Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile pooh-poohs concerns over President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s continuing appointment of retired military and police officials to significant positions, saying in effect that these people posed no danger to the supremacy of the civilian government. That?s par for the course coming from a man with an interesting past ? a defense minister and martial law enforcer who is now a senator of the realm, who was a key figure of EDSA People Power I uprising but eventually became a considered thorn in the side of the Corazon Aquino administration, and who was and is looked up to by known coup plotters and others who at one time or another swore by the swift, sharp wonders of a putsch.

But anyone halfway attentive to current goings-on would raise an eyebrow at the number of ex-military and police officials occupying posts of stature and influence ? and be convinced that, true to the ways of power, Ms Arroyo means not only to reward her tested lieutenants but also to ensure their loyalty.

There are at least 25 of them led by the Little President himself, Eduardo Ermita.

They hold Cabinet portfolios (Leandro Mendoza of transportation, Hermogenes Ebdane of public works, Angelo Reyes of energy); ambassadorships (Ernesto de Leon to Australia, Efren Abu to the BIMP-East ASEAN Growth Area, Vidal Querol to Indonesia, Generoso Senga to Iran); and plum posts (Narcisco Abaya at the Bases Conversion Development Authority, Edgardo Espinosa at the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, Thelmo Cunanan at the Social Security System, Glenn Rabonza at the Office of Civil Defense, Roberto Lastimoso at the Metro Rail Transit Corp.).

They carry important titles (Roy Cimatu is Ms Arroyo?s special envoy, Honesto Isleta her assistant on strategic information). They rule over critical areas (Angel Atutubo at the Manila International Airport Authority). They advise the President on peace (Hermogenes Esperon and Avelino Razon).

Thus are they positioned in the scheme of things, all helping resurrect the Marcos-era militarist culture, their appointments blithely encroaching on career offices or requiring the creation of a new satrapy (such as the National Counter Terrorism Action Group for Arturo Lomibao).

One may grant that the President will want to be advised by a former military officer (such as Arturo Carillo) on military affairs, and a former police officer (such as Orlando Macaspac) on police affairs. But what credentials did foreign service career officers sorely lack that they were bypassed in the appointment of retired military men as envoys?

Indeed, why was Edgardo Aglipay deemed particularly suitable to head the Philippine Retirement Agency? Why should the Presidential Management Staff now be considered right up Esperon?s alley? And what was it in Florencio Fianza that he was named head of the Philippine Racing Commission (until complaints led to his being put to pasture) and ?special envoy for transnational crimes??

What now takes the cake is the appointment of Tirso Danga to the helm of the National Printing Office (the chair of which was accused of raping a child and was subsequently sacked). The appointment particularly rankles because Danga, a retired vice admiral, is implicated in the ?Hello, Garci? election fraud scandal that was exposed in 2005 and has since been crying for resolution ? and the NPO is in charge of the government?s printing requirements including election forms and other poll documents. (Connecting the dots hardly needs a background in rocket science.)

On top of all that is the recent bit of news apparently meant to test the waters: Jovito Palparan for the Dangerous Drugs Board, perhaps to complement Dionisio Santiago at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Palparan redux is a horrific possibility for those who have linked the so-called ?butcher? to the death and torture of numerous activists. But ultimately, it will be an unsurprising feather in the cap of a man after the President?s own heart, and on whom she has heaped fulsome praise.