He would have wanted to hold her hand “for moral support” as she was being wheeled to the operating room.
“At least to make up for the three times that she gave birth to our children and I was out in the combat field,” Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda told the wife of a fellow detainee-officer as he awaited news about the surgery for breast cancer of his wife, Delia. This was denied of him.
Last May 15, Miranda’s lawyer, Rolando Cipriano, wrote AFP Chief Alexander Yano requesting that the former Marines Commandant who is now detained with 27 other officers for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006, be allowed to be with his wife starting May 24 “up to the required recuperation period.”
The request was for a temporary transfer of custody from the Intelligence Service of the AFP where he is currently detained to the Philippine Navy. It was approved by Yano with a handwritten marginal note to the Flag Officer- in- Command Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag to take care of the security arrangements.
Last Monday morning, Lt. Col. Edgar Arevalo told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo that Miranda’s request “ was approved for humanitarian considerations…He will be provided with escorts.”
Accompanied by five enlisted men and two officers led by Maj. Joseph Alegado, Miranda traveled to Calamba Doctors Hospital where Delia is confined. He got there about 4:30 p.m. The general’s presence made up for all the anxiety related to Mrs. Miranda’s illness. Since Yano’s approval didn’t specify inclusive dates and the request was “up to the required recuperation period”, they thought the general would at least be staying overnight”.
The family’s happiness proved short-lived because at 9:30 p.m, Maj. Alegado came back with instructions from Brig. Gen. Ireneo Espino, the camp commander, to bring Miranda back to ISAFP.
The family’s disappointment was best expressed by 9-year old Luis, Miranda’s grandson, who tried to physically prevent the escorts from bringing back his “lolo”. Gen. Miranda had to explain to the boy that the escorts were only following orders.
Whose orders? Apparently Espino was also taking it from higher authorities. It is surmised that the “gods” above Yano only knew about Miranda’s temporary “freedom” when it was announced to the media by Arevalo. Paranoia once again prevailed.
As one of my blog visitors commented, “Para namang tatakas si Gen. Miranda at iiwan sa hospital ang asawa.”
More than the personal grief and anguish of the officers and their family, the case of Miranda et al is about justice and respect for human dignity. This, the detainees’ wives underscored in an emotion-filled hearing at the House Committee on Human Rights chaired by Rep. Erin Tañada on the privilege speech delivered by Rep. Teofisto Guingona III.
The detained officers were not allowed to attend the hearing. In a statement read for them by Maria Flor Querubin, wife of detained Col. Ariel Querubin, the officers stressed, “All that we demand is to be treated fairly and decently, the universal yearning and right of every human being.”
They said that they have been deprived of that right embodied in our Constitution and even in the Articles of War. “We have been repeatedly condemned and publicly adjudged guilty by the convening authority, the then chief of staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., even before formal charges were filed against us.”
They said, “The AFP leadership would like to make us believe that the basic reason for our illegal detention is to instill discipline. As officers of the Armed Forces who have seen combat in the field for many years, we are the very first ones who will agree that Discipline is indeed the backbone of our institution.
“However, discipline is founded on fairness and respect, and the acknowledgment of common values and shared vision. It cannot be used as an instrument of oppression, or to protect the interests of a few, or to entrench those in power. In the imposition of discipline, fair dispensation of justice is also expected.”
The officers said they are in this fight not themselves “but for our children and for that elusive vision and dream of a just, humane and prosperous Filipino society that our people can be proud of.”
Deprived of most of their most basic human rights, they said they are fighting with what they have left – their dignity. They said, “We do not dread the outcome of this process. But we surely dread for those coming after us …because in the scheme of things, they might well be here right where we are.”
Photo caption:
1. Mr. Miranda with children and apo at the Supreme Court last year appealing for the dismissal of the mutiny case against Miranda et al
2. Gen. Miranda
Ahhhh, the inhumane, calous and paranoid hearts of Gloria and Asspweron. I maintain my prior comment that Yano is not in charge of the AFP, and that he is only a decoy. Gloria’s Ass is still the one in command!
Ano kaya at lahat ng asawa at nanay ng mga akusado ay mag lightning rally to demand the basic human rights of their loved ones in detention.
Hindi ba si Leila de Lima ang chair ngayon ng CHR? Ibato rin kay de Lima ang pambababoy ni Gloria sa karapatang pantao ng mga akusado. Let’s see if de Lima is different from sycophant Quisumbing.
for as long as PGMA is C-in-C, there’s nothing new in the chain of command. All CSAFP are beholden to the incumbent President. What gloria wants, gloria gets. Not even Gen Yano, no matter how professional he is, can change that attitude. People are suffering because the country is cursed.
Ano ang reaction ni Yano ukol sa ginawa ni Espino? Hindi ba dapat ay magsalita siya tungkol dito? Sinuot ba ni Yano ang mabahong sapatos ni Ass-peron? I hope Mr. Yano will not walk through the footprints of a 4-legged animal called Esperon. I hope and pray he is of different feather. A good one.
Vice Admiral Calunsag said in Strictly Politics last Tuesday that no turnover of Gen. Miranda to him took place because when he got AFP Chief Yano’s note, he clarified it with Yano and the latter changed his mind and decided to just allow Gen. Miranda to just visit the wife in the hospital.
So, yun na yun.
So, talagang bisita lang as in nakita lang basta ni Gen. Miranda si Mrs. Delia at yun na?!
Yano changed his mind, tuliro rin pala ang isang ito!
Yun na nga, Chi.
Ellen, it is very obvious that although the ass is already out of the AFP, his dogs are still running the AFP. Ass is so afraid and so are his dogs that when the tide turns, they will be the ones who will be incarcerated for the misconduct that they are doing to their own men. Power is intoxicating and asspweron’s dogs in the military are “high”. These men of dishonor should look beyond what they are told by the illegitimate leaders. They should realize that honor and dignity should always prevail irregardless of which side of the fence they are in. The bottomline is, we are all answerable to God for all our actions on earth. It will not be the evil bitch who will be the ultimate judge!
Mrs Miranda, may you get well soon. General Miranda may not be with you now but our prayers will carry through the tough times. Be well, we still have a Celebration Ball to attend soon!
Ano ba naman Yano, may asawa ka ba, o pamilya?!
Sisingilin rin kayong lahat na mga asal hayop, mula sa inyong pekeng kumander na si Gloria hanggang sa inyong mga walang bayag at korap na heneral!
Ang mga heneral ni evil bitch ay nagaantay ng pwestong maganda. Magaling magbayad si evil bitch!
My sympathy to General Miranda, and the other soldiers who have nothing left but their dignity. At least, meron pa sila niyan. Kawawang Pilipinas pag nagkataon. Hindi pa man nagsisimula ang digmaan suko na ang mga duwag. Kaya lang nila iyong mga gutom at walang armas na mga kababayan nila.
I was reading about Maestrocampo’s return to his family. Nasuka ako doon sa mga kalokohang pinagsasabi ng duwag na ito na kababayan pala ni Fatso. Yuck! Hindi daw siya nagsisisi na kasali siya sa Oakwood mutiny, kaya lang galit daw siya sa violence na ginawa nila.
Malabo yata. Wala namang nangyaring violence. Threat siguro pa, kasi sabi naman ni Senator Trillanes noon na nilagyan nila na explosives ang paligid just in case na traydurin sila at lusubin. E bakit kung talagang hindi siya kasama sa violence kuno, bakit hindi siya humirit nang lagyan nila ng explosives ang paligid ng Oakwood for their defense hindi naman para sila mag-umpisa ng gulo?
Puede ba tumahimik na lang siya. Ginagawa lang niyang puro gago ang mga sundalong pilipino. Nakakahiya siya. Pero siguro mahal ang bayad sa kaniya para sa publicity na ginawa niya with his family around him. Ulol!
Ako din walang tiwala kay Yano kahit na muhkang may lahing hapon ang ungas. Sa pagmumukha na lang, kita nang walag gagawing matino. At saka, I hold on to what I said in another loop. Ang lahat ng recommended ni Esperon at approved ni Gloria Dorobo, pihado kapareho rin nilang mandarambong!
Kawawang Pilipinas! Paano iyan, hanggang himutok na lang ba ang mga pilipino?
Off-topic, hindi ko na binasa ang istorya tungkol kay Lozada pero title noong report ng Malaya, “Lozada leaves fate to senators.”
It actually reminded me of another part-Chinese Filipino, Jose Rizal, who was being made to stand witness against the Katipuneros until he was forced to take full responsibility for the group that he was never actually part of. Parang si Lozada din. Pinaaako din ng kasalanan hindi naman niya ginawa.
Si Rizal binaril sa Bagumbayan (Luneta), si Lozada, tinatakot na ikukulong noong unconfirmed idiot na Secretary of InJustice under this administration of a criminal. Sabi ni Lozada, OK lang. Like Rizal, balang araw tatanghalin naman siyang bayani.
As for Gloria Dorobo, ingat kayo. Hangga’t di tinatanggal ang animal na iyan, balak talagang maging reyna ng lintik. Abaw, sabi ng isang report sa Inquirer, may changing of the guards daw sa palasyo.
Ooooops, palit lang pala ng mga sipsip. Nothing to do with similar changing of the guards at the Buckingham Palace for instance that has been something of a tourist attraction in UK. At least, iyong bakod sa Buckingham Palace, walang koryente, at saka hindi parang pier ang paligid ng palasyo doon kahit na ilan beses nang may nagtangkang pumasok sa kuwarto ng talagang reyna di tulad noong kriminal sa Malacanang na gustong maging reyna pero mukha namang basura!!!
Chi,
Huwag mo nang asahan si Yano. Kuwarta at yabang ang alam ng isa pang iyan. I doubt na nakakaintindi iyan ng damdamin ng isang may malaking pagmamahal sa pamilya. Baka marami pa ngang chicks ang mamang iyan sa totoo lang.
Iyong mga walang kabit, iyan ang tunay na makapamilya at nakakaintini ng damdamin at pagmamahal ng may-asawa at mga anak.
I hope that God punish these people like he did the people of Soddum and Gomorra (unsure of spelling). I hope that they be not around when a loved one is sick and are in need of their comfort and presence, I pray that in the death of a loved one, they can’t be there to share the grief and I hope that every hardship, every pain, every suffering that the Filipinos experience due to their actions, they will also feel – an eye for an eye, a tooth for every tooth.
hay, sayang si YANO kung susuutin din nya ang sapatos ni ASSPWERON na mabaho pa sa mga bulok na basura ang pagkatao…kelan kaya susuwertihin ang bansa nating Pilipinas na magkaroon ng leader na kapakanan naman ng bayan ang uunahin at hindi ang pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan? yung makatao naman sana at may puso para sa mahihirap, di ung puro pagnanakaw ang laging nasa isip na gaya ni Gloria Demonyo sampo ng kanyang mga aso…sabagay ang taong nakatikim ng nakaw sa pagnanakaw din ang bagsak, tingnan nyo si Gloria dorobo, pinakain ng nakaw ng tatay nya kaya ngayon eh malakas magnakaw…bwesit talaga
hay sayang nman si YANO kung susuutin din nya ang sapatos ni ASSPWERON na mabaho ang pagkatao…sayang talaga, pag pumayag syang maging aso rin ni Gloria demonyo…
the picture tells me and i hope those responsible will understand that behind each victim of injustice lies a group of people who will come to remember what happened for generations to come.
Yes, Norpil. I can’t just say enough…I’m choking everytime I see that photo of Gen. Miranda’s family.
“Fight for their own dignity.” Di lang mga sundalo. Lahat ng pilipino. Iyan na lang sana ang natitira sa kanila, ipaglaban na sana nila!
Off topic, but I just saw a picture of the whistleblowers, who are now being charged criminally, not the culprits lording it over the Filipinos. Wow, bakit ganoon?
Calling, calling the bar associations in the Philippines. Dapat ipinaglalaban ang mga karapatan ng mga mamamayan who are obligated by law to pinpoint the criminals without fear or favor. Whistleblowers like Lozada, Joey de Venecia, et al should be protected from the criminals disguised as government officials, police and military! 😛 Human shields anyone?
Off topic, but I just saw a picture of the whistleblowers, who are now being charged criminally, not the culprits lording it over the Filipinos. Wow, bakit ganoon?
Calling, calling the bar associations in the Philippines. Dapat ipinaglalaban ang mga karapatan ng mga mamamayan who are obligated by law to pinpoint the criminals they know are engaged in criminal activities without fear or favor. Di dapat payagan na takutin sila noong accomplice of the La Whore parading as Secretary of Justice daw! Kailangan nila warm bodies to protect them. Human shields anyone?
Yano changed his mind? Revoked his own order? Mukhang yatang mahirap paniwalaan. Sabihin mo may nag-order from above.
Gen. Yano, binabastos ka. Binabastos ang posisyon mo.
This is what Defense Secretary Teodoro said:
“If their rights were violated, they should file a complaint through the chain of command, through the chief of staff, so that these will be investigated and, if it is proven, [then] appropriate action will be taken,” Teodoro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.
“We can’t allow them to go straight to Congress and use it as an alternative forum, and break military protocols and military controls,” he said.
Nag-Harvard pa itong si Teodoro. Bakit ganito ang takbo ng utak. Officers to complain to CS. Di si Esperon din ‘yun noon. Si Esperon na nga ang may pakana nito lahat.
Iba talaga kapag sobra ang yaman at hindi nakadaan sa hirap. Pati utak lumalambot.
ellen, how is mrs miranda doing?
i wish her well, and together with all bloggers here, may she get better soon. para kay maj. gen. miranda, i hope he and all his comrades find solace in remembering that we pray for all of them.
Myrna, Mrs. Miranda is doing well. Initial findings show that her cancer is stage 2.
Hindi lumalambot ang mga utak non kundi utak tiyanak na
sana magising na tayo matagal na tayong nahihimbing……
At the court martial hearing today the lawyer of Gen. Miranda (he was absent as he was not feeling well),Atty. Rolando Cipriano, lamented to the panel about the recall of the pass granted to his client last Monday to be with Mrs. Miranda.
The trial judge advocate said they didn’t know about the recall of the pass and the court said it is the discretion of the convening authority.
AFP Spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres issued the following startement:
1. The Bachelor Officers Quarters (BOQ) arrest previously approved has been rescinded based on the advice of The Judge Advocate General to the Chief of Staff on account of the circumstance that it may sound a wrong impression of giving Gen. Miranda special treatment at the expense of his fellow respondent officers who are similarly situated;
2. Furthermore, this may create a dangerous precedence. This is without prejudice to the availment by MGen Miranda of Officers’ Pass for the purpose of visiting his ailing spouse in accordance with existing rules;
Continuation of LtCol Torres’ statement:
3. We expect MGen.Miranda to just periodically request for leave so that he can provide support to his wife. The period of which will be determined based on the recommendation of the Court Martial. Such requests will be appropriately considered.
As in the past,the detainees are granted liberties (with MP escort) on a case-to-case basis. The same treatment will be applied to the case of MGen Miranda.
Ellen, I am boiling mad at the AFP! These detained officers are already treated like criminals! When the truth of the matter is, the illegal president who has cheated her way up to her stolen position lords over these upright officers. The AFP leadership now are all like the asspweron! Useless and are being used by this illegal pesident to keep herself in power!