Military Unrest, an Epidemic Says Retired Officer

The backpedaling of 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan and the arrest of six other military officers belonging to the Magdalo group may be perceived as the final blow against rebel soldiers. A retired military officer who has close ties with active rebel military forces, however says that the recent developments may have “derailed some plans” but has not cured the restlessness that continuously spreads within their ranks.

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat

Restlessness within the military is an epidemic, a retired military officer said in an interview with Bulatlat after government authorities seized six young military rebel officers July 6 in Quezon City.

The Bulatlat source, who requested not to be named for security purposes, said the arrest may have “derailed some plans” of senior and junior rebel officers in active service but this does not put to rest the issues that plague the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The source did not elaborate on what “plans” the rebels were up to but said these do not include the bombing of the House of Representatives (HOR) in Quezon City on July 24, the day President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to deliver her State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Outgoing AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga presented the alleged plans to bomb the House when he showed to the media a blueprint of the Batasan Complex that was allegedly confiscated from the six rebel soldiers upon their arrest.

“The rebel soldiers will not hurt civilians who will be present during the SONA,” the source said.

Grievances

In the 33-page Ad Hoc Committee Report leaked to the media in early July, at least six points of grievances were listed, to wit:

1. Political interference on the recovered firearms of the 1^st Marine Battalion seeking for its immediate release;
2. The Garci Tape Controversy vis-vis the 2004 Elections and the sacking of Brig.Gen. Gudani;
3. Assignment of Maj. Gen. Habacon as SOUTHCOM and Rear Adm. Danga as WESCOM;
4. Promotion System;
5. Housing; and
6. The Unceremonious Relief of PMC Commandant

The Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Rear Adm. Rufino S. Lopez Jr. further stated that “there is reasonable basis for the gripes that were ventilated” and that “the events are real and if not given attention may cause repercussions within the military organization.”

The report however said, “the grievances mentioned and aired lack earnestness to merit attention of immense weight.”

The Ad Hoc Committee also said grievances may be properly addressed through proper procedures but admitted “policies are not replete in responding to the situation if there are actual grievances.”

The Ad Hoc Committee was created to investigate the alleged coup on Feb. 24 and the stand off at the Marine Headquarters inside the Fort Bonifacio compound on Feb. 26. The committee investigated the participation of Brig.Gen Danilo Lim, commander of the First Scout Rangers Regiment, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, commander of the Philippine Marines, Col. Ariel Querubin, head of the Marines in Lanao province, among others.

Charged

The committee recommended 18 officers from the Marines and 47 from the Philippine Army (PA) to be relieved from their respective posts, placed under custody and appropriately charged before the General Court Marshall for allegedly violating the Articles of War. Charges recommended range from mutiny or sedition, conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, disrespect toward superior officer and failure to suppress mutiny or sedition.

Although 65 officers have been charged and its leaders restricted to quarters, the retired military officer with close ties to military rebels in active service said the unrest within the ranks refuses to wane.

“Hanggat nandyan ang mga dahilan ng kanilang pagkadismaya, patuloy ang kanilang pag-aaklas,” (For as long as the reasons for their frustrations are there, their fight will continue.) the source said. “There is the issue of illegitimacy of the present administration, social injustice and corruption. There is a breakdown of government institutions,” the source added.

“How do you erase that from their minds? How do you remove that from their hearts?” the source asked. Bulatlat

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