Skip to content

AFP threatens raps vs Marine colonel

(This is Malaya’s update on the case of Marine Col. Orlando de Leon. Newsbreak magazine also has something on Col de Leon’s resignation:www.newsbreak.com.ph)

THE Armed Forces yesterday threatened to file charges against Marine Col. Orlando de Leon who denounced the politicization of the military, among other grievances, when he resigned last week as chief of staff of the Marine Corps, the third top post in the corps.

Col. Tristan Kison, chief of the AFP’s public information office, said it was not right for De Leon to air his grievances before media.

“The proper venue for airing grievances in the AFP is the unit, his own unit which is the Philippine Marines…If you would like to resign with your resignation letter, you present that resignation letter to your commander, not to the media,” Kison said.

AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga said the alleged politicization “is an opinion of one officer, so I think we should take it as that.”

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who served as defense chief in the Marcos and Aquino administrations, urged the Palace to look into De Leon’s complaints as he said grumblings are commonplace in the military and the PNP.

He said De Leon’s denunciation of politicization of the AFP would not be enough to stoke another military-instigated uprising like the failed July 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

“One colonel complaining does not result in the government being toppled,” he said.

He said government is not a “brittle” fortress that would easily crumble just because a disenchanted Marine officer decided to speak out his mind.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel said De Leon’s resignation was a “terrible indictment of the commander-in-chief’s mismanagement of the AFP and the corruption of some of its generals.”

“De Leon’s lament bespeaks of the sad state of the way the Armed Forces, in general, has been politicized and misused for the attainment of the personal ends of the powerful,” he said.

“His charges are validated by the continuing abuse of power, plunder of the economy and disrespect for the Constitution by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” he added.

The United Opposition said De Leon’s resignation is another proof that politicization has damaged the military as an institution and has demoralized its ranks.

House minority leader Francis Escudero, UNO secretary general, said De Leon’s resignation is just one of the offshoots of having a politicized Armed Forces, which he said was evident with the use of the military to ensure President Arroyo’s victory in the 2004 elections.

“It is something that they (administration) should not ignore but rather address. This indicates that there are problems within the AFP that need to be resolved,” he said.

ISOLATED CASE

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the media should not feast on this “isolated case.”

“Officers come and go in the corps but the essential imperatives of soldiery – loyalty, professionalism, morale and strict adherence to the chain of command – are undiminished. They are in fact getting stronger everyday as a result of strong internal reforms and modernization programs,” he said.

De Leon, in his resignation letter dated June 15 and addressed to Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga, said he “deemed it befitting to resign in a situation when truth is buried under a blurred and vague interpretation of the significant events in the history of our beloved Marine Corps.”

He said “technicalities and politics” now dominate and cloud the real goals, objectives and missions of the AFP and that “survival and threats” reign over the principles and honor of many officers.

He also said the time-tested military values and virtues of courage, integrity and loyalty, which he said were demonstrated by great military leaders, “no longer exist in the vocabulary of many officials in this armed organization.”

Copies of his letter were distributed to media Monday during the launch of the second impeachment drive against President Arroyo. The impeachment complaint is expected to be filed next week.

Kison said it was not right for De Leon to distribute copies of his resignation letter to members of the media.

“First of all, he made public the letter in a forum that is not a forum of the Armed Forces. He made it public at a campaign for impeachment. It is not a proper venue,” he said.

Kison said it would be up to the Marines leadership to act on De Leon’s case.

Kison said De Leon, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class ‘82, could face charges for violation of the Articles of War.

“If the commander feels that the Articles of War is applicable, then he will file the necessary, appropriate charges,” Kison said.

WRONG FORUM

Told De Leon first furnished Allaga with the letter before the document was distributed to media, Kison said: “Whichever, that is not the right forum.”

Asked what exactly caused De Leon’s resignation, Kison said: “There are so many conflicting reports but at this point we cannot make any confirmed statement about what really happened.”

De Leon, who is now on floating status, would not answer calls. A mediaman who sent a text message got this reply from De Leon: “I am sorry, I can’t talk right now, I hope you understand.”

Marines spokesman Maj. Ariel Caculitan on Tuesday said Allaga ordered De Leon relieved because he was being groomed to be the chief of staff of the Naval Education and Training Command.

He refused to elaborate. He only said the prerogative of commanders to relieve officers could not be questioned.

Senga said there is no plan to look into De Leon’s allegations as it is a policy of the Armed Forces to remain apolitical.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said an officer’s transfer is a normal occurrence. What is unusual, he said, was how the media got wind of such movement within the Marines when it is not normally announced or made public.

Media persons were not informed of the turnover of De Leon’s post to Lt. Col. Armando Bañez on June 15.

Ermita said it is understandable for Allaga, as new commandant, to get a new staff he is comfortable with.

De Leon was reportedly among those who opposed Allaga’s assumption as Marines commandant during the standoff at the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on Feb. 26.

The standoff was triggered by protests from Marines officers and men, led by Col. Ariel Querubin, over the relief of Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda as their commandant.

Querubin was sacked on Feb. 28 as chief of the First Marine Brigade. He was also linked to the supposed plot to overthrow government on Feb. 24.

De Leon, according to Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, is under investigation for the Feb. 24 coup and the standoff.

Biazon was a Marines commandant and former AFP chief.

Ermita said the incident was being highlighted probably because of recent developments in the Marines, including the standoff.

ALL’S NOT WELL

Rep. Rufino Biazon (LP, Muntinlupa), vice chair of the House committee on national defense, said the administration is reaping what it sowed.

“Colonel De Leon’s resignation is a sign that all is still not well within the AFP and that politicization of the military has eroded the morale of soldiers,” he said.

He said the issues “need to be faced squarely and addressed directly, otherwise, the demoralization wills spread.”

Rep. Benasing Macarambon (Lakas, Lanao del Sur), a senior vice chair of the committee on national defense, said the opposition and other anti-Arroyo forces are just out to use the Marines to create “intrigues” to oust Arroyo.

Macarambon said De Leon’s resignation is apparently being used by anti-Arroyo forces in light of reports his letter was circulated in the forum organized by the group Concerned Citizens at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City on Monday night, where the new impeachment charge against Arroyo was discussed.

Macarambon said the opposition, which met Monday night, is apparently planning something new against the President in anticipation of the filing of another impeachment complaint.

“We’ve seen this tactic before, in the series of protests up to and during the first impeachment bid, all of which failed. But they will never succeed in ousting the President because the people want only peace and a better economy until the completion of her term in 2010,” he said.

Published inFeb '06Military

59 Comments

  1. This is a separate story in today’s Malaya which could be related to Col. de leon’s resignation.

    AFP wrapping up probe of ‘plotters’

    ——————————————————————————–

    THE office of the military’s inspector general is wrapping up its investigation against Army and Marine officers allegedly involved in the failed plot to overthrow President Arroyo last February.

    “I heard it would be out soon,” said Col. Tristan Kison, chief of the AFP’s public information office.

    Among those under investigation is Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who was sacked as commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment on Feb. 24, when the overthrow plot was supposed to be carried out.

    Lim allegedly planned to lead officers and men to a march to the Edsa Shrine last Feb. 24 during anti-government mass actions coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Edsa 1 and subsequently withdraw support from the President.

    Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, a recipient of the highest military award Medal for Valor, has said he and his men were to link up with anti-Arroyo forces who were staging protest actions at the Edsa Shrine.

    Querubin was sacked as chief of the First Marine Brigade on Feb. 28, two days after he led Marines officers and men in protesting the relief of their commandant, Maj, Gen. Renato Miranda. The protest resulted in a 10-hour standoff at the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

    Military officials said the standoff was related to the Feb. 24 plot, noting that Querubin appealed to the people to proceed to their base for a “people power” and “protect them from their aggressors.”

    In April, Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermoges Esperon recommended the conduct of court martial proceedings against Lim and 19 of his men.

    Lim and his men face possible charges of violation of the Article of 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman) and Article of War 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline).

    The Navy conducted a separate probe on Querubin’s group. The Navy leadership also came up with its findings but authorities would not disclose the findings.

    AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga has referred the results of the two investigations to the office of Rear Adm. Rufino Lopez, AFP inspector general, for evaluation.

    “The investigation pertaining to the Feb. 24 and Feb. 26 incidents is still ongoing. The IG (inspector general) is still conducting investigation on personalities and finding out the incident behind it,” said Kison.

    Told that the investigation is taking too long, Kison said, “Not really because it has been inviting a lot of witnesses and it has been taking the testimonies of these witnesses. I heard it will be out soon.”

    The inspector general’s office started its probe in early March.

    Kison said the inspector general’s office has no deadline.

    “We don’t have any definite date (when to release the results of the probe) but they are trying to come up with the result of the investigation as soon as possible,” he said. – Victor Reyes

  2. Dominique Dominique

    By putting the pressure on Col. de Leon, GMA is sending a warning to military officers who are thinking of turning against her what she is capable of doing.

    Does it mean, there is something brewing?

  3. goldenlion goldenlion

    Yes, Dominique!! watch out for the play…………..it is coming.

  4. Dominique Dominique

    It is obvious that Gloria is now in a “bunker” mode. She is now attacking from her bunker, like Hitler in his last days.

    That is, of course, dangerous because she plans to bring the country down with her.

  5. lcbocalan lcbocalan

    Yap nasa bunker na siya at dala niya ang halos lahat ng pera sa pilipinas at gagamitin niya ito to buy her way out of this mest that she’s in.But to you Aling Gloria most of the thing in life you can buy it with money but be carefull to those thing’s that you can’t buy dahil iyan ang sisira sa iyo tulad ni de Leon hindi mo nabili kaya marami pang susunod sa kanya.

  6. ystakei ystakei

    Natakot silang galawin iyong marine na nag-alsa doon sa anong kampo ba iyon nang paligiran ng mga grupo nina Cory, Herman T. Laurel, et al noong February. I watched the drama sa isang TV network dito na tinawag ako para mag-interpret. Iyan ang dapat na gawin ng mga B&W, etc. para pangalagaan ang karapatan ni De Leon at nang hindi matakot ang mga katulad niya na mag-alsa na rin. Puede naman silang ibalik kapag maayos na ulit ang AFP.

    Dapat din sa mga taumbayan ay magsisisigaw na laban sa mga nakaupo sa AFP na mga tuta ni Bansot. Dapat diyan hindi iyan nilalagyan ng mga appointees.

    Dito, ang political appointee ay iyon lang minister, pero hindi niya puedeng sakupin ang karapatan ng mga taong nakarangko, at mga bureaucrat (professional at career staff). Naggagalangan ika nga! Di tulad sa Pilipinas na akala mo kung sino nang mga hari at reyna kung umasal pero wala namang mga dangal! Sinungaling na, magnanakaw pa!

  7. ystakei ystakei

    Ellen:

    Palagay ko may nagba-block ng blog mo kahit madalas na mag-crash ang site na ito kapag ina-access.

    Sikat ka kasi! Pero ingat ka dahil bengatibo iyong Bansot! Lahat ng bumabatikos sa kaniya kinakasuhan nila para matakot iyong iba and at the same kikilan nila!

    Utak kriminal nga!

  8. ystakei ystakei

    Oops, mali ang tagalog: Palagay ko may nagba-block ng blog mo KASI madalas na mag-crash ang site na ito kapag ina-access.

    Sorry!

  9. Bentong Bentong

    Pansin ko lang sa mga posting dito. Halos nakararami ang negatibo. Siguro kung pwedi lang tanungin ang sarili natin kung ano na nga ba ang nagawa natin para sa BANSANG SINILANGAN. Sa mga ginawa mo sa araw araw ay nakatulong ba sa pag unlad ng masang Pinoy? Kung puro sisihan ang itinanim sisi din ang aanihin. Kahit na sino ang MAUPO sa Malacanang, hindi magtatagumpay kung hindi susuportahan. Si Marcos, Si Cory, Si FVR, Si Erap tinira..si GMA at sino man maupo..titirahin din. Hangga’t hindi nagbabago nag nakararami hindi tayo uusad. Kung pwedi lang sabihin na “Don’t ask what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your Country” Salamat po.

  10. Bentong,

    All the guys you are talking to here have done something for their country. Moreover, the OFWs here are contributing hugely to keep the economy afloat.

    IF you are in active military service, you may say that you are doing more than the ordinary citizen but that’s a matter of opinion because to me, you are doing a job albeit high risk, and YOU ARE GETTING PAID to do that.

    As to negative opinions here, YOU (if you are in military service) are paid (and duty bound) to protect the liberty of each and every citizen of the republic who is NOT taking up arms to overthrow the republic; YOU have a moral mission and a sworn military duty, regardless of whether or not the citizenry airs a negative opinion, to protect them – the population – from the enemies of the state (FULL STOP!).

  11. Dominique Dominique

    Bentong, if you value truth and justice, you will be oppose lies and injustice.

    To be quiet in the face of lies,injustice, corruption and flagrant violation of human rights means you are condoning those things.

  12. Dominique Dominique

    To be quiet in the face of lies and injustice is not positive. It’s negative.

  13. Dominique Dominique

    Did you see Gen. Allaga being interviewed on TV by Ricky Carandang about the resignation of Col de Leon. Nagkakandabuhol ang sagot. He couldn’t explain why De Leon’s “schooling” which had already been approved was cancelled. He said it had nothing to do with the Feb. incident. Halatang he is lying.

    This Allaga was part of Arroyo’s cheating machine in the military in the 2004 elections.

  14. I second the motion, Dominique. What’s negative about criticizing a criminally inclined who has in fact committed a crime or should I say crimes because I understand using public funds for one’s personal gain is called “plunder” in the Philippines and everywhere, and calling up a Comelec commissioner that she has appointed to make sure he can get her 1M votes is called “electioneering” which is a crime not only in the Philippines but also elsewhere although over in Japan, we don’t waste money creating agencies that do not rightfully function even to protect the votes of citizens of this country. Yes, we don’t have a Comelec in Japan.

    Now, my use of the word “not” does not mean I am being negative. It is necessary to express a positive fact—that we don’t waste money maintaining a useless agency like the Comelec of the Philippines, and I think there are a lot them agencies there that should be dissolved in fact to save the people of the Philippines money, and have more funds to finance education that should be free and compulsory to all!

    Funny why the Bansot should order funds released for buying guns to kill her countrymen, and not do the same for building schools in the Philippines so that students there would not have to be crammed up in small rooms and even toilets I am told to be taught and learn.

    What is obnoxious likewise is how she would borrow 200M dollars from the World Bank with education as an excuse and burdened the Filipinos with those loans like her father before her when there must be enough money syphoned into the Pidal fund even from the OFWs who have been giving donations to her so-called “Gloria’s classroom”!!!

    Keep quiet on this? You bet, you should not! World Bank is willing to lend such big amount for example, because nobody has told its board members the truth about what the Bansot does to all the monies loaned and granted to her since 2001 that actually can no longer be accounted for like for instance the Coca-Cola donation for education in millions of pesos in May 2001.

  15. Sabi nga Dominique, “nahuhuli din sa bibig.” Iyan mga general na iyan dapat diyan pagbababarilin!

    Malaki ang bayad diyan tiyak sa pagsisinungaling niya. It reminds me of what an aunt of mine told me before about working as professional perjurer in the Philippine court! Shocking? Punta ka doon sa korte ng Pilipinas. Ang daming nakaistambay! Kaya magsinungaling man sila diyan, walang nakukulong.

    Itong si Allaga pihado ko mayaman na iyan! Sayang wala nang katulad ni Joe Guevarra na matiyagang magbantay ng mga magnanakaw tulad ng ginawa niya kay Mayor Villegas noong araw na umaakyat pa siya ng puno para matiyagan ang mayor na inakala niyang yumaman sa pagnanakaw at pangungurakot! Kasi nasanay sila sa matinong mayor na katulad ni Lacson na hindi magnanakaw kaya walang kinatatakutan! Those were the days, my friend!

    Enjoy akong nakikinig sa nanay ko at mga katulong tungkol sa politika noon. Alam kong umpisa nang lumala ang nakawan sa gobyerno nang maging presidente si Dadong Macapagal!

  16. Bentong Bentong

    Anna & Dominique..I do value the truth and justice that’s WHY in the EYE of the LAW you are innocent until proven guilty and that is exactly what the majority are doing, passing judgement based on what they hear. It’s sad to say that no matter who sits at Malacanan..will not be able put us in line with fellow Asean neighbors because of disrespect to the process the law has provided. Just like you see someone drowning and instead of saving, you chastized the person for not knowing how to swim. God bless everyone so they might see the light and forget hatred.

  17. On the contrary, I, for one, am not passing judgement without valid reason. OK, so I am perplexed and vexed with Philippine laws, but over here, no one is indicted in a Japanese court without being proven guilty first based on police investigation, and confessions taken during grilling by the police and the prosecutor’s office, and the function of the court is to find out whether or not the guilty brought to its chambers is corrigible or not!

    Japanese laws have been drafted, passed and approved under the supervision of the Americans, so therefore, I don’t suppose that they can be any different from the laws in the Philippines. If there is any difference maybe, it is in the manner of interpreting the law. Over here, they are interpreted to the letter as stated so justice can prevail. In the Philippines, apparently, it is more so that the accused can evade the law especially if he has the money to pay those who would be willing to set him free!!! :-p

    The Bansot has in fact admitted, though rather cunningly and shrewdly, that she called up Garcillano that is in fact a violation of the Election Code of the Philippines, and therefore, such admission can be enough proof and evidence of her culpability and guilt for the police to get a warrant and arrest her on the spot! So who says that she is being innocent under the eye of the law?

    Now, to prove whether or not she is guilty, she should be forced if she won’t submit voluntarily to be subjected to a scrutiny such as the impeachment that the majority of Filipinos now demand to be conducted so the truth can be known.

    Disqualification in fact is more appropriate but for some reason no lawyer, except Alan Paguia, dares to challenge the court to apply the rules of law in doing so according to the existing Election Code of the land that the Bansot has shamelessly violated and defied.

    In a democracy, the voice of majority prevails, and the majority calls for the impeachment of this usurper who has in fact made a mockery of democracy. Stealing a million votes does not indicate a majority!

  18. Hatred? Who’s hating who? Everybody asking for the removal of the crook in the government is not at all expressing hatred. Disgust, yes, but hating for the sake of hating is not what this is all about.

    It is a call for justice, truth and sanity! It is a call for honesty, truth and decency! It is a call for the rule of law! And these are in fact in accordance with higher rules and principles.

    As for seeing the light, I know a lot many Filipinos have seen the light, and reason why there are now movements such as the B&W, BNM, etc. which are even composed of the same people who helped oust Estrada to be replaced with someone like Gloria M. Arroyo a.k.a Mrs. Pidal, who have in fact made Marcos look like an angel according to Satur Ocampo!

  19. Statement from the CPP:

    The Communist Party of the Philippines today praised Marine Colonel Orlando de Leon for speaking out boldly and sharply against the “corrupt and rotten leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and of the political leadership system that it kowtows to” even as it urged other principled officers of the AFP to “emulate Colonel de Leon’s example”

    CPP Spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal said that “in speaking up against the opportunistic and sycophantic leadership of the AFP,” Colonel de Leon, has gained the respect not only of officers and men of the government’s armed forces but also of the revolutionary forces and the Filipino people. The CPP spokesperson expressed hope that more principled and pro-people officers will also bravely come out to criticize and resist the rotten military high command and political leadership.

    Rosal said that Colonel de Leon’s stand against the AFP’s being used as a mercenary instrument for the self-interest of the Arroyo ruling clique, echoes the sentiment of a wide section, if not the vast majority of the officers corps and enlisted men of the government’s military and police forces.

    Colonel de Leon resigned last week his third highest ranking position in the Philippine Marine Corps as its chief of staff, refusing a “relinguishment order” by Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga who was planning to put him “in the freezer” by transferring him to an “education and training center” in Zambales. Reports state that the AFP high command and Malacanang has long been pressuring the Marine Corps command to sack Colonel de Leon for his strong criticisms about the AFP leadership and the Arroyo regime.

    Rosal noted out that “Colonel de Leon’s biting critique of the rottenness of the military establishment, of the Arroyo regime that the generals toady to and, of the entire political system that corrupts them, highlights similar criticisms that have been ventilated by many junior officers. These same themes were also echoed in Oakwood.”

    Rosal commended Colonel de Leon for choosing the brave road and airing his views instead of just keeping quiet, succumbing to the rotten system and just keep on following orders just to survive. Rosal cited Colonel de Leon’s declaration that he cannot in conscience accept the opportunistic advice by Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Mayuga that “Survival… is now the rule that governs the behavior of almost everybody in the AFP.” Against this, Colonel de Leon said “I’m sorry, sir, but please don’t count me in.”

    Rosal said that Colonel de Leon was obviously, even if obliquely, referring to
    Vice-Admiral Mayuga’s succumbing under Malacanang’s pressure and cowardly silence about the findings of his committee which investigated and confirmed the actual collaboration of some top AFP general in the large-scale cheating to favor Arroyo during the last presidential elections.

    Colonel de Leon stated in his protest letter of resignation submitted to his commandant Maj. Gen. Allaga, that he knows that “political pressure” has been bearing heavily on the Marine Corps and specifically on Allaga’s leadership. The resigned colonel denounced the “technicalities and politics, hearsays and unfounded allegations” that have dominated the AFP,” adding that “many officers (would) rather suppress the truth just to push some personal agenda.”

    Rosal called on all principled, patriotic, democratic and pro-people officers and men of the AFP and PNP to move ahead, rouse and galvanize the disgruntled mass of officers, soldiers and policemen to denounce their rotten generals, press for genuine reforms in the military and police services and the prevailing political and social system, withdraw their support to their rotten political leadership, support and join the mass protest movement to oust the hated bogus, deceiving and brutal puppet Arroyo regime, and seek alliance and truce with the revolutionary forces.

  20. Bentong Bentong

    Taki,
    I agree Japan has gotten to her status in progres. This only happened because everyone contributes to it’s success. They have learned their lesson. Police can lock you up for up to 20 days without being charged. Crime rate is low that’s why if someone commit a crime it’s sensationalized. This is true to US forces stationed in Japan. They have been told to behave for if they do an infraction it becomes headline or internation news. Also in Japan, citizens are busy with their work and politicians busy with their work and their security guarded by US Forces with Japan’s small self defense forces. Their attention is towards global commerce & technology. From time to time they have PEACEFUL RALLIES. They stick to the agenda.. say their piece then go home. God bless you. Please don’t give communism a chance if you value FREEDOM.

  21. I value freedom but I am not against the communists. In every democratic society, all ideologies are recognized and respected. The Communist Party has been legalized and recognized after the fall of Marcos. To be a progressive democrat who bats for social equality is not to be considered as a communist. Social injustice is what created this rebellion and its main concern has to be dealt in a diplomatic and statesmanlike manner. You may crush the communist threat in an all-out war but without the corresponding social reforms, a new entity will rise up to take its place. Unless we rid our country of exploitation and repression, we will never have peace.

    I’m for social change but I am not a communist. Does this stand make me an enemy of the state?

  22. Bentong:

    People here are no dummies even when majority cannot speak English. They are free to choose what they like to be: democrats, communists, socialists or apolitical. Who cares? As long as they pay their taxes and behave!

    Yes, you’re right, the American soldiers know they cannot act the way they do in the Philippines because we do not treat them like gods over here. I have in fact interpreted for a lot of them in the police and the court, and they get their due punishments, no fear or favor, unlike in the Philippines where the victim of horny US soldier is treated with disdain and humiliated like a criminal by those who are duty-bound to protect her instead of the American who has victimized and raped her.

    One thing foreigners like you apparently do not understand is that policemen here do not arrest a person based on hearsay, but that they arrest a person because they already have enough proofs of a crime committed to do so before a warrant is granted. The 20 days you are talking about is actually 21 days when they put a suspect in custody to get more proofs and statements to merit an indictment, and thus, make trials easier and faster to determine the corrigibility of the accused.

    It is for me most ideal than the showing off of criminal suspects, a lot many of whom are even innocent and most likely victims of frame ups, on TVs as they seem to love to do in the Philippines.

    And over here, we do things by the books, not by some order from someone who needs to be investigated herself for possible crimes committed against her own people.

    I am no commie myself, but I can get along fine with the communists who I find to be more politically inclined and save us from being made gullible and easily beguiled by politicians with less scruples. In other words, they keep the balance,and why we have a better government than what the Filipinos are disgustingly being saddled with.

    My heart breaks really when I see these desperate Filipinos who can no longer discern between good and evil, virtue and vice, pleasure and pain, good and evil because of the examples of those who lead them to perdition.

  23. Bentong:

    BTW, the name is Yuko Takei. I hate people who deliberately try to be obnoxious misspelling my name that I am proud to have. I don’t even have to hide by some other name because I have nothing to hide. My religious upbringing guarantees that.

  24. I find Filipinos funny when they mimick the Americans when they say “In the eyes of the law, no one is guilty unless proven otherwise.” And yet, look at the humiliation, etc. suspects in the Philippines are subjected to being paraded on TV even before the police can investigate and find evidences of their guilt, or the court finding enough evidences to convict them with a lot many people making a profession of telling lies for a fee in Philippine courts and not being charged with perjury. This is more amazingly injustice to me as a matter of fact than the Japanese system of presenting the accused in Japanese courts to be tried for corrigibility rather than proving his guilt that the police and prosecutor’s office have to prove and establish.

  25. Bentong Bentong

    Ms Yuko san,
    My hats off to you. We need 85+ million more like you in the Philippines. I agree 100% when you wrote “People here are no dummies even when majority cannot speak English. They are free to choose what they like to be: democrats, communists, socialists or apolitical. Who cares? As long as they pay their taxes and behave!” wishful thinking we have the same here, BTW people in the Philippines are also no DUMMIES. Foreigners in Japan can learn to speak the tounge, eat raw but will always be treated as GAIJIN. That’s one way of preserving culture. That is why “GI” in Japan drives with “Y” car plates so they now that a YANKEE is driving. Maybe we should try the YAKUSA way..disrespect the family and there goes your pinky.
    Philipines no hitotachi o sukuu tameni kami no megumi o inorimasu!

  26. Sorry, but we don’t mix with the Yakuza. They are a different kind of people, and they live in their own world.

    On the other hand, I have been told that Yakuzas have stronger family ties and respect for their elders that is in fact their means of survival. But why would you want to emulate the examples of the Yakuza when they are criminals?

  27. Talking of families, one reason why I am against this deployment of Filipinos overseas is the dismal effect of this industry, being bragged by the Bansot’s administration as Numero Uno, on the family, and on the Filipino society as a matter of fact for the family is the foundation of the society. Lots of broken homes and families resulting in a corroded society. Why can they not see this?

  28. Thanks for the flattery, Bentong, but it is not necessary. I’d rather prefer that my name is printed in Heaven than be mentioned with contempt by people who can really be a pain in the ass believing that they alone have the prerogative to sound opinion. As for praying for the Filipinos, it is okay, but to get answers from heaven, they need to be humble, have a contrite heart, and yes, an unwavering faith in God, not so much in one’s self!

  29. Bentong:

    Y car you say? Never heard, but embassies here have the chinese character for outside in their plates and each embassy is designated with a special number. I think the Philippines is 67 followed by the number according to rank with the ambassador getting the number 1.

    You are talking shit here when you say that the Japanese are designating their cars with the letter “Y” to mean “Yankee.” No such thing because Japanese authorities here know it is a derogatory word like the derogatory “Jap” the Americans use to insult the Japanese.

    Indeed, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. It can lead to terrible misunderstandings and even wars!

  30. Bentong Bentong

    Gomennasai..my guess, of all the letters available, it so happens Y stood up and so happens Yankee is spelled with a Y. These car plates are ISSUED to “GI’s” in Japan when they register there vehicles. You’re absolutely right when you wrote this “Indeed, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. It can lead to terrible misunderstandings and even wars!” This might be coincidental but this is the root of our problem. There has been a lot of interpretations from outsiders that distorts the real issue. If it’s OK can you ask the Japanese LTO why of all the letters in the alphabet Y was pick. if you do it right to left it should have been Z or A the other way around. Just remembered.. the yellow plates(Small engine cars) have “A” plates coincidence again for ALIEN maybe.
    Domo arigato gozaimashita! Ki wo tsukete

  31. Bentong:

    My friend in the police says there is no such thing especially when the plates do not have alphabetical letters but kanji, hiragana and numbers!

    True, foreigners here have separate registry at the ward offices and city halls, and and they are issued Alien Registration Cards as in other countries, but there is no truth to your information that they are getting plates as a form of deliberate discrimination as aliens in this country.

    Before Hollywood made the movie series starring Segourney Weaver, alien was and still is an accepted word to mean a foreigner in a country not his own. There is nothing derogatory in the use of that word as the word “gaikokujin” or “gaijin” to mean simply a foreigner.

    The police has no reason to adopt something not specified by the law, and we don’t have a traffic law that states that licenses issued to foreigners except those issued to foreign missions should be different from those of ordinary Japanese, and that they should have a separate classification. It’s ridiculous!

    I have worked for the Japanese police as a civilian interpreter since 1989. I have never heard of this silly information. The Americans you must have associated with must be pulling your legs. They may try to order fake car plates with those letters but they are not allowed to use them in accordance with the Road Traffic Law of Japan.

    By the way, we don’t have an LTO in Japan similar to the LTO in the Philippines. The Licensing Office is under the provision of the local police department.

    Compared to discrimination in the USA, there is practically none in Japan especially when foreigners behave and obey the laws and traditions of Japan. If ever there is such thing as you have written that I know for certain there is none, it is more for the purpose of keeping the peace and order in this country likely to be disrupted by unruly crowd especially those rowdy misfits in the US military like those horny US soldiers who allegedly raped a Filipina at Subic just recently.

    Sometimes, such distinction seems necessary especially when there is the intention to abuse privileges and concessions freely given and granted even when not deserved.

    I have lived in Japan since 1969, but never have I experienced being discriminated here the way “ainoko” (half-breeds) were treated prior to WWII. I have experienced more discrimination from Filipinos than from the Japanese as a matter of fact.

  32. Maalala ko pala, Ellen, many years ago, a distant relative of mine asked me to check on the list of Filipinos staying in Japan, legal or illegal, and send him a copy so he could look for names of PNP officers who were no longer in the force but was still receiving salaries from the PNP.

    I thought it was incredible, rather unthinkable in this country where because of restrictions, people have become disciplined and proper.

    I told him to write to the police and the immigration bureau in Japan and ask for such list, but I told him that it might prove useless since Filipinos who had intentions to overstay in Japan would usually not use their real names and acquire passports in other people’s name, real and/or fictitious.

    Now, I know why a lot are quitting the police and the military. Ang lait na ng sueldo kinukurakot pa ang mga sahod nila!

    Now, the reason why my cousin was asking was that he said they had known of salaries given to people who were actually no longer in the force but records showed salaries were duly paid them.

    Kasi pala ang PNP ay sakop na ng AFP na naging kurakot at lalo pa noong panahon ni Ramos according to my friend.

    Kaya kung mapalitan ang gobyerno, puede bang imungkahing ibalik sa dati ang pulisya na hindi sakop ng militar na dapat ay lumalaban lamang sa mga kaaway mula sa labas ng Pilipinas at hindi pumapatay ng kapwa nila pilipino at hindi dumadayo sa ibang bansa na pinaghahalo ang pagpatay at pagsagip sa ibang tao hindi bilang mercenary kundi bilang peacekeeper ng UN lalo na sa Iraq na hindi pa pinapasukan ng UN at sinasakop lang ng Amerika sa tulong ng mga British, Australian, et al?

    Nakakataka na kung bakit kung saan pa maraming Kristyano, Moslem at Hudyo na iisa ang sinasambang Diyos Ama ay marami ang mamamatay-tao (murderer)! Bakit nagkaganyan ang Hukbong Sandatahan ng Pilipinas? Bakit dumami ang garapalan lalo na ngayon?

  33. Bentong Bentong

    Yuko,
    Paste ko sana license plate, can’t do. Anyway kung mapagawi ka sa US Bases diyan sa Japan you’ll see the Y Plates. Sad to hear na discrimination do exist. I have a friend working with MLC’s(master labor contract)working with US installation in Japan. He took time to learn to speak Nihongo and the JN’s where given conversational english to bridge the gap. One time he asked one on why when he’s talking to them in english he will only answer in Nihongo. The answer he got was plain and simple “If I were your visitor in your house would you mind if I tell you how your house need to organized?” Some pinoys show the same, when they see a Pinay that have worked in Japan, it’s automatic she’s Japayuki. All the problem in this world only roots down to “DISCONTENTMENT”. There is no problem that is not linked to discontentment. If you can name one I’ll shut up.

  34. Apparently Bentong, the alphabetical license is only at places where there are bases as in Kanagawa or Aomori, etc. not to discriminate but for classification because of the fact that foreigners here are separately registered so as not to mess up with the more intact Japanese registration.

    I find this very practical and I don’t see any reason why foreigners should resent it unless they have something to hide. Fortunately, Japan, like the US, has demanded countries like the Philippines to issue machine readable passports as we have done over here, even give grants to enable such countries to buy the necessary machines for such purpose. Such request has nothing to do with discrimination.

    Yes, there may be discrimination but not as abhorrent as it is in the USA as the discrimination against the Negroes, who now call themselves Black to remind their fellow white Americans not to discriminate on them.

    Yes, you are right, the worst discrimination is one’s discrimination against his own countrymen, but at least, it is something that I have learned to be less guilty of with the examples of people here, who would no longer call a blind man blind, but a man who have impaired vision! It is human nature perhaps that we have learned to get away with.

    One of the things I have learned to appreciate in my job as police interpreter is compassion that I believe I actually have all along but have not learned to develope and cultivate as I should as a Christian who abides by the teachings of Jesus Christ. Likewise, I have learned to appreciate more the importance of abiding by the rules, and I do appreciate the discipline and willingness of majority of people here to follow the norms, standard and rules of the land more than these foreigners who would even take advantage of their ignorance of things Japanese to justify their perversions and fornications.

    Now, with regards to these Filipino women, who would not behave but shame all Filipinos for their perversities, I do not just dare say, “Leave them be,” but see where I can help to discipline them dahil talaga namang wala nang mga moral! No, it isn’t discrimination, it is simple civic consciousness to help make this country keep its tranquility, peace and order.

    I am a witness to how Japan has become what it is today. When I first came here, there were hardly any Filipino. The only ones I met were those working for the US military (kind of mercenaries, too, but at least, it was a stepping stone to go to the US, and less risky especially when the US does not provoke wars!), and first class musicians, not Japayuki! There were fewer crimes committed even by the Yakuza, less robbers and thieves, who were mostly foreigners, and houses do not have locks because there were practically no one up to burglarizing any house.

    With the influx of these rowdy foreigners, and the influence of evil of our times, maybe, we have in fact learned to be more cautious by making more laws and rules than necessary, and with these foreigners who refuse to abide by Japanese rules, it is just but practical and sane to make some other rules like perhaps this car plates that you are talking about so that we will be able to know if they are behaving or not!

    End of the story.

  35. Bentong,

    I asked my husband about the Y plates you are talking about, apparently, he is aware of the A plates for foreigners in Kanagawa where there is a considerable number of foreign communities. It is for easier registration and system of imposing discipline on these foreigners especially when they are likely not to abide by the rule like these Filipinos who drive without proper license, and get International Driving Licenses illegally. The Y plates are more common among the members of the US military who prefer such plates, and if they would have their own car registration, and are not asking their Japanese friends to register their cars for them. These Americans in fact are the ones who suggested the Y to distinguish them from other foreigners in Japan. There is nothing discriminatory there, but a practical way to keep everyone properly tracked in to make police work easier!

    At least, iyong mga Americano do not travel with fake passports. Filipinos do, and even do not rectify their records when they marry and have kids. Napapakamot na lang ako ng ulo ko because I do love my name, and feel offended when idiots deliberately make fun of it kasi sila hindi nila mahal ang mga pangalan nila at mga sarili nila!!! Sad, but true!

  36. In other words, Bentong, these licensing method is not for registration purposes and classification even according to nationality, and not because of discrimination.

    I guess Filipinos, especially those who mess up their record and registration, will have difficulty understanding the practicality of this procedure.

    I have actually suggested to Orly Mercado when he was a Senator to have a law pass for a better record system in the Philippines, he said, “Nothing doing. It is not priority because you set up the records straight, wala nang makakagawa ng kalokohan!” Napanganga na lang ako!

    I actually thought they should copy the record system of Japan that the Koreans and Taiwanese have. Kaya tignan mo ang progreso ng dalawang bansang iyan!

  37. Erratum. This should read: I have actually suggested to Orly Mercado when he was a Senator to have a law PASSED for a better record system in the Philippines, he said, “Nothing doing. It is not priority because you set up the records straight, wala nang makakagawa ng kalokohan!” Napanganga na lang ako!

    In other words, discipline is in fact, likewise, a matter of being amenable and willing to abide by the rules. Unfortunately, in the Philippines now, it is more like “whatever Gloria wants, Gloria gets!” especially because it is good for the generals acting like sinto-sinto para hindi makahalata si Bansot na inuuto nila!

    I can’t help sympathizing with the Filipinos. I can actually afford to stay away and play numbed and unperturbed because I don’t have a close kin there to worry of getting hungry for me to be in the kind of advocacies I am in for Filipinos, but I guess it must be because of that special affection I must still feel for the Philippines, the land of my birth, to not just talk and walk but take that extra mile to get involved, and reason why I have been able to establish rapport and connections with politicians there, and I do connect with the real serious ones and those I strongly feel to be of the same mind wave as mine.

    Orly Mercado, BTW, is a childhood friend of mine. I still connect with him somehow, especially because he is now based in Japan.

  38. Correction. This should read: “In other words, Bentong, these licensing method is SIMPLY for registration purposes and classification even according to nationality, and NOT because of discrimination.

  39. Sorry for the series of dissertations, but I miss this one about discontentment.

    Bentong says, “All the problem in this world only roots down to “DISCONTENTMENT”. There is no problem that is not linked to discontentment. If you can name one I’ll shut up.”

    Which one? For me, discontentment is not the cause of the problems at hand, but the result of the follies of men consumed mainly by greed and avarice.

    I have nothing to be discontented with as a matter of fact. I have tried to live in accordance with the teachings of my religion and that has afforded me the kind of contentment and bliss that I am enjoying now, nothing to do with living in Japan as a matter of fact.

    I go to rallies and protests when necessary not because I am discontented but because I want to make sure that there is no disruption to the kind of peace and order we enjoy. At least, over here, we do not have an abusive police force, but one that makes sure the rules of the land are followed for the benefit of ALL, not just one crazy individual and her minions as it is in the Philippines now. If you cannot see that happening there at present, I feel sorry for you.

    Indeed, God blesses those who follow His Commandments, line upon line, precept upon precept, and do His Will. As the Bible says, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Tim. 6: 8)

    I am against the Bansot not because I am discontented, but because I firmly believe a criminally inclined like her does not have any right to be there imposing her ferverted rules and making a fool of everyone because they themselves can no longer discern between good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, pleasure and pain.

    BTW, I thought, we should adhere to this counsel when dealing with the Internet Brigade intruding in our peaceful debates, “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.” (Prov. 22: 10)

  40. Bentong Bentong

    “Which one? For me, discontentment is not the cause of the problems at hand, but the result of the follies of men consumed mainly by greed and avarice.”>> They simply WANT MORE.
    “go to rallies and protests when necessary not because I am discontented but because I want to make sure that there is no disruption to the kind of peace and order we enjoy.”>>Want to make sure the other side don’t have more than what the protester have or not have.
    “At least, over here, we do not have an abusive police force, but one that makes sure the rules of the land are followed for the benefit of ALL, not just one crazy individual and her minions as it is in the Philippines now”>>In Japan, Police are not abusive because the citizens are not abusive..cops are only armed with revolvers. In the Phil. citizens has to test our Police reactions.(No permit no rally)
    “not just one crazy individual and her minions as it is in the Philippines now. If you cannot see that happening there at present, I feel sorry for you.”>> Just like you said, it’s sad to see what’s going on to motherland..one individual cannot accomplish all while the rest are just yakiti-yakyak-dakitidakdak.
    =THE END=

  41. Bentong:

    I asked the members of our church about the alphabets in car plates, wala din silang alam. I checked their cars’ plates, lahat hapon ang sulat. Siguro sa mga US military lang applicable ang sinasabi mo.

    Sa totoo lang, you have to be truly integrated into the Japanese society to really know the Japanese. Otherwise, you learn the prejudice of foreigners that they even have the nerve to blame on the Japanese who are just too busy fending for themselves to bother with these strangers who are either trying to live to the adage of “If you are in Rome, do as the Romans do” or are trying in vain to impose their perversion and fornication on the Japanese. However, in some cases, we are obliged to see they are properly guided para hindi magwala at makapinsala.

    You bet, the Bansot Looney cannot own the Philippines by herself, but that’s what she is aiming for, and reason why we are here to stop it because I know we can!!!

  42. Bentong:

    You are missing the point, I guess. It is worse if the majority will not yakitty-yak because that’s the only option left them. All practical venues to air their grievances against the criminally inclined have been deprived them.

    You don’t seem to also see that this is not a matter of just complaining against a one-man rule, but a matter of principle. The Bansot has stolen her position, stolen Philippine properties that we have been told were transferred to some private funds under the name Pidal, and worst, stolen OWWA, etc. funds to bribe voters in the last election. Hindi pa nakontento, nagnakaw pa ng 1M votes from her opponents. In Tokyo, in fact, we discovered the loss of votes from FPJ and Roco transferred to the Bansot to make her look as the victor! Iyan ang niyayak-yak ng mga kababayan mo as a matter of fact. In short, walang karapatang umupo ang Bansot sa Malacanang, at wala rin siyang karapatan na sabihing siya lang ang masipag at nagtatrabaho because like those Filipinos overstaying and working in Japan illegally, she is illegally working as president of the Philippines. Is that difficult to understand?

    O panay Japan ang example, yes, amenado ako d’yan dahil alam ko ang sistema namin dito na matino and wish it would be the same in the Philippines. Ang hirap sa mga pilipino, gusto nilang tumino ang bansa nila pero hindi naman nila pinipilit na alisin ang mga hindi naman workable na sistema para sa kanila. Ngayon, Chacha daw, pero tignan mo naman ang Constitution na isinasalsal nila sa lalamunan ng mga pilipino, insultador pa. Ang mga hindi makapag-aral, inalisan pa ng pag-asang makapaglingkod sila sa bansa nila, for the truth is I believe that given the right incentive, motivation and a little education, kahit walang college degree ang talagang matatalinong tao ay daig ang mga katulad ni Bansot na may DPhil nga, bao (katulad ng buko) naman ang ulo!

    Don’t me get wrong. I have a degree in history from prestigious universities like UP and Oxford University in England, but I don’t think I can be as smart and accomplish the things my elementary-school-graduate father-in-law, or the founders of Toyota, Suzuki and even Matsushita (Panasonic, etc.) have accomplished.

    No bilib ako sa mga mayabang sa Pinas sa totoo lang. Karamihan kabisote lang! Kaya where is the Philippines now? Kasi iyong nakasampa sa itaas ay ubod ng yabang lang, kamote naman, at hindi tinutulungan ang mga may laman sa utak na mahihirap na ipakita nila ang kanilang galing sa tamang paraan. Ginagamit lang para sa mga kalokohan.

    Iyan ang talagang problema diyan. Pero hindi matatapos iyan kung hindi ninyo pipilitin alisin ang mga kurakot na nakaupo diyan. Itong mga pare naman ay dapat talagang turuan ang mga kasanib nila sa religion nila na maging matino, at ipairal ang pagsunod kahit man lamang sa 10 utos ng Diyos katulad ng huwag magnakaw at magnasa ng hindi kanila. Hindi komo nakaupo si Bansot sa Malacanang ay hindi niya dapat ginagamit ang pera ng bayan para sa libreng pagkain niya sa Malacanang.

    Dito nga, si Koizumi, nagbabayad ng lunch bento (lunchbox) niya kung walang public banquet para sa mga bisita ng bayan. Iyong mga pagkain doon sa mga meeting ng political party niya bayad sa Jiminto, at saka kapag may cabinet meeting sila na puede naman silang kumain sa labas ay hindi sila nagpapalibre ng pagkain nila di tulad sa Pilipinas na akala mo pirming may party kahit na ang perang ginagamit nila ay puro utang. Dapat diyan austerity katuland noong panahon ni Garcia. Ang higpit ng accounting office dito. Lahat niririkisa kung valid na dapat bayaran sa public funds o hindi ang pagkain ng mga cabinet members ni Koizumi, kasi hindi rin papayag iyong mga bureaucrats na hindi sila ililibre kung ililibre din lang ang mga political appointees. Ganyan sana diyan para kunti ang kurakot!

    Abuso, please pahintuin na! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!

  43. Ellen:

    Yes, Orly now lives in Japan with his wife working for some medical organization here like the WHO, and he does part-time teaching in some junior college here. He is in Kobe, but I understand he goes home once in a while because he has not abandoned his “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko!”

    They have a son who is cute, and growing like a Japanese boy.

    I don’t talk politics with him as a matter of fact, but he knows where I stand.

    I have actually included him in our UPAA in Japan hoping that he will continue to support our campaign against the illegal disposal of the Philippine patrimonies in Japan that not even Marcos dared to try to sell or allow to be taken out of Philippine hands.

    Itong si Bansot, daya-rhea talaga. All transactions are now being done in Manila. What she does not know is that she cannot sell the properties here to non-Filipinos or non-Japanese as provided for by the Japanese Reparations Treaty. The Japanese negotiators then made sure of that. Ito nga lang mga pilipino ang mahilig mandaya kung makakalusot!

    Bantay sarado kami sa mga patrimonies dito sa Japan. Fortunately, we have ready Japanese supporters to push the case of the Filipinos versus the crooks in the Philippine government who want to get rid of them for their own personal gains.

  44. Bentong Bentong

    Yuko,
    Sobra ka naman..”Abuso, please pahintuin na! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! Wala ng matitirang POLITIKO at MAMBABATAS sa anim. Mawawalan ng trabaho ang mga atorni..diyan kasi sa Japan mas nakararami ang nasa Technical field kesa atorni field.

  45. maldita maldita

    “To be quiet in the face of lies,injustice, corruption and flagrant violation of human rights means you are condoning those things.” TAMA ka, Dominique…Col Orlando de Leon has lived up to his alma mater’s code of “do not lie, do not cheat, do not steal, or tolerate those who do”…NAKAKATAWA O NAKAKANGIT-NGIT na yung ibang nag-graduate rin sa PMA eh HINDI NA BINIBIGYAN NG KAHALAGAHAN ANG MGA KATAGANG IYAN…yung mga Garci Generals josme! LYING, CHEATING, STEALING…AND TOLERATING THOSE WHO DO…ISARA na lang ang PMA noh?…OR…HUWAG NA GAWING HONOR CODE IYANG LINTEK NA MGA KATAGANG IYAN DAHIL KAHUNGHANGAN NA IYAN EH HINDI NAMAN INAALINTANA O SINUSUNOD KAPAG LUMABAS NA NG PMA!

Leave a Reply