This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 24, July 24-30, 2005
Ex-Army Official Sees
Military Smear Drive, Violence vs Leftists in Coalition Gov’t The
former head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s Psychological
Operations Division sees the possibility of military-orchestrated black
propaganda and even violence against so-called leftists should they gain
representation in the proposed coalition government to replace the Macapagal-Arroyo
regime if the campaign to oust it succeeds. BY
ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO The former head of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Psychological Operations Division sees
the possibility of military-orchestrated black propaganda and even violence
against so-called leftists should they gain representation in the proposed
coalition government to replace the Macapagal-Arroyo regime if the campaign to
oust it succeeds. Former Army Capt. Rene Jarque, a West Point graduate who left
the military service in 1998 over corruption issues against AFP top brass and
now works in Indonesia, expressed this view in an e-mail interview with
Bulatlat over the weekend. Bulatlat
asked Jarque, in his present capacity as military reformer and analyst, to
comment on the recent statement of an unnamed police official, as quoted in an
article in the July 18 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, that the
military and police are reluctant to intervene in the campaign to oust President
Macapagal-Arroyo in a way that would accelerate her downfall. This is because of
the fear that it might lead to the entry of leftists in the proposed coalition
government. A statement from the
Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM or Revolutionary Nationalist Alliance,
a group of military officials and enlisted men involved in coup attempts during
the Aquino administration) also said it would “move in” if those calling for
Macapagal-Arroyo’s exit from office did not observe “constitutional” processes. The forces aligned against
the Macapagal-Arroyo government, which faces calls for its removal over renewed
allegations of fraud in the 2004 election and what cause-oriented groups
describe as its “anti-national” and “anti-people” policies, have been seen to
gravitate toward the idea of a transition council to replace the present
administration. People’s council Progressive groups under
the banner of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance)
have been batting for a People’s Council to be composed of “patriotic and
pro-people figures” with a track record of integrity and competence as political
leaders, as well as democratic and progressive elements from the opposition
parties that play significant roles in the anti-Arroyo campaign. The People’s Council,
according to Bayan, would draft a nationalist-oriented and progressive
constitution. After that, it will call for genuine elections. It would also undertake a
number of urgent tasks, including: investigation of the involvement and
culpability of Macapagal-Arroyo, Garcillano, military officials, and others
involved in poll fraud; implementation of electoral and political reforms;
rendering of justice and indemnification to human rights victims; and ensuring
the protection of and respect for civil liberties; resumption of peace
negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) through the fulfillment of all
existing agreements, solving the fiscal crisis by canceling or repudiating all
odious debts; and protecting the country from the ravages of free-market
globalization and reversing the disastrous structural adjustment programs
imposed by the country’s creditors. “If the democratic
coalition government that is the version of the Left becomes imminent, the AFP
and PNP would move to save democracy,” the police official said. “I do not see as a danger
for democracy if the Left is part of a coalition government,” Jarque said when
asked if he considers the possibility of Left representation in a transition
council as a threat to democracy. “I see it more as a danger to the generals and
the present irresponsible and corrupt ruling elite. Rather, I think it will
enhance democracy that other political elements are allowed to participate.
Isn't that what democracy is all about? And what have the ‘non-Left’ done to
make this country and our people’s lives better? Perhaps, in the failure of
government as we see today, it is time to look at alternative models of
governance, including those involving the progressive elements of the military
and the Left.” Possible military/police
maneuvers But according to Jarque,
those in the military and police top brass do not usually think this way, and he
sees the possibility that they would undertake actions to prevent the Left from
becoming part of any government even before it could gain a foothold in a
coalition government. “The generals may be
corrupt but they are not stupid. They are aware of the risks and dangers to them
if the Left is in government,” he pointed out.
“Military/police intelligence and psy-ops
operators may carry out actions to discredit and undermine the Left in the
coalition government. In unyielding cases, threats, salvaging and neutralization
activities can be resorted to.” Jose Maria Sison, chief
political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)
and also a former professor of social sciences, sees a similar possibility. In
an e-mailed reply to questions sent by Bulatlat, Sison said that a new
regime “may be stupid and cruel enough” to unleash violence against the legal
forces of the Left and further inflame the armed revolution of the people for
national liberation and democracy, even as he also sees that it may be
“intelligent enough to accommodate the legal forces of the Left and pave the way
for more fruitful GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines)-NDFP peace
negotiations.” Jarque meanwhile said that
the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are run by generals who were
brought up in the martial law period when the Left movements were considered as
“enemies of the State.” “It is not easy to get out
of that mindset especially if they fear that a left-leaning government will lead
to investigations of human rights abuses and corruption,” Jarque explained. “The
status quo is in the generals’ best interest. The generals know that they have
skeletons in the closet for which they will be held accountable if a
reform-minded government is in power.” U.S. influence Jarque also said that it is
possible that the U.S. is influencing the thoughts of the country’s military
leaders. “Certainly, a government that is pro-U.S. is what the U.S. government
wants, especially with the global war on terror,” he said. “It is not
inconceivable that a military coup can be staged, a la (Salvador) Allende
in Chile, if that will be in their interest.” Allende was a pro-socialist
leader who won the Chilean presidency through elections, and was ousted by a
U.S.-backed military coup in 1973. He was killed in the violence that ensued and
his family was forced to flee Chile. Both Jarque and Sison,
however, acknowledge the presence of progressive elements within the military
and the police. According to Sison, there are “reasonable military and police
officers who can be attracted to a patriotic and democratic program of
government and to the broad united front against the Arroyo regime and who can
be encouraged to uphold civilian supremacy and respect the sovereign will and
democratic rights of the Filipino people.” Jarque said that the
younger officers and enlisted men may be more open to a reform-minded government
that advocates military reform and good governance. Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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