AMID the proverbial sword of Damocles hanging over his head, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro was immaculately silent during the past week, dodging interviews and discharging his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities like each day was his last as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff. Rumors of his impending removal did not die. Not at all, even with Officer in Charge of the Department of National Defense (OIC DND) Jose Faustino's denial. Fact is it was only made to simmer by his hedging. Everywhere at General Headquarters in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the elephant in the room — the imminent sacking of the man at the helm of the AFP — is persistently ignored. But not in social and mainstream media and in virtual chat rooms where retired and active military personnel discuss passionately and animatedly. What has happened, what will happen, and why this is happening?

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