VILLASIN, Pangasinan, Philippines?Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar said on Saturday that it would be up to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to extend the term of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Victor Ibrado but he warned that any movement in the military leadership should not cast doubt on the credibility of the May 2010 elections.

He also urged the President to consider other generals waiting in line to become AFP chief of staff.

?I leave it up to the President but it is important for the President to listen to the clamor of the people,? Villar told reporters here in Filipino.

?Mahalaga din naman na huwag tayo magbibigay ng anumang ideya na meron tayong binabalak na hindi maganda sa ating bansa. Talaga namang malaki na ang ating paghihirap. Sa ngayon dapat magkaroon na tayo ng isang eleksyon na walang kaduda-duda at hindi pagduduhanan, malinis para sa ganun tayo ay makabangon na sa kahirapan natin (It is important that the government does not create the suspicion that it is planning something ugly for the country. We have suffered enough. Now, we must have an elections that is beyond doubt... that would not be doubted.. that is clean so that we can rise as a country from poverty),? he said.

Some quarters expressed apprehension that Ibrado might be replaced by Army chief, Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, reportedly one of Mrs. Arroyo's favorite generals.

Ibrado is set to retire on March 10, when he turns 56 years old, the mandatory retirement age in the military.

The impending retirement of Ibrado two weeks from now has raised fears that a change in the military leadership in the middle of the election campaign might result in a repeat of the alleged electoral fraud in 2004, where military generals supposedly helped rig the results in favor of Mrs. Arroyo.

Names of certain generals, most of whom have since retired, were mentioned in the infamous ?Hello, Garci? tapes that had forced President Arroyo to admit talking to an election commissioner widely believed to be Commission on Election (Comelec) official Virgilio Garcillano, Jr. The President apologized for talking to the commissioner, whom she did not name, but insisted she was just inquiring about the status of her votes and not asking him to cheat.

Villar urged Ms Arroyo to look into the credentials of other deserving generals, waiting in line, to be next chief of staff.

?Baka naman dapat ay tingnan natin, sila ay naghihintay na. Sila ay nakalinya. Sila ay dapat pagbigyan na (Maybe, thke government should look at those who are already waiting in line. They should be considered),? Villar said.