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Game of the Generals
Gladstone Cuarteros
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Proposed
Reforms in the AFP and PNP
Brig. Gen. Jose Comendador
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Abolishing the Marines
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon
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Mistrusting Our
Elite Forces
Romy Lim
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Two Marine Officers Quit
Sunstar
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Salute to the New
Randy David
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Soldiers Are People Too
Joel Rocamora
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Military Radicalism
in Venezuela: How Relevant to Other Developing Worlds
Walden Bello
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Inevitability of a
Coup
Alejandro Lichauco
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The
President is the Biggest Threat to Military Discipline
Juan dela Cruz
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What's With the Armed Forces?
Rene Jarque
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Reinventing the
Philippine Military
Bobby M. Reyes
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The Philippines Needs
a Constructive
Armed Forces
Rene Jarque
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Reforming the Armed Forces
Rene Jarque
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AFP Generals and
Officers Engaged in
2004 Poll Fraud
YOUNG
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Operation Gloria
Aries Rufo
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Soldiers in Election:
From Pawns to Knights?
Rene Jarque
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The Filipino Soldier
Sec. Eduardo Ermita
=================
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Game of the
Generals
Gladstone A.
Cuarteros
The showing
of the video where Brig. General Danilo Lim reads a prepared statement
declaring his withdrawal of support from Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as her
commander in chief proves that while the alleged coup plot was unsuccessful,
the key players remain very important five months after. The generals of the
Armed Forces need them in their game. A game where they seek advantaged
position on who shall be the next AFP chief but at the same time protect
themselves and their reputations. Especially because within the military
rumors abound that some generals have reportedly gave their tacit approval
on the coup plot.
The plot got nipped in the bud when GMA declared a state of national
emergency in February 24, 2006 and this lasted for a week. Though the
proclamation of national emergency has since been found unconstitutional by
the Supreme Courts months later, it scuttled implementation of the coup plot
not discounting the trifling efforts of the Marines during the Sunday
stand-off. And so we thought that was the end of it. What remains is the
formal investigation by the AFP. Besides General Lim- the supposed leader
was already relieved from his post in the elite Scout Rangers Regiment of
the Philippine Army and was ordered confined to barracks and not allowed to
freely move around pending the investigation.
Until recently there was relative silence on what will happen to Lim and to
the different groups of military activists who are implicated in the alleged
plot to unseat GMA. The formal investigation started only two months after
February, perhaps an indication government has no solid proof a conspiracy
that the administration peddled to the public when it declared state of
national emergency. And so waiting for the completion of the investigation,
the AFP through Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga has no cases filed nor
sanctions imposed on the military activists.
Well none yet. But with the airing of the Lim video plus the leak to
Philippine Star of the draft investigation report, they will surely hasten
the investigation and Senga, who had hoped that the investigation will take
long time beyond his term may need to act on Lim's case after all.
Senga is set to retire on July 21, 2006 when he reaches his 56th birthday.
As Chief of Staff he needs to approve the recommendations of the
investigation panel before Lim and the others will either charged in a court
martial or in civilian courts. In February Senga immediately ordered
investigation of the military officers and enlisted men who supposedly are
part of the aborted coup but the investigation panel led by AFP Inspector
General Rear Admiral Rufino Lopez began its work only two months after.
Since then the investigation panel did its work rather silently. Despite of
insistent queries coming from the media asking updates on the investigation,
the AFP said the team of Rear Admiral Lopez has not submitted their report
yet. Besides, the military spokesperson emphasized, the investigation is
internal to the AFP.
And so who gave ABS-CBN the Lim video? Who leak the draft report? As a
result of airing the video and subsequent leak of draft report, Senga
himself ordered another investigation. In the end we may never know who
actually did the leakage but that interestingly is where is the twist comes.
In the positioning for the next AFP chief – the one who will succeed Senga,
the case of Gen. Lim and the suspected coup plotters, unfortunately for
them, become the central issue. For sure this isn't incidental.
Among the senior AFP generals Army Chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon is
widely seen as the next AFP Chief of staff. He is is well qualified and is
close to GMA having served her at one time as commander of Presidential
Security Group. During the crisis in February Esperon is reportedly the
intrepid officer who rejected the suggestion of Gen. Lim for the whole AFP
to withdraw support from GMA as President and commander in chief. Instead he
defended GMA and urged the AFP top brass to remain loyal to the so-called
chain of command.
However while Esperon is tough his credibility is in doubt because he is one
of the generals mentioned in the 'Hello Garci' tapes, which an issue that is
highly emotional to the soldiers and among the root causes of the military
activism. The allegations that GMA cheated her way to Malacanang using the
military remain unresolved because the administration is thwarting every
effort to unearth the truth behind the 2004 presidential elections.
Until yesterday's announcement of his appointment as the next AFP chief,
Esperon does not have it on the bag yet. Yes he has the edge because he is
close to GMA and has stood for her in critical times of her administration
but the context of appointing him is perhaps unfavorable. He is so much
tainted with 'Hello Garci' that making him chief of staff may further
embroil the restiveness of the sectors in the military.
Secondly he may not get the nod of the powerful Commission of Appointments.
Third and more importantly, at this troubled times the military needs both a
stabilizer and deodorizer. Stabilizer in the sense that he can at least
manage the restiveness within and deodorizer in the eyes of the public
because the appointee is neither implicated in election fraud nor have been
involve in any wrong doing. Senga is in that mold, a less gung-ho but is
respected and acceptable to the troops and the public.
The context at this time tends to favor Navy chief Admiral Mateo Mayuga of
getting the post. Mayuga was never implicated in controversies. He is being
considered by GMA for the post. He was also the then AFP Inspector General
who investigated the military involvement in election cheating as revealed
in the Hello Garci tape. His 'raw' report on this investigation said to be
rich in detail and compromising for some generals was never shared with the
public, in fact he was criticized by some for allowing his report to be
'sanitized' before it was released to the media. Of course Mayuga denied the
allegations and for us – the public, we may never which is which. It is
discomforting however that he was appointed Navy chief before the Mayuga
Report came out.
Still two other factors could work for him. One is the unvalidated
endorsement of Gen. Senga, and two is context wherein there is continuing
restiveness in the most disciplined and well-trained Marine Corp. We can say
that Senga wanted a person just like him – less controversial, respected and
acceptable. But putting it that way is a little bit simplistic. We should go
back to the February unimplemented coup. Newsbreak observed delays and
vacillation in the positioning of Senga as regards what to do with Gen. Lim
and Col. Ariel Querebin of the Marines in the early hours of February 24
when the plot was uncovered. This fueled speculations about him and his
loyalty to the commander in chief at that time.
Now the vacillation seems continuing which intrigues us in fact. Is it just
hesitation or because of some sympathy to the cause of the military activist
after all they are fighting for honesty and rebelling against the weakening
of democratic institutions. If it is sympathy to the cause then having
Mayuga as AFP Chief would somehow put Danny Lim and the Magdalo in 'safer
hands'. He would be more considerate because when he investigated the
military involvement in election cheating he himself heard the complains and
misgivings of military officers. There were at least 32 officers who
testified during the course of his investigation last year, most of which
are said to be frank and candid.
Although the context is not favorable to Esperon, GMA can always take the
risk of appointing him. She would not want an AFP Chief who vacillates. At
this times where she ordered all-out war against the communist New Peoples
Army (NPA) and faced with an ever restless military who are highly
dissatisfied with her, GMA might want a bolder AFP Chief .
Some groups within the military particularly those close with GMA have fears
by that Gen. Senga might not act at all on the case of Lim et al or will act
but just give them slap on the wrist. The AFP Inspector General has already
submitted his 43 (10 page longer than what was leaked) page Report to Senga
five days after the Lim video was aired. Senga upon receiving it committed
to study the Report and inform the public about it. We acknowledge the good
general is now in a bind but for once we hope to see his resolve. If he
believes the cause of Gen. Lim and others is valid and their intentions are
sincere plus the fact that the coup was not implemented anyway then he could
disapprove recommendations of a court martial proceedings. Or at the very
least Gen. Senga can remand the report to the AFP Inspector General for
further investigation and gathering of more evidence.
The second factor that can work for Mayuga is the restive Marines. Forget
about the Scout Rangers Esperon will take care of them. The 8,000 strong
Marine Corps is not new to coups but learning from 1989 coup experience
where Marines fought fellow Marines, the unit resolved that once they get
involved again they will do it as a united Marines. What upsets the Marines
is unresolved election cheating where they were witness on how the military
was used to manipulate the results of the 2004 presidential elections. Among
the contenders naturally Mayuga commands their respect being the head of
Navy. If Mayuga gets the post, his will help in managing their restiveness.
Recently there are proposals to dissolve the Marine Corps but we think these
are all just part of the 'empty talk'.
It comes at a more conspicuous times that the leakage is followed by
important accomplishments like recapturing of the Magdalo ring leaders.
Perhaps sensing that Esperon is not sure of getting the AFP chief post, some
groups made the media leakage so as to put pressure on Malacanang by
indirectly reminding them of Esperon's roles in many previous circumstances.
He 'helped' them in the elections and he 'saved' them in February. The
recapture of the Magdalo leaders was the result of a joint operation by
Intelligence Service of the Philippine Army (not the ISAFP) and the PNP.
It is the Philippine Star that carried the story of the 38 military officers
that will be charged in connection with the February coup plot. We remember
reading from Star publisher himself that Esperon paid him a visit a week
before. Could it be that one of the many things they discussed is the draft
Lopez Report? We are only asking.
But where will Gen. Lim et al be after this game of the generals? As we saw
in the haste to submit the investigation report by the Rear Admiral Lopez,
it is clear that action will be expedited on the case, be it either
favorable to him or otherwise. There is already one news spin that Lim saved
the administration from the fury of the junior officers when he prevailed on
them from storming Malacanang. He also had a one-on-one meeting with DOJ
Secretary Raul Gonzales few days ago. How far these could help him we are
not sure. We could only hope that his sincerity and noble ideals, which we
think is shared by majority in the AFP will influence the action on his
case.
Beyond the manuevers this game of the generals emphasize a couple of things.
First GMA is hostage by the military and the police. For sure the officials
of the administration will not accept this assertion but reality dictates
they could not make independent decisions but have to make devil's bargain
with the top brass of the AFP. In order to stay in power the GMA had
pampered senior officers and kept them loyal to her. Part of this is the
continued division within the AFP and the wide dissatisfaction with the
administration.
Second is the problem of political connections rather than merit in
clinching key promotion or appointments. It requires military officers to
have dalliances with political groups that can help in getting appointment.
So as military officers they don't mind if they help in election cheating
because such help is a political capital in the future. This reflects how
weak the military institution is just like other democratic institutions
that we have. And when aided by a broadcast network who wants its news
program to get high ratings what you get is a game of positional advantage
with insinuations of blackmail.
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 "We
may lose hope in winning this battle for freedom because of
inadequate force in terms of weapon, but one thing is never lost, our dream
to die for the cause of true independence…
We cannot free ourselves unless we move forward
united in a single desire...
Mindful of the common good, we aspire to the
glory of obtaining liberty, independence and honor for the country. We
aspire to have a common law, created for all citizens, which will serve them
as a guarantee and assurance of respect, without exemption. We aspire to
have a government which will represent all the active forces of the country,
in which will take part the most capable, the most worthy in virtues and
talents, without regard to their birth, their wealth or tribe to which they
belong..."
Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo
===============
"I
am surrounded by fearful odds that will overcome me and my gallant men, but
I am pleased to die fighting for my beloved country…
I realize what a terrible
task has been given me. And yet, I felt that this is the most glorious
moment of my life. What I do is done for my beloved country. No sacrifice
can be too great."
Gen. Gregorio del
Pilar
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"I will defend my country
until I exhaust the last recourse for the cause... thus complying with my
oath to the flag."
Gen. Antonio Luna
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 "Sa irog na Inang
Bayang Pilipinas
...
Uma-asa akong di ka
pababayaan nyong nagsipangakong ika'y sakbibihan; Umaasa akong iyo nang
kakamtan ang dakilang layon, iyong kasarinlan...
Ang ibong maliit na
daigdigan ay magkakapakpak at nababagwisan, Nagkakaayos, sadyang tumatapang
kung dumarating na ang kapanahunan."
Gen. Artemio
Ricarte
===============
 "What will happen if a
small number of comrades split and engage each other in armed struggle?
Should that happen, the enemy horde will ride triumphantly over us and we
will not be able to effectively defend ourselves against them. This will
come about because of our arrogance, and avarice will prod us to betray our
own brothers despite our commitment to the common goal of freedom for the
Motherland."
Gen. Santiago
Alvarez
===============
"Aling
pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya sa pagka dalisay at pagka dakila gaya ng
pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa? Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga wala...
Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Pilipino, nasaan
ang dugong dapat na ibuhos? Baya'y inaapi bakit di kumilos? At natitilihang
ito'y mapanood...
Kayong
nalagasan ng bunga't bulaklak, kahoy nyaring buhay na nilantat sukat ng
balabalakid makapal na hirap, muling manariwat sa baya'y lumiyag...
Ipahandog handog ang buong pag-ibig hanggang sa may dugo'y ubusing itiguis.
Kung sa pagtatanggol buhay ay kapalit, ito'y kapalaran at tunay na langit."
Gat Andres
Bonifacio
===============
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