Rep. Espino endorsed as next DND head
BINMALEY – Second district Rep. Amado Espino Jr., who has been included in the shortlist of candidates for the next secretary of the Department of National Defense, has received the backing of the touted Northern Luzon Alliance in the House of Representatives who believe the post is “tailor-made” for him.
Espino, a former police and military man who received several citations for his successful fight against insurgency, told The PUNCH that he felt proud and honored to be one of the nominees to the said post and expressed willingness to help President Gloria Arroyo’s thrust to eradicate terrorism and insurgency problems in the next three years, should he be lucky to get the Defense secretary post.
The expression of support of the lawmakers for Espino, contained in a letter addressed to President Arroyo dated Nov. 8, was signed by 31 congressmen from regions 1, 2 and the Cordillera Administrative Region led by House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and Deputy Speaker Eric Singson of the second district of Ilocos Sur.
“Espino’s career — a distinguished record in combat and intelligence at the height of the insurgency wars in Luzon, highlighted by his capture of the most dreaded dissident leaders of the land, including Bernabe Buscayno, Satur Ocampo and Father Ed dela Torre, as well as top criminals and drug lords, has been an amazing interplay of military force and a strong grip on community situations and concerns,” the letter to the President said.
It added that “the SND post has a unique responsibility, putting a balance between the civilian supremacy and the primacy of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) in preserving order and stability, a role which is tailor-made for Congressman Espino’s competence, experience and persuasion.”
Espino, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Security, is being cited for his lead role in wiping out insurgency and organized crime, especially in Pampanga, the President’s home province, which was then the hotbed of insurgency.
An outstanding alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy class 72, Espino is the prime author of about 70 bills including the Anti-Terrorism Act, Anti- Cybercrime Act, National ID Act, and Magna Carta of the PNP, PNP Reorganization Plan, among others.
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