STATEMENT OF SENATOR AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR., ON THE RESIGNATION OF LT. COL. ORLANDO DE LEON, CHIEF OF STAFF OF MARINE CORPS

De Leons lament bespeaks the sad state of the way the armed forces, in general, have been politicized and misused for the attainment of the personal ends of the powerful.

His resignation is a terrible indictment of the commander-in-chiefs mismanagement of the AFP and the corruption of some of its generals that have, in his words, led to loss of values that had characterized the conduct of the military officials and men in the past.

His charges are validated by the continuing abuse of power, plunder of the economy and disrespect for the Constitution by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.