MANILA (PNA) — Two lawmakers on Tuesday said that the alleged "demotion" of Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue may cause a possible instability in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"There are rumblings right now, I don't know if the President (Benigno Simeon Aquino III) is aware of this. Let’s hope that these are just rumblings but we need to address it, we cannot ignore these," said Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, a former military chief, in a press conference.

As such, Biazon and Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone have sought a congressional probe into the promotions and assignment system of the AFP.

Biazon, chairman of the committee on defense of the House of Representatives, said he will file a resolution seeking an inquiry "into the sufficiency of rules, regulations and laws on the selection of officers in the Armed Forces for promotion and or assignment to major positions."

The former senator said he wants to know if the criteria for the selection of officers for promotion or assignment are still being followed.

"I'm conducting this inquiry to determine whether or not these mechanism and criteria are sufficient or we need additional legislation. We cannot and we should not have these repeating situation of questions on promotions and assignments to major positions because they can only produce instability in the Armed Forces such as what we are witnessing today," he said.

Biazon said the House should examine Republic Act 291 which prescribes the creation of the Board of Generals and Board of Promotions and Standard Operating Procedure 10 which provides the criteria for promotion.

The Board of Generals tackles the issue of selecting who among the senior colonels, senior generals should be promoted further to the next rank or for assignment to major positions including brigade commanders, division commanders, area commanders and service commanders while the Board of Promotions tackles promotions and assignments in the flag rank and in the lower ranks.

For his part, Evardone said Congress should make sure that the standard operating procedures are being followed to ensure professionalism in the service.

"The allegations of General Angue are very serious because if true it might demoralized the ranks of the AFP," the former governor said.

At a press conference on Monday, Angue expressed disappointment over the AFP’s decision to relieve him as the commander of the National Capital Region Command, which is a three-star position, making him eligible for promotion to vice admiral.

Angue's new assignment is chief of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Zamboanga City, which is only a two-star position.