In fulfillment of our sworn duty
January 19, 2006
We have bolted from the repression of a bogus regime.
We will no longer go along with the repression that
this regime has to impose in order to continue its
illegitimate rule. It is a repression that continues
to prevent the members of the armed forces from, and
even punishes them for, carrying out their sworn
duty: to defend the Filipino people.
Our oath is clear: Our place is with our people; the
people’s will is sovereign. All our actions in the
performan ce of our duties must demonstrate this bias
in all instances.
Those who insist on the neutrality of the military,
and who now occupy The positions of power, are those
who would rather that we stay silent, Betray our oath,
and in effect even help them perpetuate their own
selfish interests. They are the enemies of the
people. We refuse to be their pawns.
The people’s mandate is clear: Corruption,
illegitimacy and neglect must end. Therefore, we do
not merely seek a change in personalities. We seek
the change of a system that installs the people’s
enemies in power and perpetuates the exclusion of the
majority.
We seek the change of a system that reduces the people
to being mere spectators, and a change in the kind of
politics that lulls the masses into inaction and
acquiescence with noise – petty quarrels, distracting
issues and cosmetic reforms.
We are not alone in this struggle. Most of the armed
forces are still Loyal to their oath and are one with
us in our vision. We make up the New AFP. And we join
our fellow Filipinos who now refuse to be cowed. We
are a Force that grows stronger by the day, working
in solidarity to usher a new nation where the
people’s interests are truly supreme.
The imperative is on all of us. The time to act is
now.
Capt. Nathaniel Rabonza
1st Lt. Lawrence San Juan
1st Lt. Patricio Bumidang
1st Lt. Sonny Sarmiento
The stakes have just been raised.
Gloria’s way is to call the “bluff”. Has always been like that.
Are we seeing a real start of a break in military chain of command? Will some who wishes for a bloody confrontation have their wish granted?
What is apparent is that GMA’s opponents have gone many steps bolder.
“The System Is Not Sick.” We, the people, and our culture of “padrino” system are the ones who put these corrupt people in our government. To change, we must change our culture of “padrino. . .” and have the political will, using these same “System” rules, to oust and punish those who have abused the system. If the Magdalo Four’s suggestion is to change the rules of the game everytime a mistake is made, we would end up with the same problems that we have today. If you (Magdalos) want to affect a change in our government, do it using the current Constitution. We have enough provisions in our Constitution to affect a change; the problem is that we do not have enough people with political will and guts to do it, hindi po ba ganoon yon? Nagatanong lang po.
Atong
What happened to Liberia might happen to our beloved country.
The populace is the one who put thier lives into jeopardy against a tyranical military (of course defending a tyrannical commander-in-chief). But it is armed struggle of the ordinary people that put thier leader in a stalemate which leads Charles Taylor to flee. If we want changes let’s all put aside our diffrences and fight our corrupt leaders with one common goal to uplift the lives of poor FILIPINO people. Mabuhay ang PILIPINAS
The escape was bold. The statement is even bolder. GMA is bluffing the people, but this is a bigger bluff. WHO IS REALLY HOLDING THE WINNING HAND? When the bluffs are called who will win? Most importantly, WHO WILL PAY?
Let it not be the people again like what happened after EDSA-2. We are still paying the price for trampling down on our Constitution by ilegitimately installing Gloria as President and helping her cheat in the last elections in order to prevent “a mere” actor to become President.
The military,cbcp, and the civil society stood by and even helped Gloria to rob FPJ of the Presidency. Well, your choice sucks! FPJ was a better person by a mile and could have been a good President with a heart and sympathy for the poor. He was a gentleman through and through but Gloria is everything but a lady.
What will happen now? Who will stand in the middle, risking his life, so that violence can be prevented? Not Gloria because nobody believes her anymore. But if FPJ is alive today he would risk his life, like he did when he stood between the then Mayor Erap and the military to convince him to stand down. Who can do it now? There is nobody in sight but the color of blood. God help us!
Kuliglig is in the right track. The episode of the four Magdalo escapees should be taken as an indication of the collapse of the justice system under the GMA regime.
We should not read any more into it particularly the call for reforms.
The military has a dismal record in transforming societies. The 26 Latin American countries are the best proof of this. In their 200 years of existence as sovereign countries, they have been under prolonged military rule. None of them have become developed countries. In only one country in Latin America has there been a transformation of society as result of a coup; that is in Cuba under Fidel Castro. One can easily argue that the change he effected has been for the worse. Witness the thousands of Cubans who flee to Florida every year to escape Castro’s regime.
The problem becomes more acute when as in the case of the
Oakwood mutineers, they represent only one faction of the military. The endless coups in Latin America can be
traced to such problem. Each faction of the military at
the first opportunity, stages its own coup in alliance with the elites.
Our country will be better off entrusting its future to
duly elected officials who are accountable to the people, and can be voted out of office if they don’t do their
jobs properly. The military is accountable only to itself
and cannot be voted out of office even if they mess up the
government; a fact of life which most Latin Americans know very well.
sabi ni ka atong,
[quote]We have enough provisions in our Constitution to affect a change; the problem is that we do not have enough people with political will and guts to do it,[/quote]
‘yun nga ang problema eh. merong “RULE OF LAW” itong mga nakaupo eh, sa kongreso pagbobotohan lang ‘yan. tapos na. mamaya ang magiging konklusyon na lang dyan, WALA NA TALAGANG PAG-ASA ANG PILIPINAS. pero ganun na lang ba yon?
The changes that these authentic Officers & Gentlemen are advocating are beyond the change of form. It is more profound than that – substance. It is a total overhaul of the system where only one sector controls the economy – 40 families who pride themselves as the Elite. Every Filipino must be given the opportunity to improve their lives.
The only way to effect a radical change is thru a Revolutionary Transition Government. The Magdalo Soldiers and the New AFP are not politicians who want to perpetuate themselves to power. Certainly, they, too, have learnt lesson fron other countries controlled by military, and they have acknowledged that. Their mission is only to remove a fake President, politicians, military officials, and institutions supportive of her. These are young officers who haven’t lost their ideals. We need to be ruled by laws and ideas, not by vested interests of the few.
We need, among others, to:
1. Abolish Congress. Politicians have lost their relevance. Pimentel is the only exception, as he through and through never sold out his principles, and, always is, willing to fight for it, during the time of Marcos and until now.
2. Abolish Comelec. The new Automated Election System must be free-standing or stand alone. After a software is loaded it may operate on its own without human intervention. Source code is developed openly, and can be audited by everyone prior to actual use. Students’ Organizations may run/moderate the system initially.
The use of any amount of money by a candidate during elections should be banned totally. A candidate doesn’t need to advertise if he is known to be good. Besides, in an Automated Election System, every candidate’s face is pasted in a Touchscreen where all voters could finger on them to vote!
3. Decommissioned all Corrupt Generals who danced with Glueria. Give the Armed Forces a fresh start. They deserve that! They have long been politicized since the time of Marcos. Now is their time to shine.
4. The Church, if it’s still relevant today, must show what’s good and moral. Christian schools must not profit. Priests must not accept Jueteng payola.
5. Businessmen must invest on the Filipino. Raise their pay. Huwag puro kabig lang. Di nyo naman mauubos kainin yan. Pahingahin nyo naman ang mga bulsa nyo. Raise the common tao’s purchasing power. It will surely come back to you.
6. The People must keep the fire of Patriotism burning way beyond the last and final Revolution!!!
Mabuhay ang Magdalo. Mabuhay ang lahat na nagmamahal sa Inang Bayan!!!
TAYO NA, AT PALAYAIN ANG BAYAN!!!
Yes, Anino you’re right! Implement the options you have mentioned at the soonest possible time. We cannot have total changes unless the old politicians in position now are still around the system. Get rid of them and let’s start again from the time Erap was elected. I believe it should be the starting point, since he was legally put by more than 11 million voters. To the great 4 escapees, continue your struggle..just tell us when we will ignite the flame to liberate us. We are one in your fight! ANIHAN NA!!MABUHAY ANG PILIPINO!!
Let us not forget Captain Faeldon, the first escapee. Mabuhay Capt. Trillanes!!Mabuhay ang Magdalo!!
maganda ang proposal ni anino. swak na swak!
ito ang wish ko.
sana atakihin na sa puso nang sabay-sabay yang mga trapong yan para linis agad ang gobyerno, syempre kasama ang mga heneral na yan pero brain attack aneurism naman.
The latest news update in relation to the statement issued by the Great 4 escapees is coming from Mike Defensor: “dadanak ang dugo kung itutuloy ng Magdalo ang kanilang balak na pabagsakin ang gobyerno ni Gloria”. Kapit tuko talaga sa posisyon ang mga kampon ng kadiliman. Kahit anong banta ang inyong gawin, walang makakapigil sa daluyong ng kasaysayan. Sulong bayan, Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!
IF A REVOLUTION WOULD ERUPT TODAY, THE POOR MAJORITY WILL HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE, BUT SO MUCH TO GAIN.
I would just slightly disagree with the last post. Hindi naman siguro totally tama na “THE POOR MAJORITY WILL HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE…” Pero agree ako sa part na “SO MUCH TO GAIN.” I wouldn’t wish it on anybody, pero minsan hindi maiwasan yung halaga ng kalayaan ay sakripisyo ng ilan. Kaya kung merong madisgrasyang ilan, kung para naman sa ikabubuti ng karamihan, siguro naman ay worth it.
It’s in the hands of Arroyo to prevent bloodshed. She can resign, call for a snap election tob e supervised by Drilon. She should voluntary not run. The people might be kinder to her if she does that.
But it seems she is opting for war. What can we do?
Ellen,
War between right and wrong? not bad….anyway we are sure the right will triumph. Kilos na Bayan!!
Same here Goldenlion. I believe in the triumph of good over evil, even if it takes time.
SIMULAN NA ANG PAGPAPABAGSAK KAY GLUE-RIA !!!
SIMULAN NA ANG PAGBANGON AT PAGTANAW SA BAGONG UMAGA !!!
SULONG PILIPINO !!!
IBAGSAK ANG MGA SAKIM AT MAPALINLANG PEKENG ADMINISTRASYON
KATAPUSAN NYO NA ERMITANYO, BUNYETA AT DEFENSOR
MAMAMATAY DIN KAYO
The Poor Majority are living way down the poverty threshold which means they ceased to exist as human beings anymore. Literally, they are Living Dead or Zombies. Look around, get inside their homes, they may, occassionaly, smile at you, but, look deeper into their eyes, talk to them heart to heart, and you’ll see and experience hopelessness. Remember the victims of food poisoning when a father brought home for his children a fastfood “tira-tira” collected from a street garbage can. Later, this bogus President responded with an EVAT. Misguided economic policies.
The above is the basis to the statement that the “Poor Majority will have nothing to lose…” because, afterall, they are virtually dead already. Please bear with me, though, Tom. I do agree with you that there’ll be casualties IF there should be an armed confrontation. But it all depends on Arroyo’s response to the New AFP’s Statement of Withdrawal of Support, which is expected to come soon. Yes all we need is for these Military Idealists to make that statement. M’ Ellen is right – GMA may respond violently or leave peacefully.
The argument that “the military has a dismal record in transforming societies” is half-truth, as there are civilian controlled states that have failed, too. And these military-controlled states were former civilian-controlled states that have failed to begin with. It’s not in the system but with the few who controlled the system. Our own is the best example. We followed the Constitution to the letter:
First, protesting the Congress’s railroading of canvassing in favor of Arroyo’s garcinic votes. Namamaos na nga ang boses ni Honorable Senator Pimentel, but what did we get? NOTED, NOTED, NOTED….. countless NOTED!
Second, we filed an Impeachment but, then again, these “duly-elected” officials which our dear friend here, Amb. H.C. Cruz, loves to refer to, made a mockery by ignoring the overwhelming evidence of corruptions and cheating even after, their client said on TV, “I….. AM……SORRY!”
The Civilian Institutions have failed and failed miserably. We are left with only one option – Military Intervention.
Ang Pilipinas ay isang Paraiso na pinagsasawaan lang ng mga Mapaglalamang Uri. GREED is the root cause of all our problems today.
The removal of the Fake President is just a pre-requisite for CHANGE. Remember the blunder of EDSA Revolt 1986 – Early Reconciliation. Forgive and Forget. Kaya nagbalikan ang mga demonyo sa lupa. ‘Di puwede yan ngayon. Let’s not stop the fight until the last corruptor is eliminated!
AS Confucius says,
Study the past, to divine the future
It does not matter how slowly you go
so long as you do not stop.
If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.
What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.
When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.
Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.
Kapag may salita….Dapat may gawa…
Hindi maganda ang daldal lang ng daldal…
Tama ba ako Ellen?
What was the answer of the four Magdalo who escaped from Fort Bonifacion to Mike Defensor statements that the present regime of Gloria Arroyo will use force and/or gun to resist the idealistic military.. the blood of Mike Defensor is the first one to be shed on the street, follows the blood of Gloria and her cohorts in Congress and oxymorom cabinet members.
If we trace Philippine History by Teodoro Agoncillo, illustrados or elites never resort into bloody revolution. The poor masses who led the revolution, Andres Gat Bonifacio against the colonizer. Same with present situation, Capt. Faeldon came from poor family, self suporting student could carry the radical change of the present corrupt society to fullfill the unfinished revolution of the Katipunan or K.K.K. of Andres Bonifacio to establish a true democratic society where all are equal, a human society of dignity, integrity, honesty and social justic to all.
Quotation from great Asian: “To die for the love of the country and people is heavier than mountain of Siera Madre, while to die for the enemy of the people and/or liar and ruthless leader is lighter than the feather of the bird.”
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.. Makibaka Pinoy.
mabuhay si Col.Querubin!!!!
Ituloy ang laban!