeed, if there is anything that Secretary Año should already be credited for since being appointed to the DILG, is his contributions to exacting accountability from local officials and public safety personnel," Angara said.

The senator cited the show cause orders issued against absentee officials during typhoons "Ompong" and "Rosita," as well as the criminal and administrative charges filed against Philippine National Police officials and personnel over "palitpuri" malpractices and against cadets allegedly involved in sexual misconduct with lower classmen.

Just recently, Año has been personally handpicked by President Duterte to undertake the rehabilitation of the heavily polluted Manila Bay, along with Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, also a former military chief.

Prior to his appointment to the DILG, Año served as the country's 48th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) serving from December 2016 to October 2017.

"This period should be noted, because it covers the Battle of Marawi where it was under General Año's leadership that our forces bravely fought and drove away the ISIS-inspired Maute terrorists," Angara said.

He said President Duterte also credited Año for ushering modern defense facilities and state-of-the-art communication and intelligence equipment into the AFP during his stint.

After graduating cum laude from the 1983 Matikas class of the Philippine Military Academy, Año served as soldier, rising up the ranks until becoming Battalion Commander of the 76th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division stationed at Gumaca, Quezon from February 2004 to November 2005. He then served for four years as Group Commander of the Army's Intelligence Security Group.

After subsequently serving in various senior positions, he was appointed Chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) from November 2012 to July 2014.

He then served for year as Commander of the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army at Camp General Manuel T. Yan, Sr., at Compostela Valley. He became Commanding General of the Philippine Army, before ultimately being appointed Chief of Staff.

In many instances throughout his military path, he was awarded different commendations and medals--among the first of which includes a Bronze Cross Medal for his heroism in helping secure the ISAFP compound during the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003.

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