Tension at the Barracks, Not Yet Over

After the six-hour standoff at the headquarters of the Philippine Marines at Fort Bonifacio last Sunday, the look of the marines who went out and protested what they called as the irregular relief of their commander, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, could be described in one word - disappointed. “Hindi pa ito tapos,” (This is not yet over) one of them said as he sighed and sloppily returned to barracks.

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat

RAM members shield Marine Col. Ariel Querubin at Fort Bonifacio, Feb. 26 PHOTO BY AUBREY MAKILAN

On a Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26, all eyes were glued on Col. Ariel Querubin, the fiery 1st Marine Brigade  commander who called on his troops to join him in protest over what he called the irregular relief of his commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, earlier in the day. The two Marine officers were suspected of being part of the failed Feb. 24 march and collective withdrawal of support for Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “Eto nga, wala pa kaming kain. Nagpunta kami dito para sa kanya tapos ganito lang,” (Here we are with nothing to eat.  We went here for him (Querubin) and it merely ended this way.) a marine who introduced himself as the president of the Reformed the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) Second Avenue Chapter in Caloocan City said.

Like most of the marines who protested that day, he said he faces an uncertain future. 

The civilians who went to Fort Bonifacio that day to show support for the marines were also upset. “We demand explanation from Querubin,” said Ed Bacungan, a member of the United Opposition (UNO).  He said there could be deeper reasons why the marine officer was not allowed to clarify the reasons for backing out.

But for a civilian who wore a yellow shirt with the words www.pilipino.org inscribed on it, the more serious problem the standoff created was that it left an impression that the marines were indecisive. “Sa susunod baka hindi na maniwala sa kanila ang mga tao,” (Next time, people might not believe them anymore.) the man said.

Unplanned

A retired military officer interviewed by Bulatlat after the Fort Bonifacio incident was rather candid with his reply. “We’re very disappointed,” the source said.

However, he said the issue raised during the standoff was very parochial. “It was not enough basis to stage a mutiny. They were not able to raise the real issues surrounding their protest,” the source said.

The source, who admitted to having close contacts with restive soldiers, said the undeniable issue of their protest was the mistrust of soldiers on Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “Its clear to them that the president cheated in the 2004 elections,” the source said adding that it was the marines and some task forces who served as operators.

The source said that the soldiers at the headquarters of the Philippine Marines during the standoff were the ones who brought the Statement of Votes (SOVs)  and Election Returns (ERs) to their camps where these were later manipulated to favor Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Everybody is affected with this illegal and unprofessional activity,” the source said. “Professional military officers who take their tasks seriously will never accept the reason that it was correct for Macapagal-Arroyo to cheat because every presidential candidate cheats in every election anyway.” The source said this alibi gives more reason for the idealistic officers to rebel.

The source also said the Sunday protest was a “spontaneous, unplanned decision” that was triggered by the relief of Miranda.

Querubin announced to the media that day that there were several units of the Scout Rangers and the Philippine Army who called him up and were ready to leave their posts and proceed to Fort Bonifacio to join the protest. The plan was supposedly aborted when Brig. Gen. Nelson Allaga, who replaced Miranda, ordered the marines to go back to barracks.

The root of the problem

Retired commodore Rex Robles, one of the founders of RAM who figured in the 1987 and 1989 coups against former President Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, said that the root cause of the military’s discontent is corruption. “They see their generals enriching themselves with the money of the armed forces.”

“While engaging in war against Muslim and communist rebels in the field, the men in uniform are also used during elections,” Robles said.

In addition, the Bulatlat source said young military officers are disgruntled because of the way they were bastardized before, during and after the elections.  They were disgusted over the government’s use of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) to wiretap Macapagal-Arroyo’s opponents and the cover up of the Mayuga report by the top brass of the armed forces.  The Mayuga report is the result of the investigation of military generals allegedly involved in cheating during the 2004 elections.  The investigation was precipitated by the “Hello Garci” tapes where certain generals were supposedly mentioned by Garci, suspected to be Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

“The Mayuga report is done pero iniipit ni Senga, referring to Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga,” (The Mayuga report is done but Senga is keeping it from the public.) the source said.

“While cheaters and liars are not being punished, the government’s resolution to the problems besetting the military is superficial. What it doesn’t realize is that the more they suppress the truth, the consequences becomes more uncomfortable and ugly,” Robles said.

Robles said that while the military should remain non-partisan, its leaders could not order their men to be apolitical. “As a member of society, men in uniform is entitled to their own political beliefs. You cannot stop soldiers from having a political view. It is right to be political. The only time they can be apolitical is when they are in coma in the hospital and can no longer form an opinion.” 

The two retired military officers also accused Senga and the military top brass of double-talk.

The Bulatlat source added, “ Senga is not consistent in what he says because they use and abuse enlisted men for the political interest of Macapagal-Arroyo. They are being used to protect her not as their commander-in-chief but only for her political advantage and survival”.

Five days after the standoff, the president announced that the threats to national security have died down and restive soldiers have been fairly neutralized.

“It cannot be finished if the solution is artificial and superficial. Actually, Macapagal-Arroyo can even finish her term until 2010 but that term will be uncomfortable, unhappy and insecure,” Robles said.

Queried on the claims by the Arroyo administration that there is a conspiracy between the extreme Left, represented by the NDF-CPP-NPA, and the extreme Right, represented by “military adventurists”, the source said there is no tactical alliance between the NPA and the restive soldiers.

But the source said, “There is a convergence of concerns among young idealistic officers, the NPA, and all right thinking Filipinos because there is too much corruption and abuses.” Bulatlat

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