MANILA, (PNA) — With rumors floating around claiming that he will be replaced soon, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Tuesday said that he is ready to leave his post anytime.
“I serve at the pleasure of the President (Benigno S. Aquino III),” he added.
Gazmin made this announcement in wake of reports that he is being replaced as DND chief owing to statements he made in September that several concrete blocks spotted by Philippine Navy aerial patrols within the Panatag Shoal were a prelude to Chinese construction in the area.
However, it turned out the concrete blocks are not new, in fact were “very, very old” that “some of them have barnacles attached to them.”
Gazmin added that he is more than ready to leave the DND should it be found out that the Chief Executive already has lost confidence and faith in him.
The DND chief added that this is the first time he found out about rumors about his relief, adding that no such thing cropped out during their visit in Bohol.
“I was surprised… I read in the papers today that . . . there are rumors that I will be replaced by somebody. We (he and the President) never talked about this in Bohol… the issue never came out,” the DND chief stated.
And when queried about who could be the one behind this, the DND chief said he does not know.
“Well I don’t know, maybe some people are interested in the post, I’m not sure,” Gazmin stated.
The DND chief also admitted that he has not yet spoken to the President regarding the concrete blocks off Panatag Shoal.
Gazmin noted the President had already addressed the issue on the conflicting statement about the concrete blocks when during a recent media forum.
“He never mentioned this to me,” the DND chief pointed out.
“But like I said probably people are interested in the post and, and it’s okay with me (if ever)… it’s time to go on vacation, it’s been a long dream for me,” he further stated.