by Victor Reyes
Military officers detained for last year’s supposed power grab attempt yesterday called Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. a “coward” for what they said was his refusal to admit he was responsible for the dishonorable discharge of 26 enlisted personnel linked to the plot.
They said Esperon ordered the “illegal discharge” of the 26 soldiers “who had been illegally incarcerated without charges.”
“The worst thing is that Mr. Esperon did not have the balls to admit that it was he, in fact, who ordered the discharge of our patriotic enlisted personnel. Instead, he passed the responsibility to the commanding general of the Philippine Army,” the officers said in a statement distributed to media at the resumption of court martial proceedings in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal where they are detained.
The discharge, a military spokesman said Thursday, was a decision made by Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano based on the recommendation of military lawyers.
The reason the military gave for the discharge was the “preponderance of evidence” against the 26 EPs from the Army’s First Scout Ranger Regiment for violation of Article of War 67 (mutiny) and Article of War 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.)
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, yesterday maintained it was Yano who made the decision to discharge the 26 soldiers.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the AFP information office, justified the discharge order. “We have a military justice that may be harsh but we have to implement it. The decision is within the military justice system.”
The 26 EPs based in Pili, Camarines Sur were detained after they were intercepted in Sipocot, Camarines Sur on their way back from Manila where they were supposedly to join alleged power grab leaders in announcing their withdrawal of support from President Arroyo on February 24 last year at the Edsa Shrine.
A lawyer has said the soldiers were merely obeying an order from the Army headquarters to augment Scout Ranger forces in Fort Bonifacio.
They were brought to Fort Bonifacio Wednesday for processing of their discharge papers.
Fourteen other EPs remain in detention.
The 28 alleged power grab leaders, led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, former Marines commandant, and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former Scout Ranger commander, said Esperon’s pointing to Yano was his “cowardly response to tell the truth.”
Lesson Learned
The officers early this month dared Esperon to “tell the truth” about allegations that he and other military officers helped rig the May 2004 polls to ensure President Arroyo’s victory.
“Another lesson learned. Never put up a dare or challenge a coward for he will expectedly react in a cowardly manner,” the officers said, noting how Esperon gave the media the runaround when asked early this week if he was going to declassify the Mayuga report.
The Mayuga report contained results of the military investigation on the alleged involvement in the 2004 electoral fraud of Esperon and two other generals who were named in the “Hello Garci” wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
The report cleared the generals for lack of witnesses and evidence.
Esperon has said he could not declassify the report because it has been forwarded to “higher offices” and it has not been returned to the office of the chief of staff.
He also said he was not the AFP chief when the Mayuga board came up with its findings in April last year. Esperon was then Army chief. He assumed the post of AFP chief in July last year.
Little skirt
“True to form and as expected, when he was asked by the media regarding the Mayuga report, he immediately invoked the oft-repeated alibi that the result of the investigation is with higher ups. Yes, he hid again behind the comfort of that little skirt. This is becoming laughable if not downright revolting,” the detained officers said.
The officers told Esperon the soldiers he discharged “were fighting enemies of the state while some criminal elements in the Armed Forces were scheming to steal the votes in 2004.”
They said the discharged EPs “were putting their lives on the line in defense of the nation’s territorial integrity while some criminal elements in the Armed Forces were spitting at the Constitution.”
“Mister Esperon, we are reminding you that those professional and patriotic enlisted personnel were subjected to harsh conditions without complaining to attain the AFP’s mission while you and the members of your criminal gang have attained the destruction of the AFP as an institution in cahoots with those who have insatiable lust for power,” they said.
Enough is enough
“Mister Esperon, we are reminding you that while your men are dying out there in the field, your only fervent desire is to gain notoriety in the Garci tape. May 200 ka ba dahil diyan, Mister Esperon?” they asked, referring to the alleged bribery that surrounded the national broadband network project.
They warned Esperon that it is just a matter of time when the “vast majority of professional soldiers would say enough is enough.”
The court martial proceedings were reset anew on the motion of defense lawyers who said they could not attend because of prior commitments.
Not a single civilian defense lawyer appeared at the hearing. Only the assigned military defense counsel, Col. Antonio Doronila, was present but none of the accused has taken his services as corroborating counsel.
Napakalaking supot talaga nitong si Asspweron. Imagine, ipinasa pa sa iba ang responsibilidad sa pag-discharge ng 26 soldiers.
Si Ass,nagtago sa pundya ng tauhan niya, manang-mana kay Gloria na lider (daw) na ayaw ng accountability and responsibility.
Anak ng tipaklong! GGGRRRR!
Dapat matakot na sila. Pero siguro takot na nga kaya ginamit iyong crisis ni Erap para mauto ang mga supporters niya.
Nakakasulasok talaga! Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig sa taas ng lagnat ko. Akala ko tunay na iyong pagka-Asiong Salonga ni Erap. Frankly, iyon lang namang “To Live for the Masses” ang napanood kong pelikula niya na documentary pa. Akala mo naman tunay. Propaganda din pala.
I should have been careful being one involved in similar editing of shows on TV. Kaya ako sa totoo lang hindi masyadong naniniwala sa mga balita unless ako mismo alam ang puno’t dulo ng balita gaya ng mga nakikita kong mga interviews, etc. ng mga video transmissions na tina-translate ko para sa TV. Pag na-edit na kasi iba ang dating!
Kaya sa totoo lang totoo ang pagdepende sa promptings ng Holy Ghost. Kailangan talagang magiyahan sa pag-distinguish ng tama at mali.
Patalsikin na, now na!!!
Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo ASSperon, makarma ka sana…
ystakei, re: sa patalsikin na, now na!!!! nakakainip na nga po eh, naging manhid na yata lahat ng Pinoy dito, nakakafrustrate talaga.
The use of the term “preponderance of evidence” suggests that the discharge of the enlisted men was administrative in nature, and not criminal which would warrant a court martial. However, there are requisites for even an administrative dismissal, such as, but not limited to, a hearing where the soldiers should have been put on notice of the charges and an impartial investigation conducted.
From what I gather, an investigation was conducted but the only ones questioned were the officers. There was no notice to the enlisted men that they were being investigated.
To top it all off, I understand that the recommendation of the inspector general who allegedly conducted the investigation last year, is merely reprimand for the ranking NCOs and admonition for the lower ranking ones.
The dismissal is thus illegal. Gagong Esperon.
Throughout his incumbency and until he retires, Mr. Esperon will never leave any good legacy in the AFP but hatred and disgrace! He had never done any good but to prosecute and prejudged those Few Good Men and he doesn’t deserve to be called a warrior.. he doesnt deserve any goodwill. He’s a crocodile who always wants self-service just like his mentor, GMA!
May bago pa ba dyan? Eh, matagal nang duwag yang si Esperon. Pag sa mga sundalo, siga siya. Wala ng due process, basta discharged. Kahit no strong evidence, pero pag nasa harap ni Gloria, opo Madam lang ng Opo Madam. You’re a shame the AFP, Esperon.
I’m sending this kind of news reports to lawyers and lawmakers in Japan who are strongly opposed to the militarization of Japan. They can learn from the lessons of these anomalies involving the military in the Philippines, and why the police of Japan should continue to be an independent body separate from the Ministry of Defense that was created during the time of Abe that actually caused him his unpopularity, and his early resignation.
At least, dito kasi may honor and dignity pa. Sa Pilipinas, garapalan na lang!!!
Kawawang Pilipinas!
Not taking responsibility even if it is yours is a sign of “cowardice” and this is not acceptable in the realm of the military. Let us see what would be the fate of Speron after his retirement. To the illegally discharged soldiers, I believe you will be reinstated … just take your cool and events are fast unfolding … bilog ang mundo!!!
Welcome, rebelfiancee and newphilippines,
Just administrative rules in this blog: please refrain capitalizing your comments. All caps do not make for easy reading.
ShivaRN,
Nasa pilipino talaga ang solusyon ng problema nila. Sila ang dapat na magdesisyon kung gusto o ayaw nilang patalsikin si unano. Problema nga lang iyong mga talagang galit, nagsialis na ng Pilipinas, at iyong iba naman mas gusto pang umalis ng Pilipinas kesa nga naman mapatay at makulong tapos ganoon din ang labas.
Dito kasi sa Japan, hindi uubra sa amin ang ganyang ungas gaya ni Gloria Kulimbat, et al. Dito kahit pro sa umpisa, pag nakitang palpak bumibira. Media namin dito walang division. Samasama pirmi sa taumbayan. Taumbayan ganoon din, hindi watak-watak at hindi nagpapagamit sa mga politiko na para sa amin ay aming mga utusan!!!
Ang wala kasi sa Pilipinas iyong mga community assemblies na sa tingin ko ang masipag lang mag-organize ay iyong tinatawag noong Amerikanong hilaw na communists! Sa amin, iyan mga ganyang derogatory na tawag, hindi pinapatawad kasi ang Communist Party dito malakas din at pihadong magrereklamo laban sa kahit na anong attempt to smear their reputation.
Iyan ang freedom sa totoo lang! Daig ang freedom daw na meron ang mga kano. Ngayon pa lang lumalabas ang mga komunista doon sa Amerika sa totoo lang. Buti na lang hindi sila nakatalukbong kundi baka sabihin terorista sila!!!
Sa Tate, hindi ako nakakaalis na mag-isa dahil takot ako sa mga bandido doon. Noong natuto akong magmaneho, nagpunta ako sa temple namin sa Oakland, pag-uwi ko hinabol ako ng mga salbaheng egot sa kotse, karipas ako ng pagpapatakbo ng kotse ng kapatid ko. Muntik-muntikan akong nabangga. Samantalang dito sa Japan, kahit hatinggabi, umuuwi akong nakabisekleta lang, walang sumasalbahe sa akin. Safe na safe lalo na doon sa lugar namin dito sa Uptown Tokyo.
Sa Pilipinas, sabi ng pinsan ko, “Ate, yakapin mo ang backpack mo, baka laslasin!” Susmaryosep! Iyan kasi ang hirap na magkasama na ang AFP at PNP at puro kurakot ang mga heneral!!! Yuck!!!
It should have been shocking but it was not, rather we can say as expected. For some other reason, they’d been using the same old worn out game book. Luma na yan, isip naman kayo ng bago. Perhpaps if we start the clean up process at the Supreme Court instead of Gloria then in time we can get rid of Gloria. Supreme Court kasi sila ang pinakamataas sa food chain. They have to be very very clean and un compromised. So umpisahan nating patalsikin mga Putong Justices.
Totie:
Majority of the SC judges are friends and cronies of the Kulimbat couple. Sinabi mo pa, walang pag-asa. Sila-sila nagtatagaan sa likod!!!
My heart breaks reading what happened to these 26 soldiers.
I share “New Philippines” exhortation:To the illegally discharged soldiers, I believe you will be reinstated … just take your cool and events are fast unfolding … bilog ang mundo!!!”
You are right. Gloria has no other way to go but down and she is going fast. Hold on lang kayo.
Ystake: Good Morning! That is why, cleanup should start where the shit are coming from, and that is from the Supreme Court. I was wandering how come no one group that I know dared to raise this issue. Afterall, they are the one with the final say to everything that pertains to differences among conflicting point of views. Palitan na ang mga Hostes-sya na compromised para siguradong balance ang scale of jucstic.
Scale of Justice. 3AM na kasi dito sa New Jersey.
Without a doubt, our military establishment is already in crisis. At least now, its quite evident that unfair justice applies to both the civilians and militaries. The scale of justice always tips in favor of the haves (money/connection for civilians and higher ranks in military.
this technique is nothing new for this administration. divide and conquer kung hindi naman harassment and kidnapping and salvage at tapos iipitin pa ang pamilya ng kung sino man na kokontra sa kanila. talaga naman itong afp thief of staff na ‘to, wala na ngang prinsipyo wala pang bayag.
These is the case of Military Justice 101:
When one joins the Military, one becomes subject to a completely new justice system. While the primary purpose of the Military justice system is to dispense justice, that is not the primary reason for the creation of a separation justice system for armed forces. The primary purpose of the Military’s system is to provide the military commander with necessary tools to enforce good order and discipline. That’s why, for example, it’s not considered a crime to be late for work at your civilian job, but it is a crime to be late for work in the Military.
The military commander has several methods available to enforce good order and discipline within the unit, ranging from mild administrative measures such as formal or informal counseling, to full-blown General Court Martials, in which a person can be sentenced to hard labor, or even executed.
That is why it is very important to vote wisely for the president because the president is the one who will select the chief-of-staff in the armed forces.The chief-of-staff is the king in the military and must obey his orders with no question ask at all times.He has an authority to shoot anyone who don’t obey his order.
i always thought that the pma has always been the breeding ground of honest, disciplined and principled leaders of our country. esperon and his cohorts just proved me wrong. what a shame. wait a minute, wala naman silang hiya di ba?
It has been established here time and again that this Asspweron is a COWARD. A coward is a Coward. Sa mga Ilonggo pa, TALAWAN! Ang Talawan aside from puti ang I—-g, wala pa gid n—-i!
Had calls from 2 US friends. They thought I wasn’t aware of the happenings in the country. I told them to open Ellen’s blog. Yes, they’re Malaya and Daily Tribune’s readers. Seems like the recent incidents, namely, ZTE deal, Suhulan, and even the bombing in Glorietta 2, couldn’t be hidden from Pinoys abroad. And if the Impaktang Unano from Malakanyang thinks she can FOOL us, Pinoys, is her biggest IRRTUM! For one thing, she can’t make SUHOL to us!
and to you, Asspweron, dugay ka na ginahulat sa Imyerno! Don’t forget to carry Unano with you!!!
Totie:
Apparently, with what the kulimbat did, what the Philippines needs now is a complete overhaul, hindi lang ng SC. Ang hirap lang maraming bugok ang ulo at nasanay na sa kagaguhan. Mahirap sugpuin iyan sa totoo lang.
Sana iyong kaunting may tunay na pagmamalasakit sa bansa, magkaroon ng lakas na hikayatin ang lahat na makisama sa kanila para sa ikauunlad ng bansa, hindi iyong kaniya-kaniya na namang payabangan gaya nang nangyari sa EDSA 1 na nanganak ng EDSA 2. Bumalik at pabalik-balik lang ang mga kurakot gaya ni Puno, Gonzales, et al.
Dito sa amin, kunti lang ang gustong magmagaling sa totoo lang. Mas gusto ng mga tao dito ang follower lang sila dahil less ang responsibilidad. Yup, bago ang overhauling halimbawa ng SC, Totie, kailangan ang character building sa mga pilipinong nasanay nang maging parang mga hayop ang ugali lalo na nang umupo ang mga mangungulimbat at mandarambong!
Parang katulad noong mga domestic helper sa Lebanon na na-interview namin para sa isang documentary, gali hindi na nahihiyang sabihing lahat sila naka-experience ng ma-rape. Parang ipinagmalaki pa. Shock ako talaga kasi nang umalis kami ng Pilipinas, mataas ang sense of decency ng mga pilipina noon. Laking kahihiyan ang ma-rape ng hindi nila asawa!!! Kahit nga asawa, kapag nag-rape, puedeng ipakulong at idemanda. Ganoon na kababa ang mga moralidad dahil lang sa pera!!!
Patalsikin na, now na! Ang kupad naman!
There are more good pmers than the rotten ones. It just happens that the leadership(the tiyanak)is rotten to the core so asspweron and his immediate gang have a yardstick. Kung ano ang puno siya rin ang bunga.
there maybe more pmers who are honest and deserving but the problem is the leadership in the afp since 2001 has been prostituted and polluted to the point that even those who are honest are also suffering just like the majority of filipinos
Walang hiya talaga ang Asspweron na yan. He’s such a smelly disgraceful worthless self-serving pretentious sneaky arrogant weasel mimicking a cow dung in a military uniform!!!
Eto ang magandang balita:
“The bishops and the group called for the resignation of the top four leaders of the country – President Arroyo, Vice-President Noli de Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. so that a “caretaker government” can be formed that will be led by Puno, fifth in line in the Constitutional succession if the top four officials resign. The group said Puno is the only national official whose reputation and credibility remain unblemished.”
Ibig sabihin nito si Villar ay masama din ang repyotasyon. Sira na ang pangarap niyang maging Pangulo ng ating Bansa.
OK, sabayan na nila ng people power, yung walang atrasan gaya ng ginawa ng kinaiinisan kong Gaudencio Rosales!
Kung panawagan lang ay mga mukhang semento ang mga bwisit na ‘yan, hindi tatablan ng kahihiyan, takutan pa!
Etnad,
Si Villar ay hindi lang masama ang repustayon, opportunita and a wily tradpol in the league of Gloria and JdV!
ang pagpatalsik kay gloria payag ako pero kung murahin niyo si erap yan ang hindi ako makakapayag dahil si erap ay totoong tao biktima lang siya ng mga ganid na pulitiko total kahit binigyan ng pardon hindi pa rin siya umaamin sa mga ibinibintang na plunder kay erap pa rin ako gusto ko na sana yang mga pinagsasabi ni ystakie kaya nasasaktan ako sa pinagsasabi niya tungkol kay erap bihira akong magcomment dito sa blogger niyo nagugustuhan ko kung mapatalsik niyo si gloria pero kung yong laitin niyo si erap nasasaktan ako
di niyo ba narinig yong welcome address niya sa san juan na kahit hinatulan siyang guilty ng mga kangarong hustisya dumidepende pa rin siya sa hatol ng mga katulad kong maralita si lenard de vera et al lang naman ang komokontra dahil inggit lang sila kay erap siya lang ang naging pangulo na halos kalahati ang lamang sa mga kalaban alam yan ni de venecia
Puwede bang wag na nating pag-usapan pa si Erap. May kasalan man o wala hayaan niyo ng magpahinga. Sabi nga ni Glorya sitenta anyos na. Tama na.
Ang abangan na lang natin ay yong kudeta para alisin si Glorya. Eto ay plano na naman ni Ramos at deVenecia. Kagaya din noong inalis nila si Erap. Bakit akala niyo ba kaya ng kampo ni Glorya na paalisin dati si Erap? Kundi dahil kila Ramos at ang kanyang mga General naagaw nila ang trono at ipinuwesto si Glorya. Dehins nila alam na tuso etong mag-asawa kaya eto noong nararamdaman ni Glorya na aalisin na siya sa puwesto e di pinalaya niya si Erap para may kakampi siya. Kaya ganon na lang ang ngitngit ni Ramos. Si Ramos lahat ang may pakana nitong mga gulo mula pa kay Marcos. Lahat na katulong niya dati hanggang ngayon nandiyan pa sila. Isa na diyan si Tandang Ermita.
There’s no need really to bring any enlistedman or reserve officer to court. Just dont reenlist him and he’s out. Good manners or right conduct cannot be a reason to keep him around. Esperon is right this time. He didnt do it. The cuprit is the immediate CO of the men. He can be ditated though.
May loop “Arroyo pardons Estrada” with 360 comments na. Duon na lang ang usapang Erap, mas mabuti pa at nang hindi tayo nawawala. Thanks.
kaya ipinasa niya ang dishonorable discharge kay gen yano kasi ang bagong cs of the army na ‘to ay wala rin prinsipiyo, walang binatbat sa giyera.
sinagot ko lang yong sinabi ni yuko kaya napunta dito kay erap ang usapan sinasabi ko lang na kung lalaitin si erap sumasama ang pakiramdam ko siguro naiintindihan niyo ako
manang HERM Asspwetron, nakakahiya ka!
Sinabi mo pa, Chi. Di bale kung may koneksyon sa usapan, pero iyong biglang pasok para ipagtanggol ang mga inutil, puede ba may loop naman doon na lang nila itambak. Talagang iyong iba halatang-halatang parang mang-inis lang.
Maganda kung ang kadebate mo may sense ang katwiran, pero iyong mahilig lang talagang magpatutsada, nakakabangas lang. Hindi ko binabasa! Nonsense at wala ka namang matututunan kaya noong isang kunyari patanung-tanong pa yata e alam naman ang sagot dahil kasabwat sa mga kawalanghiyaan o utusan ng mga kulimbat.
Ang nakakasuya pa ay iyong mga nagdunung-dunungan. Taragis, tipong gusto pang magdikta e mukha namang walang alam.
Kaya nga tayo nandito at nakikipagblog ay para maki-share ng nalalaman natin lalo na dahil sa marami sa atin dito ang may karanasan at nakakita na ng magagandang uri ng pamamalakad ng pamahalaan na puedeng ibahagi doon sa nasanay sa kabulukan ng klase ng pamahalaang ipinaiiral sa Pilipinas ng mga kulimbat mula pa noong bago at pagkatapos ng EDSA 1 at lalo pa noong EDSA 2 na nagkamali ang mga pilipinong itinaguyod at hindi sinipat kung sino ang mga namuno sa kanila—mga mas masahol pa palang kulimbat!!!
Kawawang Pilipinas!!!
Sabi ko nga kay Totie, complete overhaul ang kailangan. Hindi kailangan in fact ang baguhin iyong mga batas na ginawa ng mga kano para sa mga pilipino, maliban lang siguro doon sa mga batas na pabor para sa mga kano na sa totoo lang ay mukhang wala naman kung bakit iyong mga gunggong ang sila lang namang mismong nagpilit dahil ayaw umalis sa kapit sa mga kano.
Ang kailangan talaga marunong silang sumunod sa batas. I doubt for instance na itong pag-aabuso ni Esperon ay may batayan na batas iyan. Pihado ko wala kaya sa totoo lang puede namang sampahan ng kaso ang animal na iyan. Class suit ang kailangn ng mga sundalong binaboy niya. May mga volunteer lawyers na ngayon na handang magbigay ng tulong sa kanila. Tapos may suporta pa ng bloggers ni Ellen, ano ang ikakatakot nila?
mlm18_corpuz ,
Yup, understood. Mas maganda ang usapan natin dun sa kabila.
Klingon,
I went through my files and yes,in the March 4, 2006 report of the Office of the Army Inspector General that investigated “the veracity of reports regarding the alleged movement of some PA personnel from their respective station in Manila to join the protest march at Edsa on 24 february 2006 with Brig. Gen. Lim”…., the recommendation is for the three team leaders, namely: Sgt Benito S. Baggay, Sgt. Juanito B. Tercero Jr. and Sgt Jose T. Famularcana to be “reprimanded”…while the twenty three EP be “admonished.”
In the same report, Maj. Pangcog, the Scout Rangers’ operating officer, was included among those to be charged with mutiny. As we all know, Pangcog has been dropped from the charge sheet.
BTW, the dishonorable discharge of the remaining 14 have been held in abeyance.
Mr. Stupid Esperon is bias and playing god. He absolved their commanding officer for mutiny while his subordinates were dishonorably discharged. If we follow the command responsibility doctrine, the 26 enlisted men under his command should be also absolved from mutiny charges. Where’s justice in this case?
Ellen,
You mean to say, that the remaining 14 risk the same dishonourable discharge too after suffering incarceration without any formal charges against them, without any trial?
Extraordinary! Really extraordinary.
Yes, Anna. I was told their discharge papers were being prepared. They were supposed to join the 26 the next day.
I think the adverse reactions on the report of their inhuman treatment made the military leadership rethink their move. I heard comments like, “they should have waited after Christmas”. How are these people going to spend their Christmas?
I was talking to one officer and he said Gen. Yano was in a dilemma before he decided to sign the discharge orders. But he said the military leadership has to send a message to the troops what’s going to happen to them if they join a coup.
When he told me that, it dawned one me the dishonorable dismissal of the 26 last Wednesday is tied to current fragile hold on power of Gloria Arroyo and the warning of FVR that “her days are numbered.” It’s a warning to those who are contemplating on what to do in the coming days.
Will that warning achieve their desired effect? Let’s see.
Ellen,
“I was talking to one officer and he said Gen. Yano was in a dilemma before he decided to sign the discharge orders. But he said the military leadership has to send a message to the troops what’s going to happen to them if they join a coup”
I can’t believe that after these troops, who ARE PEOPLE after all, who have done the noble thing, serve their country and not just in lip service form, they should be used and abused in such incredible, horrible manner by people in the institution that’s supposed to embody duty, honour and integrity… Just unbelievable!
Yes, even if these troops are paid to do risk their lives, I believe carrying a gun, fighting your enemies and risk losing limb and even life is the real service to country and not this lip service thing that most of our politicians mouth sickeningly!
Re: It’s a warning to those who are contemplating on what to do in the coming days.
In effect, Asspweron admits that Gloria might fall from her stolen throne any minute.
Ipinambala na naman ang mga sundalong walang kasalanan. Nananakot na lang si Gloria at Ass, tapos na si Kwin Korap!
here we go again. “the military needs to send a message to those who are planning to join a coup”. this is classic gloria-asperon tactic. divide and conquer or harass and banish. talagang sagad na ang kasamaan ng administrasyon na ito.
Totie: papaano ba ang pagpaalis sa mga Supreme Court justices? Hindi pa impeachment din? Who may initiate impeachment? They serve for life and they are appointed by the President but they are to be confirmed by the Committee of Appointment..Ang appointment nila ay “till death do us part” parang vow kung ikinakasal..I have seen this here in the States..I really find it sad when I hear of injustices done by court judges in the Phil. Maliit pa ako laging sinasabi ng tatay ko..”Lady Justice when equal scales she holds is blind”.
Rose,
Dito sa amin, iyong mga judges namin hindi mga political appointees. They rise up from the ranks, but unlike the judges of the lower and higher courts, dito, ipinapadaan ang kanilang approval sa pamamagitan ng election. Iyong sa lower and higher courts, they go through a civil service exam—civil service eligibility ang basis of appointment.
Iyong sa SC, may participation iyong mga taumbayan sa pagpili. We are presented their names during election, and we scratch out those we do not like. Isang scratch lang would be enough basis for disqualification. Ganyan sana sa Pilipinas especially if they are serving for life. Lalo na ngayon, they should not have left the appointment of judges there and the Ombudsman to a criminal who has an ambition to stay in position forever!!!
Tindi di ba?
Ellen, re: Gen. Yano’s hesitation prior to the signing of the discharges.
This means two things:
1. Gen. Yano believes that the manner in which the enlisted men are being discharged has some legal problems and are not strictly in accordance with military law; and
2. He decided that the act nevertheless should constitute a message, illegal or not.
Complicit si Gen. Yano, not only in the illegal dismissal of the enlisted men, but in their sub-human treatment.
Yano, these are men –human beings! not messages, and certainly are not to be made pawns in Gloria’s survival game.
Hindi ko maintindihan: sa umpisa ng balita the 40 soldiers were detained for almost two years without having been charged for a wrong doing,,kasi pinagaaralan pa nila Esperon kung ano ang magiging charges. but now some of them were discharged dishonourably. Paano nangyari yon- walang charges pero discharged without honors..walang hiya…pambihirang patis…
From a legal perspective, rose, they (Esperon, et al) opted for an administrative case, rather than a criminal case which would entail court martial. That is why they relied only on a preponderance of evidence, rather than choose to prove complicity beyond reasonable doubt — which is the requisite in criminal cases.
From what I hear at JAGO, natakot si Pete Davila at the possibility that they would have to answer a petition for a writ of amparo on the detainees. So they got rid of the men, posthaste, using the simplest legal procedure, which unfortunately is replete with legal loopholes.
Natakot lang sa writ of amparo that they dismissed the 26 soldiers? Fight back soldiers!
For those who have no clear idea of the Writ of Amparo, arkibo provides the info.
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:22 PM
Subject: Photos/Text: SC Justice Ascuna on the writ of Amparo forum and report of the Hong Kong Human Rights Fact Finding group
Please visit:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org
for the following updates:
(1) Hong Kong human rights groups report on its second fact-finding mission on the human rights situation in the Philippines, Oct. 22, 2007
(2) he writ of Amparo and its implications on impunity: a forum to discuss the scope of the rule and other relevant issues, Oct. 17, 2007
Arkibong Bayan Web Team