FORMER Defense Secretary Avelino “Nonong” Cruz on Saturday denied that he is leaving the camp of Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas to lead a group of lawyers in supporting the presidential bid of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
The former defense chief of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Cruz in a statement said he continues to support administration bet Manuel Roxas II and running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo.
Cruz, who graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law, said he was mixed-up with another lawyer—Atty. Avelino “Abe” Cruz of the San Beda Law Alumni Association which also counts Duterte among its members.
Abe Cruz, the incumbent president of the Asean Law Association, issued a statement on Friday saying he and other lawyers have decided to support Duterte.
Cruz was the chief presidential legal counsel under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from January 2000-2004 prior his appointment as secretary of national defense on Aug. 25, 2004.
On numerous occasions during the same period, Secretary Cruz was also designated as acting executive secretary.
Cruz was also a member of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security and the National Security Council where he actively participated in the review of the draft peace agreements with the National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and in meetings on the Joint Defense Assessment program with the US Department of Defense.