Election of new veterans’ federation president opposed

Tension gripped the Veterans Federation of the Philippines' (VFP) office in Ermita, Manila, on Thursday morning as personnel from the Department of National Defense (DND) protested the election of retired Col. Bonifacio de Gracia as VFP's president.

The protest was led by DND Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, who brought with him an official letter ordering De Gracia to vacate his post since the election for the new VFP board held in December 2017 was illegal.

De Gracia's followers blocked the DND personnel from entering the office, resulting in a confrontation that left retired Brigadier General William Esplana.

"They started pushing me hanggang sa dito na sa leeg ang hawak sa akin," he said in Oscar Oida's report on 24 Oras.

Carolina said the election had no approval from the DND and did not follow the election rules and regulations.

"They were directed not to hold elections until they submit an election code for the approval of the secretary [of DND] and implement the constitution and by-laws approved by the secretary. Na-violate lahat ni De Gracia 'yon," Carolina said.

He said some VFP members were not able to vote because the election was held in Cebu.

"National election should be held when the supreme council is in assembly. So in the December 2017 election the supreme council was not in assembly. Number two, it should be held in the venue where the supreme council regularly meets, which is here in Metro Manila, in the national headquarters," Carolina said.

When the DND personnel were able to enter the VFP office, they installed retired Sandiganbayan Justice Manuel Pamaran.

However, De Gracia's lawyer said Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana has no authority to declare the election null and void and to designate De Gracia's replacement.

Citing the charter of the VFP, the lawyer said the president should be elected and not designated.

De Gracia, meanwhile, maintained that he is the duly elected president of the organization. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News