Update: Maj. Aquino was allowed a six- day leave last Friday. He will be able to pay his last respects to his sister.
This appeared in the Tribune, April 16, 2008
A sister had long waited for a brother in her death bed, and when he called, she just saved her last breath to say goodbye to him.
Army Scout Ranger Maj. Jason Aquino never made it to see his sister before she died Monday morning. And to this day, that request, although approved by the military court, has never been honored by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
Officers detained at the maximum security compound of the Intelligence Service of the AFP (Isafp) in Camp Aguinaldo lamented how the chief of the 120,000-strong military can be so vindictive as to deny even a death wish of a family of one of his men, even as it has been also noted that Esperon moved with speed in acting on the supposed request for pardon of the nine convicted junior officers of the Oakwood mutiny.
Aquino had since been requesting an emergency leave to see his dying sister in Cebu who had been diagnosed with cervical cancer. While the military court trying Aquino for mutiny favorably granted the request for humanitarian considerations, Esperon being the convening authority, disapproved the first request on Nov. 14, 2007, citing Aquino as a security risk.
But aware that it was just a matter of time before his sister died, Aquino persisted with his request through motions that his lawyers had put forth at every opportunity during their court martial hearings. Since February, the court had consistently granted the petitions, but as it is in the military system, it is subject to the approval of the Chief of Staff who convened the military court.
Aquino’s sister died Monday morning. Esperon never gave his approval for the detained officer to see his sister for the last time, before dying and perhaps even for her interment.
Aquino is the only son in a brood of three. His mother is a widow. But unlike former Magdalo leader Army Capt. Milo Maestrecampo, who regretted that his incarceration denied him the privilege to be around when his father died, Aquino stood his ground never to beg for Esperon’s mercy to grant his request.
“My request to visit my ailing sister had been on his desk since Nov. 2007. That request was endorsed for favorable approval twice by the General Court Martial Panel. Still that request was not acted upon. Now my sister is dead. If he (Esperon) thinks I will beg for mercy just to be able to attend the wake of my beloved sister, Esperon is very wrong. For I beg no mercy but justice,” Aquino said in a message relayed to the Tribune.
His statement further read: “Justice demands fair application. It neither favors nor selects upon whom it should apply. For he who takes the law into his own hands, places himself under the scrutiny of civilized people and defames the very justice he seeks to enforce.”
Aquino is a baron of PMA class 1991, the institution’s highest leadership award. He graduated Cum Laude and among his many awards was the Chief of Staff of the AFP Saber and author of the Cadet Conduct Policy which governs the conduct of behavior of all members of the cadet corps of the PMA.
Other requests for medical treatment of other detained officers facing mutiny charges in connection with the alleged February 2006 plan to withdraw support from President Arroyo as well as the Marines stand-off, while approved by the military court are yet to be acted upon.
Aquino believes he was being singled out, pointing out that others who had requested to attend graduation rites of their children last March were allowed to attend.
The detained Major believes he earned the ire of Esperon in 2005 when Aquino dared to reason against an irrational order of Esperon.
Aquino recalled he was still the operations officer of the First Scout Ranger Regiment in 2005 when Esperon, a Special Operations Command chief, asked him to create an anti-riot force out of the Scout Rangers company to be used against heightening protests related to the “Hello Garci” controversy. Aquino reasoned that such a task is a police matter and that the Army Scout Rangers aren’t trained and equipped for the job. He dared asked Esperon if he would also take responsibility as Aquino would be willing to take, saying he could not assure that his men will not open fire at protesters in the event of that the soldiers will be smashed on the face during a riot. Aquino only remembered how Esperon walked out of the conference then, after that he was told by Esperon’s staff that Esperon doesn’t take “no” for an answer. He said it was supposed to be Esperon’s way of winning favors from the President to better his chances to be appointed as commanding General of the Philippine Army.
In connection with the supposed plot to withdraw support from Arroyo, Aquino was arrested on Feb. 27, 2006 and was placed in solitary confinement for four months. He has since been detained along with 19 Army Scout Rangers and nine Marines officers.
Of the 28 detained officers, former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda has already been moved back to Tanay from Isafp, and the third batch of detainees, belonging to the Philippine Military Class of 1994 followed yesterday. Thus far, only 8 detained officers have been left in the Isafp detention quarters, Aquino among them. They are to be transferred to Tanay in the last two batches.
Brig. Gen. Danny Lim is one of the 28 officers facing mutiny charges but he is detained with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and the other Magdalo officers in Camp Crame . Capt. Dante Langkit also a co-accused with Lim is in the ISG compound in Fort Bonifacio. Two other officers of the Marines, Colonels Januario Caringal and Armando Banez are in hospital confinement and they are among the 28 detainees.
The next court martial hearing originally set on Friday was moved to the 23rd and most likely will be held in Camp Capinpin, Tanay. it is expected that Esperon as the convening authority shall have decided on the possible recommendation of the prosecution to drop the charges against the detained officers. The prosecution during the last court martial hearing agreed to review the charges and possibly recommend to Esperon a declaration of nolle prosequi. Of the 28 accused, only Miranda had so far been read the charges as the most senior. But before he could even enter his plea a military defense counsel raised an urgent manifestation asking the prosecution to review the records of the case to determine if there is a basis for “nolle prosequi,” which translated means null prosecution or no prosecution and it involves the withdrawal of charges.
Last February the military court granted petitions for medical treatment of several officers detained at the Isafp. It was only Monday that medal of Valor Awardee, Marines Col. Custodio Parcon was allowed a medical check up at the V. Luna hospital to prepare him for his hand surgery that was long overdue. Lt. Belinda Ferrer, the only lady detainee in the Marines Corps, although already allowed treatment for nodes that were detected on her breast, has yet to see her doctor. Another Medal of Valor Awardee Col. Ariel Querubin after his release from V. Luna Hospital on April 4, was rushed back to the hospital again. This time he was found to have multiple medical conditions, and was moved to Camp Aguinaldo Hospital on Monday where another co-detainee, Army Scout Ranger Maj. Jose Leomar Doctoloero is also confined. Marines Col. Orlando De Leon is yet to see the continuation of his therapy for his spine that was abruptly aborted when he was returned to Tanay detention last year due to alleged security reasons.
My heartfelt condolonces to Major Aquino and his family.
“Aquino only remembered how Esperon walked out of the conference…”
In the face of such sadness, Major Aquino may take satisfaction in the fact that he had forced Esperon, the shithead to walk out of the conference; truly a remarkable feat considering that it’s not only rare but almost nearly impossible for a junior officer to be able to castigate a high ranking official and throw eggs at that star ranking official by use of sheer logic and just reasoning.
I admire Major Aquinos fortitude. His sister will and can only be proud of him even in the after life.
Bravo, Major! Heroes are truly made of stern stuff while villains are made of crap — Esperon is an example of such villainous crap.
Never have I seen or heard of a group of valorous military officers in active service treated unjustly and inhumanely by their superiors — never!
The gauge of a country gone to the dogs is when you see brave, righteous, just officers punished while scoundrels and hoodlums in military uniform are rewarded and promoted.
My condolences to the Aquino family…
Asspweron’s ambition to be the cheat of staff and now possibly eyeing at the DND cabinet position made him a MONSTER! Heartless bastard! May KARMA ka rin balang araw! Instead of being a father to these soldiers, asspweron turned into the soldiers’ tormentor just to protect an illegal and very unpopular president. See what money and power can do?
I have already expressed my condolence to Major Aquino in another loop. It’s sad that justice cannot be served in the Philippines with lawyers even made helpless to do anything at the moment to insure that their human rights are honored and respected. Surely it is impossible under this regime headed by a criminal who cannot be removed even by some instrument of law and justice because the agencies tasked with sending criminals like Gloria Dorobo are now saturated with her own appointees picked and chosen by her and her conniving husband.
Unless the Filipinos stop allowing the crook to merely say “I’m sorry” when caught on the act, these atrocities will go on until the 20 years or more she plans to stay in power with the crooks she is bribing with funds borrowed with high interests to be paid by this and future generations of Filipinos to keep them amused and loyal to her ala-Mafia.
My condolence and sympathy not just to Major Aquino but to all sane and God-fearing Filipinos. Iyong mga matatapang, basta tuloy na lang ang laban!
If it can be any consolation to Major Aquino , I would like to remind him that death is just a fleeting moment. It is not eternal. Life is.
“Life is eternal. We are eternal beings. We lived as intelligent spirits before this mortal life. We are now living part of eternity. Our mortal birth was not the beginning. Death, which faces all of us, is not the end,”wrote one of our prophets.
I believe this. Any Christian should if they believe that Christ was resurrected and now lives, and that God gave Him to us so that we may live because God loves us all. Someday, Major Aquino will be able to meet his sister again whole and without her afflictions.
Meanwhile, all these atrocities surely will be answered for by those who inflict them on the innocents. The law of justice demands that a penalty be paid for every sin committed.
Everybody knows that Major Aquino, et al, have been true to their commitments to country and people, and if they are in jail now, it is because they cannot allow themselves to be beholden to a criminal. For that, they deserve our due respect and awe.
God bless him and his comrade in arms!
Correction, “his comrades in arms!”
The bottomline is to be an OFW and your moribund requests will burn their tails.
tangnang esPWEron ‘yan!
ano kaya kung ang asawa niya ang biglang maghingalo’t hindi niya makita’t makausap kahit saglit sa kanyang huling sandali?
palibhasa ay asal hayup kaya walang pakiramdam at walang pakialam sa damdamin ng iba!
hindi ‘yan tao at lalong hindi hayop kung demonyo!
Esperon said in a press conference, “Huwag ka magpakulong, kung ayaw mo mawala ang privileges mo.”
Why is the idiot now being allowed to act like the leaders of Myanmar. Over where I am based, naghihintay lang ng utos ang Chief of the Military. Hindi siya puedeng makialam sa mga criminal procedures. Grabe talaga ang ginawa ni Gloria Dorobo ha. Puro alembong lang dooon sa mga boyfriend niya na abusado na.
My condolence to Major Aquino and family.
It is very disheartening to hear or read such callousness from a person who commands the AFP. I am just hopeful that the men and women in uniform DO NOT share the same mentality as Mr. Esperon.
Major Aquino and his family has done a great service and sacrifice for our country and this is how he is repaid by Mr Esperon. If Mr Esperon can do this to his comrade in arms, surely he does not have the heart for the Filipino people at all. He is only after his personal interest and arse. We are screwed from the looks of it.
To the family of Major Aquino, our hearts bleed with you. May we all find justice which seem to have a knack for eluding us always.
Kapatid ano pa ba ang magagawa natin kung hindi makiramay na lang sa pamilya ni Major Aquino. Nakakaawa naman siya. May our dear Lord give His peace and blessing to this family at the time of their suffering. I also pray na sana ang mga Heneral ay magkaroon naman ng maka-Diyos at makataong puso.
I recall what I said in another loop that I want Asspweron to die pronto. That’s too easy for him! Because he is heartless, I want him to suffer a heart attack every 30 minutes until the end of his natural life, just like in hell where he belongs!
Napaka-walanghiya talaga ng espweron na yan.May hangganan ang lahat.Ilang buwan na lang ang ating hihintayin at may liwanag na naghihintay sa magigiting na Magdalo soldiers.Ako na ang pinakamaligayang nilalang kapag naipakulong natin ang hayop na thief of staff na yan.
Mabuhay ang magdalo soldiers.Hwag kayong panghinaaan ng loob.
Rontonio, ilang taon pa dahil si asspweron pa ang magiging DND Sickcretary pag retire niya. Hawak pa rin niya sa leeg ang AFP! NAKAKASUKA!
Wala tayong magagawa kay asspweron ngayon but we can do something by making sure he can not run away from those he has oppressed. We have to make sure that he can run to his ranches in Australia after this regime is over. We have to have a hold departure order and he has to face the music and be put ib jail forever! Or better still shot in the back because he is a TRAITOR!
PSB:
Ang lakas talaga ni Sipsip Esperon ha. Bakit kaya? Tindi ng kapit kay Gloria Dorobo. Nakakasuka iyong picture nila na inaayos pa niya ang kuwelyo ni Pandak! Sobrang mahalay ang itsura!
Yuko, the evil bitch does not have any choice. She is beholden to him!
Did you see that too? Where the ass was fixing her collar? Did you see the video when he cried when the evil bitch announced she was not running for the presidency? There were so many videos showing him holding her elbows and ushering her to her chair. Yung mga malalagkirt na mga tingin. Mmmm, I wonder…
Correction to the above: We have to make sure that he can not run to his ranches in Australia.
Puedeng gawin iyan, PSB. Kailangan lang 1M signatures asking the Australian government to bar him from entering Australia with or without his ranch there. Uncle ko general din ng AFP walang rancho sa Australia. Nakiagaw pa nga doon sa lupain namin sa Ilocos. Naawa nga lang ang mother ko. Binigyan siya ng 10 hectares. Kaya saan kumarokot si Esperon ng rancho niya sa Australia?
Yuko, humanda ka diyan at bibisita daw si asspweron dyan sa kanyang anak. Then he said he will be going to the US. Siguro maghahanap din ng mabibili na real estate dito dahil mura ngayon. Gagamit sigurado siya ng dummy buyer. Ganyan ang gawain ng mga Pidals diba? So tuturuan ni evil bitch si asspweron “HOW NOT TO GET CAUGHT”!
Someone saw asspweron bidding at an auction. Hindi lang isang property, a few pa! Maraming dough ang kurakot. Siempre pa, he is the reason why the evil bitch is in power. Mahal ang mga bayad sa mga professional prostitutes! He is set for life!
PSB:
Pag sa Tokyo siya pumunta, lagot siya. Ihahanda namin ang mga human rightists dito to picket at the embassy.
The son is in Kyushu. Paki-timbre nga when he is coming. Thanks.
Grizzy, Parasabayan,
Kaya sya sumusipsip ky ky Dorobo dahil gusto nya ilagay pa sya ni gloria sa pwesto at kulang pa ang mga naibayad sa kanya sa mga ginawa nilang kawalang hiyan sa taong bayan, corruption etc. Kya sya umiyak nong sinabi ni gloria na hindi na cya tatakbo sa 2010 dahil nag aalala sya kung saan na sya kukuha ng pera na madalian dahil ky gloria lang sya pwede kumurakot dahil parehas silang kurakot. Alam nya na kapag iba ang uupong presidente ay baka makulong pa sya dahil sa dami ng katarantadohan na ginawa nya lalong lalo na sa mga sundalo. Kaya itong 2010, sigurado ko kahit harapan, garapalan ang gagawing pag-gagapang para lang manatili sa pwesto si tiyanak!!!!
Hi guys.
Ellen, i would like to thank u for sending me this news item from tribune about jasons sister.
Last friday, i was really shocked and felt guilty about the whole thing.
Jason is a good friend of mine. He was my classmate since elementary until high school and my kababata.
For 2 weeks now we stopped communicating each other coz i lost my phone and thats the reason why i had no idea that his sister, erna, whos been a good friend of mine too passed away.
Until now i havent called jason yet.ive been digging all the papers at home checking where i wrote jasons new number.
Jason is a principled man. hes not like the magdalo soldiers! he will NEVER ask aplogy.
SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE- BATCH 1985 OF MAASIN CITY, SO. LEYTE AND THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE ARE TRULY PROUD OF HIM!
IF SOMETHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO JASON UNDER THE CRIB OF THIS ADMINISTRATION..THEY MUST PREPARE A VERY GOOD EXPLANATION TO THE LEYTENOS OR ELSE THE LEYTENOS WILL MAKE A GOOD ONE FOR THIS REGIME!
THIS IS COMIN FROM RAYMOND CINCO, a family friend of the aquinos:
Condolence to the family. Erna was a smart & cheerful person. may her soul rest in peace. These are all God’s will.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
Never take your own vengeance, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” Roman 12:19
From F.Q Cabacoy in Virginia, U.S.A:
Please, extend to him (Major Aquino)and his family our condolence.
My wife’s maiden name is also Aquino.
Update: Maj. Aquino was allowed a six day leave last Friday. He will be able to pay his last respects to his sister.
Tsk, tsk. Aanhin pa ang damo…