Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales is sowing intrigue within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by claiming that the camp of President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy’’ Aquino is undertaking loyalty checks at the military establishment.

This was the reaction of opposition Sen. Francis Escudero to Gonzales’ claim of an on going loyalty check by the camp of Aquino who is scheduled to take over Malacañang on June 30 to end the nine year tenure of out going President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Gonzales made the allegation following Aquino’s pronouncement that he would not keep in office AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit who still has one more year at the AFP before his retirement.

The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) has by passed Bangit’s appointment before Congress went into a sine die adjournment last June 4.

“I think he is just creating intrigues. Instead of doing so, I hope he will just help out in providing smooth transition (from the Arroyo administration to the incoming Aquino administration),’’ Escudero said.

Senator-elect Franklin M. Drilon shared Escudero’s observation that Gonzales was sowing intrigues.

As the chairman of the Liberal Party (LP) that helped Aquino win in the May 10 presidential race, Drilon denied that there is an ongoing loyalty check at the AFP.

Bangit himself expressed elation at the clearing of a cloud of doubt hovering over the AFP by Aquino himself who categorically stated that he would not be keeping Bangit as the AFP chief of staff when he takes over Malacañang starting June 30.

He had earlier criticized Aquino’s camp for asking for his resignation on June 30 which he said smacked of politicking.