Military Rebels Say No to Junta,
Yes to Transition Council

A retired military official working closely with young and old active military officers says military rebels had no plans of installing a junta.  If the failed collective withdrawal of support had pushed through, they would have turned over the reins of government to a transition council run by civilians.

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat

A retired military officer privy to the plans of military rebels denied reports that a military junta would have replaced the Arroyo administration if the collective withdrawal of support by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) officers had pushed through as planned last February 24. The source said that military rebels would have handed over power to a civilian transition council.

“The military was committed to give powers of governance to civilian sectors or else, they would not have taken pains to dialogue with different groups,” the source said. The transition council would have been composed by five to seven civilians.  Military participation in the council was to be negligible. The idea of a transition council is also being put forward by two groups.  The Solidarity Movement, a broad alliance formed in September last year, is advocating for a transition council to replace the Arroyo administration.  It is headed by former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa of the Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma (PDR or Party of Democratic Reforms) with the following members, Bayan Muna (People First), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance), Partido ng Masa (PM or Party of the Masses), United Opposition (UNO), Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMAP or Party of the Filipino Masses), and Bangon Pilipinas (Rise Up Philippines). Another group with the same idea is the Laban ng Masa (People’s Fight) headed by former University of the Philippines (UP) president Francisco “Dodong” Nemenzo.

STANDOFF: Marines at Fort Bonifacio, Feb. 26 BULATLAT FILE PHOTO

The council, the source said, would serve as the policy-making body. An operations group would be set up to implement social and political reforms.

In a previous interview, the same source belied Malacañang’s concoction that there has been a tactical alliance between Right and Left wing groups, including civilian sectors.

While saying the military alliance is “unthinkable” because of differences in ideology and methodology, the source said idealist soldiers and communist guerillas have the same societal visions adding that social reforms envisioned by the Left are acceptable to society.

“What we have reached is a convergence of concerns that stemmed from the illegitimacy of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration,” the source said.

The source accused the government of distorting the sentiments of junior military officers and compromising the integrity of the armed forces in order to discredit the rebel soldiers.

Meanwhile, in a press conference March 17, former President Fidel V. Ramos said that the Arroyo administration does not have the support of junior military officers.

Council formation

The source admitted that up to the eve of the planned military withdrawal of support, no formal structure has yet been set up for the transition council. Military rebels planned to act as caretaker government but would have turned over the reins to a civilian caretaker council within a short period of time.

“This was the reason why in our dialogues with different civilian groups, we kept on encouraging them to finally select from among themselves the members of the council,” the source said.

Military crackdown

The source said that the current crackdown within the AFP may have caused disorganization among rebel soldiers.  But, the source added, “It cannot kill the rebellious feelings of soldiers because their sentiments have a strong basis.”

As long as the issues that are causing unrest among soldiers, such as the use and abuse of the military for partisan politics and electoral fraud especially during the 2004 elections and questions of legitimacy hounding the Arroyo administration, are not addressed, restiveness will continue.  And the administration’s practice of promoting officers who helped her cheat her way to the Palace is making things worse.

“Young and old military officers and enlisted men are demoralized and disgusted,” the source said.

Paranoia

The retired military officer also accused the Macapagal-Arroyo administration of violating the Constitution in using different justifications for rounding up the opposition.

The source was referring to the rebellion cases filed against 59 individuals including six party-list lawmakers, six military officers and a lawyer. Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Rep. Crispin Beltran is still in jail despite a court order for his release. 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan remains under tight security inside Fort Bonifacio.  Five other party-list representatives are under the protective custody of the House of Representatives otherwise they would have been arrested without warrant.

Meanwhile, a five million bounty is being offered for information that will lead to the capture of former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, a known leader of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM). He faces a charge of rebellion in relation to the failed Oakwood mutiny.

Just last night, March 17, former Social Work Secretary Dinky Soliman, currently with the Black and White movement, was arrested for alleged violation of Batas Pambansa (BP 880). Soliman is part of the Hyatt 10, a group of former Cabinet members who have cut ties with the government and are calling for Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation.

“That is inconsistent with its claim that the administration is in control of the situation. It’s a sign of paranoia,” the source said.

After reading the affidavit of Jaime B. Fuentes, the government’s main witness in the rebellion case against the six part-list representatives and six other leaders of mass organizations, the source said that the information against the leaders would not stand in court. “Anybody can create stories like that,” the source said.

 “The information in this affidavit may be true of not, I’ll never know. But certainly, this is nothing but an intelligence report,” the source said. Bulatlat 

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