MANILA, June 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine presidential palace confirmed on Wednesday the appointment of an alleged relative of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as new chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

    But the presidential palace said the appointment has nothing to do with the wiretapping controversy involving the president.

    Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Commodore Leonardo Calderon would take over as ISAFP chief Thursday. But he said he has no personal knowledge whether Calderon was a relative of the president.

    "I do not know if Commodore de Leon is a relative of the President. I have no personal knowledge," he said.

    He also denied Calderon was appointed to the ISAFP's top position because of the security breach that occurred when Arroyo's phone was tapped and her conversations illegally recorded during the presidential election in May 2004.

    In a telephone conversation record made public by the opposers of Arroyo this week, the president was heard asking a friend to help her win the election.

    Calderon will replace Brigadier General Marlowe Quevedo, who isbeing given another assignment outside the ISAFP, said the presidential palace.

    Reports said Quevedo was being eased out because of intense rivalry among military officers eyeing his post and for a series of lapses he committed as ISAFP chief.

    Calderon, a graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1976 is based in Malacanang. He is the brother of Deputy Director Oscar Calderon, the Philippine National Police chief for operations. Enditem