To protest the “incompe-tence” of the military leadership that led to the deaths of 14 of their colleagues in Albarkha, Basilan last July 10, the Marine officers detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay shaved their heads.
A month after, it was the turn of the Philippine Army. Twenty-five killed in just one day in the fighting in Sulu, the highest casualty in the recent history of the Philippine military. Two weeks after, it was again the turn of the Marines. Last Saturday, 15 of them died in an uphill assault to take over an Abu Sayyaf camp in Ungkawa Pukan in Basilan.
The 28 detained officers led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda of the Philippine Marines and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim of the Philippine Army’s Scout Rangers, offer this message:
“To our beloved comrades who went ahead of us…
“We, your brothers-in-arms (Marines and Rangers) who are presently in a different battlefield, greatly feel the pain brought about by your sacrifices. We salute you and are sincerely proud of all of you. We deeply grieve because we know that it may have been different if we were together in both battlefields – yours and ours.
“Your sacrifices gave us more strength and fervor to continue the fight for truth and justice. Although words cannot express the sorrow of your loss, please know that you are in our prayers.
“1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory/ Where, O death is your sting?
“To the loved ones they left behind…
“We share your sorrow. We pray that the Lord will comfort you with his peace .surround you in his love and encourage you with his presence.
“Psalms 119:76 “may your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”
“To our living brothers-in-arms…
“Do not be cowed by evil. Let us together press on the fight for truth and justice, so that the sacrifices of those who went ahead of us will not go to naught. Together we will overcome.
“Psalms 1:8 ‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord.’”
The other officers include Colonels Ariel Querubin, Orlando de Leon, Juanario Caringal, Armando Bañez, Custodio Parcon, Achilles Segumalian, Nestor Flordeliza and Edmundo Malabanot.
More than 6,000 troops are in Basilan and Sulu and the order from the fake commander-in-chief is to continue the war that the public does not know what for. We join in the prayer that the list of the fallen would not grow longer.
It is an indication of the isolation of Gloria Arroyo that before her visit yesterday in Basilan, she had to be assured by her military advisers that she would not be booed by the soldiers. During the security cluster meeting in Malacañang last Tuesday, they discussed the widespread demoralization in the military especially in the Marines. There were some who expressed reservations about her visiting she troops she exiled to Basilan and Sulu. But Esperon assured them that he will make sure that Arroyo would not be embarrassed.
Esperon was able to put up a show for Arroyo for the day. But has he addressed the deep resentment of those who witness daily under his watch how those who are for honesty and integrity in the service are punished and those who operate in the cheating, lying and stealing are promoted? As one officer said, “Sonamagan, we are not stupid robots.”
***
Yes, Esperon must think so low of the public that he didn’t have qualms in lying about the “basement” in the residence of the AFP chief of staff.
T/Sgt Vidal Doble, in a revival of the “Hello Garci” issue presented by Sen. Ping Lacson last Tuesday at the Senate, disclosed that he was fetched by Bishop Socrates Villegas from the San Carlos seminary, where he sought refuge with former NBI agent Samuel Ong, and brought to the official residence of then AFP Chief Efren Abu. There, he said, he saw his wife and children at the basement of the chief of staff’s residence.
“I am now occupying the quarters of Gen. Abu… and I must tell you that there is no basement in that quarters,” Esperon said.
I have been to the CS residence and I remember a portion that is lower than the main floor. I checked it out with a friend who had also been there and she said, “Yes, they call it basement. It has low ceiling and dark so you have to open the lights. That’s where the radio room is located. There’s also an area for the living quarters of aides and some close security of the chief of staff.”
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Let’s join the “Men of Honor” in this prayer for our fallen and living valiant soldiers.
Amen.
Booooo to the fake commander-in-chief!
Booooo to the fake president!
Boooo! Boooo! Booooo! In behalf of the soldiers whose mouths were shutdown by Asspweron to boooo their fake commander-in-chief Gloria!
People often want to compare two things even if both are bad eggs. They come up with one being the “lesser evil”. With this Esperon’s actions and wrongdoings, maybe we could compare him to the late Gen. Ver who was reputed to be like Esperon. But to me, Ver is a saint compared to Esperon as Marcos is a saint compared to Arroyo.
The problem with the military is that it’s restricted with code of discipline and ethics and one of these is obedience to superiors. Chain of command should be followed. They are not supposed to speak up against their superiors and the entire AFP institution in public. Under such condition, what’s the best options for these decent officers and soldiers. A coup that has no room for failure must now be seriously considered.
“Esperon was able to put up a show for Arroyo for the day.”
***
Yup, I saw the fake commander-in-chief’s picture with Ampatuan ang Wahab Akbar’s wife enjoying lobsters. Tuloy ang “big business” sa Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-tawi!
Where are the ordinary soldiers, bakit hindi sila ang kasamang kumain? Nandidiri ba sa fake commander-in-chief or pinalayo na sila dahil baka merong hindi makapagpigil?!
Bakit hindi sila kasama sa picture? Puro guardia lang yata ng bruha iyong ilang mga naka-uniporme. Siguro ay hindi makatingin ng deretso sa mata nila si Gloria! Boooooo!!!
“It has low ceiling and dark so you have to open the lights”.
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ganyan ba talaga mag-english si esperon?
if you have to OPEN the lights, do you have to CLOSE it?
Sonomagan, Gloria is soooo walang hiya! For just mere photo ops and spin stories, she wasted the precious time of the soldiers engaged in her battle to win a “piece”!
Yes, Dina, open the lights is accepted just like killing it. Para kang wala sa amerika! Sabi mo ay nasa US ka, matuto ka ng Engles dito! Besides, hindi si Asspweron ang nagsabi niyan, mali ang basa mo.
Saka bakit ang pinipili mong bigyang pansin ay iyong mga maliliit na bagay. Tatlong mahahalagang topics ang thread na ito, pero napansin mo ‘yung pinaka-minor error.
Sumama ka munang magdasal para sa mga namatay na sundalo!
Chi,
Pinatawa mo ako. Naalala ko iyong probinsiyanong pumunta sa amin noon, anak ng katulong namin. Inutusan ng nanay kong sindihan ang ilaw at gumagabi na, bigla ba namang kumuha ng silya at ipinatong sa mesa tapos tumuntong at hinahanap ang mitcha ng ilaw para sindihan ng posporo! Kasi bago naging presidente si Marcos, Manila lang ang may ilaw noong araw. Sa mga probinsiya kahit sa Bulacan o Batangas, lampara ang ilaw!
Biniro ko ang pamangkin kong kana ng “Please kill the light!” Tawa ng tawa!!!
Yuko,
Actually, ang mga kapitbahay ko at mga teenagers dito na Amerikano ay madalas kong marinig na “open the lights” or “kill the lights”. So, in my area full of PhDs na puti at itim ay accepted ‘yan. Dito pa ba sa Ellenville na nagkakaintindihan naman?! Gumagawa na rin lang ng isyu hindi pa iyong may laman.
Nararamdaman ko ang lungkot at hinagpis ng ating mga nakakulong na sundalo sa nangyayari sa kanilang mga kasamahan na lumalaban sa Basilan. Ang mga matataas na opisyal na parang mga walang pusong sinasabak ang mga bagitong sundalo samantalang abala sa mga propaganda at photo ops mapalabas lang na ‘magaling’ ang leadership nila ng Commander-in-Cheat. Patuloy nating ipagdasal ang ating mga tunay na makabayang sundalo na nagmamahal sa ating bayan, nakakulong man o nasa gitna ng labanan!
Di ba may picture din si Erap na kumakain kasama ng mga sundalo? Kaya nga lang noon kasama ni Erap ang mga tunay na sundalo. Dito sa picture ni tiyanak kasama niya ang mga partners niya in crime instead! Marami na naman silang pera. SA analysis ni Tongue, less that 50B lang ang kailangan sa power plant but tiyanak earmarked almost 100B sa budget niya. Aba e, yung kalahati ay pupunta kay Mikey-di ba sa energy comittee siya?
Ang laban ng 28 nakakulong na opisyales ay hindi kasing tindi ng labanan sa Mindanao kung saan ang buhay ng bawat sundalo ay nanganganib. Ang sitwasyon ng mga nakakulong ay walang kasiguraduhang hustisya. Ang mga linalagay ni asspweron sa court martial panel niya ay mga promotable officers to the highest AFP positions.Bawat isa sa kanila ay may “promise” na mataas na promotion kung papatunayan nila by hook or by crook na “guilty” sa rebellion at mutiny ang mga nakakulong. Maraming opisyales ang bumaliktad na ng paninindigan. Yung mga opisyales na akala ng mga sundalong nakakulong ay nakakaintindi sa kanila at naniniwalang wala silang kasalanan ay nasilaw na sa “promise” of promotion ni tiyanak at asspweron. Yung mga junior officers na lang talaga ang pagasa ng mga nakakulong. Sana naman kumilos na itong mga magigiting na nasa labas para tulongan nila ang kanilang naghihinagpis na mga kasama.
General Miranda, Col Querubin and all the other marine officers incarcerated with them must be very sad because they can not even see their fallen soldiers. Since the marines are always in the battle front, they bond like brothers and they are like a big family. So, masakit na masakit itong nangyaring pugotan at patayan sa mga nakakulong. It is the feeling of helplessness that must be devastating to the incarcerated officers.
To you all the soldiers though, I say, there is always a divine intervention! Ang lahat ng pagsubok na ito ay may kahihinatnan! Maghintay lang kayo.
Chi: Gumagawa na rin lang ng isyu hindi pa iyong may laman.
*****
Sinabi mo pa. Another pseudonym ng mga bata ng mga Pidals with operation in the US, Australia and Manila. Hindi nakatagal sa Japan ang mga iyan sa totoo lang. Nagligpit ng operation at bumalik ng Maynila. Sabi ng kaibigan ko iyong dating Japan operation, nasa Australia na.
Iyong mga magulong Internet Brigaders ng mga Dorobo in fact may base sa Bay Area. Mukhang tahimik na iyong iba, however, lalo na iyong mga kabalen doon ngayon as a matter of fact. Hindi katulad noon, ang ingay nila.
Iyong ngang may karinderia na taga Pampanga sa Daly City, critic na ni unano. Datirati, all praises sa kabalen niya. Nakitang disadvantageous nang sumabit sa unano kaya tahimik na. Siguro signs of the times na. Kaya nginig ang tumbong nila sa expose ni Ping at Doble. Calling, calling Ong!
6,000 kawal sa sulu at basilan upang tugisin ang walang mukhang gumaganap na kalaban sa mga eksena ng kanilang kinukunang pelikulang digmaan. sobra sobra kung ikukumpara sa bilang ng tunay na kaaway na hinahanap upang iharap sa sala ng katarungan.
suballt, sino ang kanilang ipinatutugis? bakit daw ipinatutugis? para magmukhang totoo na lubhang magulo sa basilan at sulu? sino ba ang nagpapagulo? at sino ang LUMIKHA nitong mga nanggugulo?
hindi ba’t sila rin MISMO?
Utak unano talaga iyang si Pandak at walang alam. Ang una ba namang anunsiyo pagkatapos ng mapatay yung mga Marines sa Basilan e, magpapadala siya ng solar-power science lab for high school students. Alam ba nito ang nangyayari?
Aanhin ang deputang laboratory e wala na ngang mga tao sa lugar na iyon dahil me gyera-gyerahan yung syota niya. Gaga.
Bugak nga ang utak niyan, TT. Trying hard to look like a genius even with fake diplomas, credentials, etc. gaya noong mga fake passports pero genuine iyong passport na issued ng DFA pero false information ang nilalaman ng passport. Tignan mo naman ang propaganda para sa inutil. Boyfriend daw niya noon si Clinton na wala namang pangalan until he became president made infamous by the Lewinsky scandal!!! Ang tindi!
Ang ganda ng panawagan ng mga Men of Honor..with all the scriptural readings. Sirs, we are united with you in our prayers for them and for their loved ones who are left behing.
Re: “killing the lights” ang sabi ng tiya ko na bisaya to her Caviteno husband..”Pabling binitay (to dry) ko ang Americana (suit) mo para matuyo.” Ang sabi sa akin ng asawa:Rosie, anong kasalanan ng Americana at binitay niya.
s/b “behind, not behing,”
tongue,
sarap sabunutan sa ngalangala, hane?
o, bunutin na lamang kaya natin ang dila!
parasabayan: hindi kaya sinasadya ni GMA na masaktan sila Gen. Miranda, Col. Querubin, etc. knowing how much they love their men. Hindi lang mandaraya, magnanakaw, sinungaling,etc. sadistic pa! Anong klaseng tao? oops hindi pala tao..halimaw..The Ugly and Beast!
TT,
Utak unano talaga iyang si Pandak at walang alam. Ang una ba namang anunsiyo pagkatapos ng mapatay yung mga Marines sa Basilan e, magpapadala siya ng solar-power science lab for high school students. Alam ba nito ang nangyayari?
Aanhin ang deputang laboratory e wala na ngang mga tao sa lugar na iyon dahil me gyera-gyerahan yung syota niya. Gaga.
– – –
wala ngang mga “tao” marami namang “lutaw” multo baka gusto niyang maliwanag takot siya sa multo…(multo niya!)
At saka para masabi may “project siyang solar energy…pero di rin gagana yun kasi junk din at pinaggamitan ng ibang bansa ang gagamitin niya…pang-display lang wag na di me masabi!
MRivera,
bubunutin ang dila….eh…sobrang haba ng dila kaya nun..di ba isa siya sa lumilipad sa gabi…”balbalan” …hehehe!
Tita Rose,
parasabayan: hindi kaya sinasadya ni GMA na masaktan sila Gen. Miranda, Col. Querubin, etc. knowing how much they love their men. Hindi lang mandaraya, magnanakaw, sinungaling,etc. sadistic pa! Anong klaseng tao? oops hindi pala tao..halimaw..The Ugly and Beast!
– – –
At least yung “beast” kahit papano may puso eh..di ko nga alam kung anong klaseng “species” yun eh! o si lucifer na nagkatawang babae!
Gokusen: Tama ka siya nga si Lucifer. In the history of mankind, has there been a woman more evil than she? There is a song..”the devil woman” siya ito..grabe talaga..the ugly beast..Come to think of it..the Catholic Church use exorcism in some cases..hindi pa puedeng exorcise ang demonyong ito?
gokusen says: “……oops hindi pala tao..halimaw..The Ugly and Beast!”
the ugliest beast!
From June Reyes:
Hi Ellen,
I am reading your collum regarding the basement of the CS quarter, you said there is a basement.Now I went on reading the column of Ducky Paredes he is singing a different song, He said there is no basement.
I was wandering Malaya columnists are losing credibility. Is he another Belinda Cunanan?
Ayyy naku ano naba nangyayari sa mnga tao sa Pinas. Nasasabi ko tuloy na tama ang pag alis ko ng Pinas.
Each one has his or her sources of information. As I said in my column, I had been to the AFP CS residence. I know there’s a lower portion of the house and that was validated by my friend, who had been there also.
Ellen, you’ve been going all around from attending Magdalo’s court hearings to AFP CS residence. Do you travel with some security or carry a gun with you for protection? What a very brave woman indeed.
goji,
if there is a “columnist” i have very much respect is ms. ellen…you know if you are doing right, you have that “courage” within yourself coming from Above, it doesnt need anyone to be your bodyguard except Him..coz He knows how to protect and Ms. Ellen is worth of all that “blessing and guidance” from Above…
Ms. Ellen thanks…many of us pray for you ….coz we believe in your genuiness…! More power!
Gokusen: Tama ka. Somebody up there protects her.
Goji: matapang talaga si Ellen. Kung uuwi yan sa Antique, she takes either the Asian Spirit or kaya yong ro-ro. I can’t forget what she wrote me about the “maiden flight” of Asian Spirit to Sn. Jose. Umulan ata and it must have been a rough flight kasi ang sabi niya naka limang rosaryo siya. And one time she wrote about her ride from Manila in a bus via the ro-ro 20 hours ata in a rough sea. Kaya pag sasama ako sa kanya I insist that we go via Iloilo..and in Manila she takes the tricycle at jeep or FX. Walang takot. as Gokusen said when you do the right thing you have an inner courage and strength. That’s Ellen!
Ilonggas are brave and tough. People say don’t be deceived by the sweet manner of their words ’cause they might be already mad and yet still sweet. Looking at Ellen’s photo in the blog, she sure is fearless. But no matter how brave a person is, there’s no substitute for being careful. She might have made lots of enemies with her fighting words. I’m sure she’s on the government’s watch list. Anyway, we and the entire country are behind you, Ellen.
Gokusen: In today’s Abante, it was mentioned na pinagaaralan daw ng DSW ang “livelihood projects” para sa Basilan at Sulu. I hope that by the time tapos na ang conflict DSW will have a concrete suggestion para maumpisahan ang mga “livelihood project” na ito. This is indeed a good idea if feasible. And if it is..do you have one that could be done? The Filipino Children’s Fund, Inc. here in NJ support projects of this kind. We have one in Cotobato for handicraft..weaving etc. The amount of money they give is not much, but it could start something..$5,000 to $10,000. Basically they support projects that will help children or young adults earn money to augment family income. FCF is a non profit organization..To know more about them..www.fcf.org.
Gokusen: http://www.fcfinc.org pala ang address. If you think FCF can help let us know..I will follow it up with them.
Better still just ask ellen for my email.
“Do you travel with some security or carry a gun with you for protection? What a very brave woman indeed.”
goji,
think you really don’t know much of ellen yet.
she had overcome and defeated a more dreaded enemy in her.
brave woman? not that much but not less!
Mrivera, I don’t know much about Ellen but I know she’s a human being like us. I’m just amazed how fearless she is. She must be wearing an amulet. After that evil woman in Malacanang has been ousted, I demand that some kind of recognition be given to Ellen by the people…a tribute only right and proper for someone like her who fought fearlessly against this evil leader.
BTW, sabi ng isang sumusulat sa akin na dito ko nakilala, bakit hindi ko raw itanong kung bakit gusto ni AK-47 na pumunta ako sa Pilipinas. Bakit daw ba? Gusto ba daw ba akong ipakatay din for my kidneys? 😛
Tita Rose,
Thanks, i’ll check it out…and inform ko si Ms. Ellen pag nakontak ko para masabi sa yo!
Ive met Ms. ellen…and you’re right siya pa nga nagtuturo sa akin ano dapat kong sakyan eh at kung saan baba!
Salamat!
Gokusen: You may contact them directly and I will know. I am one of the officers. And you may even contact me through them..
Tita Rose,
Ah ok..thanks!
First time I heard of a former Filipina refusing to visit the Philippines fearing she might get killed for her kidney. SOB.
Who would want a sashimi smelling kidney?