by Ashzel Hachero
Malaya
A Makati court yesterday granted a leader of the Magdalo group that staged the 2003 Oakwood mutiny temporary leave of detention for him to file his certificate of candidacy.
Marine Capt. Gary Alejano was granted a five-day leave starting today. He is running for mayor of Sipalay in Negros Oriental.
The filing of COCs starts today.
Alejano, chair of the Samahang Magdalo, is detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame for his involvement in the Oakwood mutiny and the Manila Peninsula standoff in November 2007.
Aside from Alejano and Layug, four other Magdalo officers are running for elective posts in the 2010 elections.
Former Air Force 1st Lt. Francisco Ashley Acedillo is running for a House seat representing the first district of Cebu City; Army Capt. Dante Langkit for the sole district of Kalinga province.
One of the core leaders of the group is former Navy lieutenant and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who is also under detention.
The Samahang Magdalo, a nationwide organization that includes civilians, is supporting the senatorial bids of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim (Liberal Party) and Marines Col. Ariel Querubin (Nacionalista Party) . Lim and Querubin are not Magdalo members but they are also in detention on chareges of mutiny against the Arroyo government.
The Samahang Magdalo is also supporting the candidacy of Sen. Chiz Escudero for any position he decides to run for the 2010 election.
I came from a hearing of the Manila Pen case. The court is rushing the arraignment before Nov 29 to prevent the presciption of lesser charges.
The prosecution amended the charges and introduced more affidavits after the conduct of the pre-trial investigation. The defense said it’s a violation of the accused right to due process not to have been shown the complete documents on which the amended charge sheet is based. They asked for suspension of hearings and conduct of new pre-trial investigation. Denied.
Okay lang. They know they will not get justice under Gloria Arroyo. Sige lang.
I support James Layug.
Best of luck Lieutenant!
I’ve asked my brother who is from “his” district and my lawyer who resides in his district to lend support too.
Best of luck to every single valiant officer in Ellen’s list! The nation needs you gentlemen! You’ve shown great valour in military service, time to show the shameless tradpols that moral principles and raw courage should be the foundations of change.
By the way, Ellen, how many districts are there in Taguig?
And to Lieutenant Layug, (as they say in the Royal Navy), I say, “Go Navy, Go!”
Mayor Tinga of Lakas-Kampi, who is alleged to be soft on drug syndicates (the PDEA has exposed this), will defect to Liberal party.
I think Tinga will run for a congressional seat, which will also be contested by the son of Angelo Reyes. They are the ones that James will be up against.
Get it done! Let’s rock the vote!
Good luck to our Magdalo boys, may you all win.
I may be going out of the limb here, but i have reservations for too many military personnel (ex or enlisted) in politics.
As member of the legislature, it is less risky as the congress is a collegiate body. it is another story in the executive department of government.
I admire and respect military men who had acquired character after training and while in service. But such character is designed primarily within the military organization. More often than not, civilian supremacy is compromised when military men take part in the civilian affairs of the government.
In the legislature, I am not impressed with the performance of Biazon, Honasan and Lacson. In the executive department (appointed positions), they are too many to be enumerated and they provide comfort and support to despots.
I acknowledge the ideals of the young officers in the military but I just wish they confine the idealism within the organization to be the constitutional protector of civilian authority/supremacy.
Oblak, points well taken I assure you but may I remind you that those you mentionned (except for Lacson) were all senior military officers who allowed themselves to be corrupted by the civilian authority and cannot at all be included in the same league of young, honourable, not corrupt breed of military officers to which these gentlemen belong.
Furthermore, allow me to say, military training in the proper sense, is rather complete and the principle of SERVICE is embedded in military training philosophy that can only be matched by people who are with NGOs so with that for starters, I am confident that these young men know whereof they stand. Let’s also not forget that these young men have been trained to be leaders first and foremost in the truest sense of the term.
While many of their seniors have prostituted “leadership” with being sheep-like to the extent that they confounded moral courage with moral cowardice, I am convinced that these young men have proven without an iota of doubt that they are not of the same species as their elders.
Last of all, I would like to offer a contrary view to what you say, But such character is designed primarily within the military organization. More often than not, civilian supremacy is compromised when military men take part in the civilian affairs of the government.
This is not quite true. Again, allow me to take you to a glimpse of history: Some of the finest men who changed the political landscapes of their respective nations were moulded by, served in and were first and foremost military career men.
To name a few, General Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, Victor of Waterloo, was reputed to be the best prime minister Great Britain ever had.
Colonel Charles de Gaulle, who rose to the rank of general during WWII, was the father of modern France.
Winston Churchill, a graduate of Sandhurst Military Academy, First Sea Lord during WWII was a brilliant politician statesman.
General Dwight Eisenhower, West Point, rose to be president of the United States after an exemplary leadership as Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
And many more, … If you include General George Wasington without whose dogged military determination America wouldn’t be born.
As a reminder, Colonel Charles de Gaulle was the epitome of a “coup d’étaist”, sentence to death in absentia for insubordination, mutiny, and other military crimes…
And last but not the least, General James Jones of the US Marines, who to me, is the epitome of a today’s statesman soldier, former SACEUR (NATO), a man who abhorred an illegal war (but wouldn’t balk at leading and fighting a just war) and who said “Sod off!” to US DoD Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is now the voice of reason as National Security Adviser to Pres Obama.
Okay lang. They know they will not get justice under Gloria Arroyo. Sige lang.-Ellen
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So far, the front-runners among the presidential candidates as far as the recent surveys are concerned are Noynoy and Villar. Gen. Lim is with Noynoy and Col. Querubin is with Villar , aside from the possibility of winning a senate seat, I hope that the elected president will be sympathetic to the plight of the incarcerated soldiers. Is this a strategy of the soldiers or just a case of serendipity?
Thank you Ms. Brux.
I wish the young officers well. I also hope that they will not be another Honosan, from an idealist to military adventurer to senator to a big time (the unprintable hole)
Ms. Ellen, I know you know that Gen Lim had formally accepted the LP senatorial post. I humbly suggest that his acceptance and him being a senatorial candidate be added in this article. Thanks
Anna:
Thank you for such eloquence. . . U have defended your soldiers’ honor very well. . . .
Ano ba yan? Na edit ko yung isang portion.
It should go this way: “Thank you Ms. Brux. General Luna and other great Filipino soldiers should be included in the list. I agree that in times of war, turmoil and conquest, the military career men are the go-to guys. My only concern is that there is no war nor conquest (both in the strict sense) in our country.
Oblak,
The military men I mentionned, without exception, became politicians and elected to political posts in time of peace.
Save for Gen Jim Jones who’s not been elected but named for the post in his civilian capacity or after he retired.
Henry,
Many thanks to you too and to your fellow officers/former officers who continue to serve!
I think Tinga will run for a congressional seat, which will also be contested by the son of Angelo Reyes. They are the ones that James will be up against.
Oh my, tradpols in the making. Tough combat in perspective. We all need to join the James’ bandwagon and mustn’t allow these upcoming tradpols to win.
I know of non-military people who are more praetorian in their attitude. One is the new Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales.
In my coverage of the court martial hearings I have been privileged to meet a number of military officers, including those who are not accused. A few are assholes. But most of them are decent persons who want to see a just and peaceful society.
I think it was Henry who said that at the end of the day,all these soldiers want is tob e able to come home to their families.
As to managerial skills, I noticed that they have good organizational skills. Sometimes a bit severe and unflexible but they are organized.
It may interest you to know that all these Magdalo officers who are running for public office have taken masters degree in public adminsitration in UP (open university program) while in detention.
They are serious in their desire to participate in helping this country move forward.
Ace: So far, the front-runners among the presidential candidates as far as the recent surveys are concerned are Noynoy and Villar. Gen. Lim is with Noynoy and Col. Querubin is with Villar , aside from the possibility of winning a senate seat, I hope that the elected president will be sympathetic to the plight of the incarcerated soldiers. Is this a strategy of the soldiers or just a case of serendipity?
I understand each ticket can accommodate only one military officer. I suppose they didn’t want to be seen as military-heavy. Since they both wanted to enter politics, they had to be in different tickets.
I think their inclusion in both tickets is a recognition of a “military vote” that put Honasan, Biazon, Lacson and Trillanes in the Senate.
I give my unequivocal support to the candidacy of these young and courageous Magdalo men.
Teka, maghahalungkat pa ako ng mgs bffs and relatives sa kani-kanilang bayan/provincial districts….
Minor dissent Anna.
It is an insult to De Gaulle and Churchill to include in their ranks, Eisenhower. Eisenhower was a mediocre president.
As a military man, Eisenhower was not too impressive as well. Europe was won by Patton and Montgomery, Asia by MacArthur. Eisenhower never saw action. Parang Ramos.
As to managerial skills, I noticed that they have good organizational skills. Sometimes a bit severe and unflexible but they are organized.
That is good news.
Ellen,
Speaking of managerial skills, this reminds me of the qualities of one of the greatest military men the world has ever produced: Napoleon.
Everywhere he went, every nation he conquered, beginning from when he was a simple young general and victor of the battle of Naples, he instituted political reforms, built good infrastructures (water, transport, education), introduced civil service and a system of social security system where they were virtually inexistent (which was in most nations he conquered), etc.
Europe, and to a large extent, many parts of the world, are still enjoying his legacy.
Name me one military man, general, conqueror, emperor who’s left a legacy that is still virtually intact, i.e., in place, and rules, guides the lives, affects quite possitively the lives of hundreds of millions of people TODAY…
Napoleon is the only military man of stature whose long lasting legacy, the NAPOLEON CODE, is still felt directly and still rules ordinary people’s lives today for the most part because a bulk of (or parts) the Code is still embedded in the civil laws of many nations of Europe, first and foremost, equality between men and women…
Sax,
🙂
I understand your misgiving re Eisenhower. I am a great admirer of Patton (and to a certain degree, of Montgomery) and so can only agree with you but I put Eisenhower in my list because it is my belief that one needn’t have seen the front of battle and crossed swords with the enemy to device ways and means to achieve victory. He managed the war, the prima donnas of WWII, he made the decisions, he took risks and it was on his shoulders that victory or defeat rested. For that, I believe he did a great job.
As to his presidency, I agree that he did not make waves but perhaps, he didn’t have to. The world needed a bit of respite (although he could be faulted for having misjudged the need to battle and to indirectly have been responsible for blunders committed in the name of “liberty” without understanding the dynamics of why Asia, particularly Vietnam, was falling the way it was during his era.)
Oh, and speaking of Napoleon…
Did you know that during his time, the whole of Europe drove their horse carriages, military convoys, etc. on the left-hand side (like the way they drive today in the UK)?
Military genius Napoleon changed all that. It was he who changed the way cavalry and military convoys “drove” or attacked by making horse carriages drive from the right hand side. This particular Napoleonic military strategy that influenced, changed or overhauled the mode of “transport driving” in Europe and modern motor driving in most parts of the world today. (And I’m convinced, this is the reason why the British refuse to change their mode of motor driving — 🙂 )
Anna:
There is a more practical explanation for the difference between the Brit and US way of driving, as related to me by a Brit friend.
The Brits had horse-drawn carriages since the middle ages. The weapon then was a sword. In order to have free access to it, the scabbard had to be at the left side of the driver, since his right hand will most often be used to draw the sword. So carriages had their drivers on the right, so the left was free to have the scabbard sit close by.
The US came of age in the days of the rifle. A carriage driver, in order to have access to his rifle, put it at his right, so he could easily put his hand to the trigger (the left hand only cradles the barrel). So the right side must be free, so drivers were situated on the left.
Sax,
🙂
Your Brit friend was right but he didn’t tell you why they’ve always refused to change their mode of driving; that it was because the idea of “driving” right hand was Napoleon’s idea. It was actually military strategy of Napoleon’s to confuse his enemies. And it became a Europe-wide mode of driving their carriages from then on.
Kung talagang tanggap ni Noynoy si Gen Lim sa LP, papahangain nya ako. Si Lim ay myembro ng grupo nag stage ng coup ng Presidente ang nanay nya. Ayon sa Vera files, nasugatan sya sa isang coup attempt. Hindi rin sya sang ayon sa gusto ni Cory na magpunta noon sa Army HQ sa Fort Bonifacio para magbigay ng support kina Querubin. Pero eto ngayon mamakasama nya sa LP si Lim.
PMA, an institution where people of integrity, loyalty, honesty, bravery, etc….descends from; where are they? Especially the generals and senior officers? Most of them are or were corrupted.
Emotions are running high with hopes of these Magdalo Groups gunning for elected offices; we will be fortunate if 2 out 10 will be sane and not manipulated by the golden image of money. Money instanly changes the behavior of even the loyal and brave soldier with integrity, it turns devilish. In a country such as ours – I’ll be a pessimist and hope to be proven wrong.
OT: Ambassador Kenney’s days are coming to an end. Wonder if a USS Nuclear Carrier can handle all the load of gifts she accumulated all these years from the Evil Regime. Harry K. Thomas is taking over.
Very interesting exchanges there Anna and Sax.
The fact that these men are incarcerated for fighting an evil regime says a lot about them. Not all officers are the same Tru Blue. I see a different set of officers in the Magdalo group. May they all win and clean up all their territories.
As to Lim and Querubin, both would have wanted to be in the same party but none of the leading parties would take them together. It is difficult to both finance them for one. Both have no money to spend for running. They are both non-corrupt. Secondly, these parties would definitely like to have their share of the military votes which is quite big too considering their family and friends.
Ellen is right. There are more decent officers than there are rotten ones. I know a lot of decent ones.
The very good thing is, the Magdalos are all helping all the incarcerated officers running for office. They are the untiring foot soldiers of these incarcerated comrades!
Tru Blu:
That is why there are always exceptions. Many others opt to retire early and fight the battles in other realms, not necessarily through the noble profession of arms. For those who chose to stay and got corrupted, PMA has NOTHING to do with that. That’s FREE CHOICE. Just like me.
I encourage these Magdalos to start forming their own organizations now to field in all candidates in 2016. By that time. I wish they will have their own president, vice president, senatorial candidates, congressional candidates, governors, mayors and down to the smallest unit. Ngayon pa lang they should start organizing. I like to see Chiz and Sonny, Lim, Querubin and all these officers running for an office now, spearhead the formation of this Magdalo slate. It is a bit late now so these officer candidates do not have any choice but to affiliate with the traditional parties. But come 2016, I hope they would be solidly participating in the elections and do a REAL GOVERNMENT REFORM !
Oblak, remember the Fort Bonifacio stand off? Cory was on her way to give support to Col Querubin but asspweron’s men blocked all the roads leading to the camp so Cory was not able to join the stand-off. Noynoy now realizes that his mom and these soldiers have the same dream, to have a better Philippines. The methodology may be different but the goal is the same. For accommodating Lim, in this regard, I admire Noynoy.
Henry, tama ka. These PMAers have choices. They are trained to be leaders. If some of them (in the likes of asspweron, ermita, ebdame, reyes etc…the list is very long!) chose riches and compromised their principles, nasa kanila na yun. But these opportunists are but a few PMAers. Mas marami pa rin ang tunay na opisyal na kumikilala na sila ay tiga-pagtanggol ng mga civilians at hindi ng iisa lang na pamilya na nagkataong saksakan ng pagka-kriminal at kawalanghiyaan!
Kung vice tatakbo si Chiz, malaki ang pagasa nito. May he win. Now this is a better move! Too late now for him to run for the presidency. Hindi magandang tignan ang independent na presidente na wala man lang slate. If ever he wins, mahihirapan siyang pasunurin ang lahat ng mga nanalo na galing sa malalaking partido. He can start positioning himself now for a higher office in 2016, mas malaki ang pagasa niya then. From hereon, magpakitang gilas muna siya para sa ganun, madagdagan naman ang kanyang mga accomplishments ng hindi siya masasabihang inexperienced. Having a heart to serve is one thing but he has to show that he can do the job as well.
PSB/Henry: All generals in Gluerilla’s empire are/were PMA’ers and all corrupted. Ni wala man lang isang matino, what does that tell you.? Sure, being spineless is a choice. Colonels and below were on the losing end as very few or none were even given a cushy cabinet position. And it is a moral issue because these generals have the choice to be good servants. So if you think these magdalos will be the savior of their constituents, give me a break. It’s like Cocoy’s pipe dream to become president. Years from now, we’ll be here once more and who knows I would’ve eaten lots of crows by then.
A measuring stick for these magdalos are: Statements of Assets and Liabilities; what each have NOW! Cars and Houses if they have any.
PMA is only a rock, an institution but some who comes out are the most hypocrites of hypocrites having been sworn to
be all the adjectives you can come up with. That’s my point. It’s all emotional rhetorics especially during their graduations year in year out, like they will save the motherland from corruption and greed.
I don’t know about having a government run by military or ex-military. All I can think of right now will be Chile under Allende, or our neighbor Burma.
Power corrupts, lots of power corrupts lots of lots, and they who approach problems with guns are kind of scary.
All I can think of right now will be Chile under Allende — Pepito
You mean, “Chile under Pinochet”?
I don’t believe that the present govt run by civilian authorities is less scary? They have not only guns, they also have goons and gold, tons and tons of them.
But I understand your concern. There is a great risk that an all-military govt will be marshall which is contrary to the tenet of democracy. But I believe this is not and cannot be the case in Pinas inasmuch as civilians run the political show and the oligarchs that are behind the powers that be are all civilians.
It is also important to remember that it was the civilians in “authority”, never mind if that “authority” was stolen, were responsible for the state of disarray the nation finds itself in. These young officers were not responsible for the crimes perpetuated by these civilians in authority.
The entry “en masse” of all these young military officers into the political arena was forced upon Pinas and society by an extremely corrupt and immoral government and its dishonourable leaders.
Remember, in a nation where justice is paramount and where respect for the constitution is primordial, the military is the last republican institution to react.
Civilians are largely to be blamed for the current state of the nation.
“I think their inclusion in both tickets is a recognition of a “military vote” that put Honasan, Biazon, Lacson and Trillanes in the Senate.” – Ellen
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Thanks Ellen, I see the point. So,if ever they (Lim and Querubin)win, we will have five “military men” in the Senate by 2010.I don’t know if this will become a precedent of some sorts in the coming elections via the tried and tested “military vote”.
“military vote”? Meaning?
There are roughly 120,000 members in the military… not a huge vote there. There is no such thing either as a “military bloc vote”. The RP military is still a very very fractionned military.
There are roughly 120,000 members in the military… not a huge vote there. There is no such thing either as a “military block vote”. The RP military is still a very very fractionned military. – AdeBrux
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If the reservist, the families of the military personnel and the people they can influence, will be included in the equation, I think it could serve as the swing vote and it explains the phenomenal win of Trillanes even when he failed to campaign in person .
Two of the current ex-military officer senators are now on their way out. I am not sure of their names.
I don’t see their victory in the election as a proof that the “military vote” exists. Their victory is more easily attribuable to their high profile personality that captured the imagination of the ordinary voters, the romantic hero image, just like what Pinou voters see in film stars.
FVR lost the so called military vote yet he won the elections.
PSB,
Only Biazon is on his way out, Honasan, Lacson and Trillanes will still serve up to 2013.
PSB, I think Biazon is on his way out and Honasan too?
Biazon is not eligible for re-election as senator. I think he will be running for representative, the seat that will be vacated by Ruffy, who will be running as senator under the LP ticket.
Anna, I don’pt want to use the term “military bloc” because it’s not a command vote like the Iglesia ni Cristo.
But the past elections have shown that the military community is a substantial vote. Ace pointed out that even if there are only 120,000 members of the military, you multiply that by the number of families that they wield influence on, that’s substantial.
In the 2007 elections, it was significant that precincts around military camps (that means voters are those with a member of the military in the family) were Lacson, Honasan, and Trillanes.
It’s all emotional rhetorics especially during their graduations year in year out, like they will save the motherland from corruption and greed.
🙂
I still have to hear from a PMA graduating class “rhetorics” along the lines of “they will save the motherland from corruption and greed.” More likely from a graduating class of the NPA…
Ms. Brux, I would just like to make exceptions to this part:
“The entry “en masse” of all these young military officers into the political arena was forced upon Pinas and society by an extremely corrupt and immoral government and its dishonourable leaders.”
Justifying the entry of the young military officers in the political arena as a way of bringing political stability for the nation or rescuing it from the threat of immoral government is a dangerous proposition. It has been used as the justification in establishing military dictatorship in other countries.
This government, extremely corrupt and immoral with dishonorable leaders survives largely because of the support of military officers. GMA remained strong because of the favors given to military officers, even those retired in the service. It is either “I (GMA) will give you what I want just support me” or “Give us what we want and we will support you (GMA)”
It is difficult to indict the present government without including the military men who keep GMA where she is.
From the 2007 votes, I sensed that members of the military, especially the junior officerses, the soldiers, tne enlisted men, have a deep awareness of what’s going on in government and they disdain wrongdoings.
The 2007 votes showed an opposition sentiment among members of the military because let’s not forget that Esperon and other top officials gave instructions to stay away from Trillanes. They ordered that posters of Trillanes near the vicinity of the military camps be torn down. Yet Trillanes ranked high in precincts around the military camps.
Anna:By the way, Ellen, how many districts are there in Taguig?
I think, two districts. Because right now, we have Lani Cayetano (wife of Alan) for the first district and Henry Duenas for the second district.
Even if all these military officers all win in their prospective positions, they can hardly be considered to constitute a .0001% share in the total political pie. Politics will still be mainly civilian dominated.
Agree with you on this Oblak:It is difficult to indict the present government without including the military men who keep GMA where she is.
They are the the group represented by the Hello Garci generals – Esperon, Ebdane, Habacon, Kyamko. They are all there mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes. Cuddled and richly rewarded by Arroyo.
And they will also be running in the 2010 elections, for representative.
You can not consider these few ex military(soon to be) candidates “en masse”! All of these candidates will have to leave the military service to run. On the contrary, these senators, congressmen, actors etc can run and do not have to give up their positions to do so. Double standard, I would say! The incumbents can have their cake and eat it too!
Oblak,
Justifying the entry of the young military officers in the political arena as a way of bringing political stability for the nation or rescuing it from the threat of immoral government is a dangerous proposition.
Firstly, I make no justification of the sort, i.e, “as a way of bringing political stability for the nation or rescuing it from the threat” — it’s an observation. I am making a statement of fact that has nothing to do with justifying, a term which, to me, signifies being right.
If you have read some of my posts over the years in this same blog, I have never been an ardent proponent of “militarisation” of govt. I believe the militarisation of a govt runs counter to the tenet of democracy. It is risky and is not healthy in the long run. What I have advanced in my previous comments were mere tit-for-tat arguments and I did so with as much equanimity as I could muster.
Secondly, when you say, “This government, extremely corrupt and immoral with dishonorable leaders survives largely because of the support of military officers.” is only partly correct.
We must remember that the military, or the members of military who have propped up members of this govt would have never succeeded in doing it without the complete connivance of the civilians. What do I mean by that? It is the civilians that have always put the RP military on a pedestal. I do not believe for a moment that most members of the current RP military deserve to be put on a pedestal. There are only a few of the current crop of officers in my book who deserve such recognition.
The general belief — if ever such general belief exists — that “This government, extremely corrupt and immoral with dishonorable leaders survives largely because of the support of military officers.”, it is because the ordinary Filipinos give our current military more credit than it deserves.
At the end of the day, those members of military who propped up Gloria and her entourage of villains got to do it because the Filipino public encouraged them and media glorified them. The truth is the Filipino military is not yet at the stage, largely because its members are not united and its leadership is unprofessional, where they are or should be considered a threat to civilians.
But I do agree with you that the military that propped up Gloria and her entourage of govt deserve rebuke and those senior military officers who have been villanous to the nation should be indicted along with Gloria and her minions.
And when I say “There are only a few of the current crop of officers in my book who deserve such recognition.”, I mean, they are very very very few.
As to retired officers, with the exception of those in power today, they don’t count at all… Why media refer to them at all in their news astounds me. It is the ordinary citizens, the people around who glorify them.
Those in active service will tell you that while they may show retired officers courtesy and respect (especially if they were their former superiors), they are out and their opinions don’t matter to them anymore. Again, it is the civilians that make them so important, believing that they exert influence where they realistically don’t and can not anymore.
Once out of the service, a military officer is out, so the saying goes.
“In the 2007 elections, it was significant that precincts around military camps (that means voters are those with a member of the military in the family) were Lacson, Honasan, and Trillanes.
Ellen, I get the gist of what you are saying and I think, in a way, we agree that there is no such thing as military vote bloc — and I agree that the multiplier effect of the military population (because of their dependents) may be significant but the victory of those 3 officers in election, I suspect, was due largely to the hero worship factor thanks to immense media exposure. That’s because Filipinos are desperate for “heroes”.
For the sake of discussion only…
Is it possible that another reason why GMA Administration failed is because it was black mailed by the few from the military? Hello Garci will not be so popular unless someone did the recording with more of it floating somewhere undermining the presidency, paving the way for these guys to control key position in the government with most of them involve in many massive thievery not necessarily a GMA corruption? Leaving GMA to either join the party or go to jail?
Anna: That’s because Filipinos are desperate for “heroes”.
Agree.Agree. And I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I’d like to think that the “desperation” shows that our values are still in place because we yearn for what is right, what is just, for decency in government.
On the other hand, I’m uncomfortable with the attitude that we wait for a knight in a shining armor to get us out of this pit instead we taking action, taking risk to oppose those that are trying to pervert our society the way Gloria Arroyo and his gang did.
I go back to what the characters in Bertolt Brecht’s play “Galileo” said:
Andrea: Pity is the land that has no hero.
Galileo” Pity is the land that needs a hero.
Oblak and others thinking of military men as “utak pulbura”,
Mawalang galang na sa inyong lahat.
Bagama’t iginagalang ko ang inyong opinyon tungkol sa pagkakilala sa isang madilim na bahagi ng pagiging kawal (salamat sa iilang mas pinipili ang maging bayaran kaysa tunay na tagapagtanggol ng sambayanan at mga animo’y hayok na halimaw an ang akala ay sila na ang pinakamatapang at dapat na panganinuhan), nais kong bigyang pansin din naman ninyo ang aming pagiging katulad ninyong TAO na may damdamin at lamang nasasaktan at buhay na dapat din pangalagaan.
Bahagi ng aming pagsasanay, sa training camp, sa academy (for PMA’ers and other direct commissioned officers), sa training schools and even in combat ang PAGTATANGGOL at PANGANGALAGA sa kaligtasan at karapatan ng bawat mamamayan at hindi kasama dito ang pagkitil sa buhay ng inosenteng nilalang lalo’t higit ang ipagpalit ang aming prinsipyo at tungkuling sinumpaan tungo sa pamamalagi ng iilang ganid sa kapangyarihan.
Kung meron man (meron na nga, katulad nina Ermita, Reyes, Mendoza, Honasan, Esperon, Yano at marami pang iba) na mas pinipili ang pansariling kapakanan sa halip na isabuhay ang marangal na adhikain ng isang kawal sa kanyang sinumpaan ay sila lamang ang may pananagutan gayundin ang mga tauhang pikit mata sa pagsunod sa baluktot na katwiran at kautusan.
Marami kami (na umalis sa serbisyo bunga ng hindi masikmurrang kalakaran) sa aming hanay ang ang hindi sang-ayon sa pagkakaroon ng pamunuang manhid, bingi, pipi at bulag sa karaingan at tunay na kalagayan ng naghihikahos nating mamamayan subalit wala kaming sapat na lakas at paraan upang labanan ang bulok na sistema at LUBOS kaming nagpapasalamat sapagkat sa hanay ng ating mga kabataang opisyal ay UMUSBONG ang mga tunay na mandirigmang hindi inalintana ang dusa at hirap kasama na ang pagsusta sa kanilang mga ngalan at dangal, upang bigyang muli ng buhay ang naghihingalo nating karangalan bilang isang bansang minsan nang dinakila sa bahaging ito ng mundo at tuloy ibandila ang pagiging marangal at kagitingan ng lahing Pilipino!
…..kasama na ang pagdusta sa kanilang mga ngalan…..
…Kung meron man (meron na nga, katulad nina Ermita, Reyes, Mendoza, Honasan, Esperon, Yano at ILAN pang iba)…
Hay….daming mali!
On the other hand, I’m uncomfortable with the attitude that we wait for a knight in a shining armor to get us out of this pit instead we taking action, taking risk to oppose those that are trying to pervert our society the way Gloria Arroyo and his gang did. – Ellen
I always thought we have a system that is not working and requires fixing and I thought we may need a white knight, as you put it, to lead us in order for us to get out of this mess.
I’ve seen people march for their beliefs but unless someone from the top opens the door or participate nothing will happen…not unless this action is another EDSA revolution? (the original kind).
Also, my view, I thought if only we have an ombudsman that is totally independent and a justice system with a jury system will more likely do the trick or will give us a good start for the changes we all wanted and the rest will eventually follow..Anything going on in this end?
MP, ginagalang ko ang institusyon na military. Kung may nasasabi akong hindi maganda sa mga military men, iyan ay dahil na rin sa nakikitang gawain nila na taliwas sa tunay na papel ng military sa ating lipunan. Ang loyalty nila na dapat ay nasa bayan, kontitusyon at batas ay nalilipat sa taong nakaupo.
Yung mga pinangalanan mo, (okay lang kahit nagkamali mali), sila mismo ang dahilan kung bakit nahihila pababa ang institusyon. Isa ako sa nawindang nung makita ko ang paglalaban laban ng parehong sundalo lalo na sa Oakwood at Manila Pen. Ang ginawa sa mga sundalo sa loob ng Manila Pen pati na rin sa myembro ng media. Hindi naman siguro ako masisi kung mabuo sa isip ko na sa nakita ko sa Manila Pen na may arogante sa military.
Huwag sanang masamain (I am willing to accept that this the exception) pero bakit kapag junior officers na punong puno ng idealism ay hindi na halos mabanaag kapag senior or retired officers na lalo na kapag ang ranggo ay Koronel at Heneral?
Yung mga tiwali sa military dapat exception to the rule. Sa panahon ni GMA, parang naging general rule na at marahil ang mga Magdalo group na ang exception.
Ito ang ugat ng reservation ko sa malawakang pagpasok ng military men (ex, enlisted at retired) sa electoral democratic process. Maaring iba sila sa mga nakalipas na young military officers, I hope so. Hindi lang kasi maalis sa isip ko na nung 1980’s ang RAM ang mga sundalong may idealism. During and immediately after EDSA 1, sila ang pinaka pogi, ang darling ng lahat. Then the series of coups then the ascension of Honasan to electoral politics. Sana nga si Honasan ay namumukod tanging exception
Pasensya na at walang akong inside track sa military circle. Ang mga opinion ko ay ayon lamang sa mga nasaksihan ko sa naging papel ng military mula ng martial law hanggang sa kasalukuyang gobyerno ni GMA.
Oblak, never fall into generalization. Case to case yan. Just because Honasan turned out to be a disappointment, it means na lahat those with miltiary background disappointment rin.
You have to look at each candidate as an individual human being. Bawat isa iba ang qualifications.
Now, if it turns out later on that you made a mistake, then criticize him. Oppose him. Don’t re-elect him.
I think we should not be afraid to make a mistake or fail. My philosophy in life is, do what you think is right. Winning or losing is secondary. Ang mahalaga ay ginawa mo ang paniwala mong tama.
Oblak.
It is not us who are against what is happening in our government who are proving to be arrogant and abusive but those officers who are lining up inside the pocket of the power that be.
Like what Ellen said, don’t fall into generalization. Also consider those who are over defensive and protective of the present leadership. They are those who also do not want to stripped of their share in the loot. They are also those who deny humane treatment of their fellow officers who continuously defy joining the dirty game.
Bilang mamamayan, nasa ating mga kamay ang susi ng tunay na pagbabago. Wala sa sino mang kandidatong nangangakong isasakatuparan ito. Kung walang botanteng ipinagbibili ang boto; kung walang mamamayang napatatangay na lamang sa agos ng katiwalian at ipinipikit ng mga mata sa maruming gawain ng kanilang mga pinuno, at lalo’t higit kung walang Pilipinong tinatanggap na mapabilang sa kawawang katayuan ang sarili at yumuyukod na lamang sa mga inaakalang naghaharing uri sa lipunan HINDI matatapos ang pagmamalabis ng iilang ganid sa ating pamahalaan.
Nasa ating mga kamay, sa pamamagitan ng balota at paninindigan kung ano ang tamang dapat nating tahakin at samasamang pagsaluhan ang susing magpapalaya sa ating kasalukuyang pagkapiit sa pagdurusang dulot ng mahika ng kasinungalingan.
Need translation please: Ano na nga ang ibig sabhin ng –
– taliwas
– mabanaag
Ms. Ellen and MP, Noted. Joke yan ha, to inject levity lang.
My apologies if the post tends to lean on generalization as I am mindful that there are some long time posters (who I like) here who are or used to be within the military organization. I tried hard not to resort to stereo typing that is why i used parenthesis to highlight a point. As I said, I do not and never moved in the military circle, hence with no personal knowledge as to actions of military personnel beyond those which I read in printed reports and see in the media.
I always thought we have a system that is not working and requires fixing and I thought we may need a white knight, as you put it, to lead us in order for us to get out of this mess.
Like you, Olan, I personally that we have a system that is not working and needs fixing but unlike you, I think we need NOT ONLY ONE KNIGHT BUT TENS OF MILLION WHITE KNIGHTS to get Pinas out of this mess.
Anna,
taliwas – opposite
mabanaag – see the light or see the dawn
Dumating nga sina Trillanes, Lim and fellow Magdalo, pinabayaan naman. Tama si Anna, 10 million white knights and kailangan natin…
Chi,
There’s always next time.
Sna Harry Potter lang at Dirty Harry ang laging nagmamadali.
Tingnan n’yo nga at si Harry Roque ay hinay hinay, dahan dahan.
Di ba, harry Angping?
The military has been used many times to subvert the constitution; whether by Glue, Latin American, or African leaders. The exception is Turkey.
Whenever a constitutional crisis occurred, the military stepped in, restored order, then pulled back again. In fact, it is only the Turkish people who looked up to the military to save them from abusive civil officials. In most countries, it is the reverse; the civil authority (Courts) has stepped in to curb military abuses.
RE: Marami kami (na umalis sa serbisyo bunga ng hindi masikmurrang kalakaran) sa aming hanay ang ang hindi sang-ayon sa pagkakaroon ng pamunuang manhid, bingi, pipi at bulag sa karaingan at tunay na kalagayan ng naghihikahos nating mamamayan….?
Reporting for ANO nga pala Sir MPRivera…yaks, hanggang MS22 lang ang inabot ko ah! Plano kong mag advance kaya lang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin e.
I salute your Sir, sapagka’t maraming dakilang Sundalo at Kapulisan datapwa’t nahaluan ng mga itlog na bugok kaya medyo pumangit ang imahe ng AFP/PNP in particular.
Magkagayon man e bilang isang mamamayang Pinoy e nananatili pa din ang tiwala namin sa mga Kasundaluhan natin na wagas ang pagka-Pilipino.
Kung di mo naitatanong e anak ako ng WWII beterano…may dearest Father e beterano sa digmaan against imperialist Sakang together with my grandfather na opisyales sa USAFFE.
Kaya mabuhay ang mga Bagong Katipunero sa ating Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas.
Mabuhay kayong lahat!
But it’s rhetoric not discounting Anna’s point of view. I just thought that we put to much emphasis on personalities and give our votes on the assumption that one will do good once they are in office. In addition, we also do not follow-through on making them work to best improve governance and services, as well as, don’t put much emphasis on the once to represent us in Congress.
My point is..why don’t we make it simple..for example..We know Noynoy is leading and possibility of winning is good..is there a way to just tell him we want you to spearhead create or appoint an ombudsman that is truly independent as a deal for voting for you..and then impose that anyone joining his bandwagon an an LP commit to suppport ammendments to have a jury in place in our judiciacy as guarantee for votes for example…we have many cause oriented groups and media that can play a very big role on this? isnt it? plus if successful we don’t have to bother ourselves with turncoats or butterflies because if after voting and they failed us..we’ll remember the next time around and this is very visible…
Also, it will be easier to organize people from this end..anyone with sense of right and wrong can pick this up without exposing themselves from reprisals..
Para sa akin, nasubukan na ang lahat ng pofession, ng mga naging Pangulo sa bansa, magmula ki Lapu-Lapu, Aguinaldo,Bonifacio,Quezon,hanggan ngayon(mangingisda,mahirap, heneral-sundalo, mekaniko,guro,abogado,housewife,Ekonomista ),bakit di natin
subukan naman ang mga MAGDALO group, o trupa ni D. Lim,mga
naka-kulong sa ngayon, baka nasasa kanila ang pag-asa ng bayan..Palagay ko naka-pag-isip, at na reporma na sila sa loob ng kulungan, at niluto ang kanilang magagandang adhikain sa Bansang Pilipinas. Kung tunay na masama sila, sa kanilang galing at kaalaman, iba na sana ang takbo ng mga pangyayari, ngunit, marunong silang gumalang sa ikapapayapa at pangkalahatang katayuan ng bansa. Alam nila bina-bastos ang saligang batas, silay nagtimpi, gumalang sa
mabuting paraan, lalo na ang mga pamilya at kabataang masasangkot na walang kamuwang-muwang ( they have shown respect,discipline, perseverance,patience, and good humanly-soldiery traits ), kahit na malinaw na ipinakulong sila, na walang napatunayang pagkakasala. Nakulong sila dahil sa Hello-Garci,Assperon,FG-GMA syndrome and co. Sila ang tunay na hustiya ( kinulong-iginapos )at ang maling hustiya ay malayang nakakalat-nagpapayaman ng husto, niyuyurakan, pinag-lalaruan, binabago ang SALIGANG BATAS.
Amen Rudolfo! Paging,paging the Magdalos, here is Rudolfo who just said in toto your campaign slogan, “para sa reporma, mga bagong adhikain, tunay na paninindigan, paggalang sa saligang batas, tunay na hustisya at para sa ikapapayapa ng bayan”.
Very nicely pit Rudolfo!
Ang aking pagsasa-larawan ng Bansa ay siyang katutuhanan, kung bakit nagkaroon ng mga Sundalong Magdalo, at mga kakampi nila..Kung ang Lipunan, plus Senador Chiz escudero, at mga humahanga sa prinsipyo ng mga sundalong naka-kulong ( Gen. Lim-Miranda-Trillanes and co. )ay mag-focus sa senaryong ito, masisilip natin ang liwanag ng pag-asa ng Pilipinas. They were principled core-group who are
just waiting for their time to serve the country with honesty and real patriotism. Kailangan, unti-unting wakasan na o tapusin ang pagka-ganid sa PARTIDO o PARTIDISTA na siyang sakit na cancer ng lipunan. Sila ang tropa na sinungalin, mabigkis o maboo lamang nila ang kanilang maka-pangsariling ahhikaing partido ( kung ano-anong partido, na nakakalito sa mga butante, mayroon pang mga gay issues, etc ). Para sa akin, 3-lamang ang pinaka-mahalaga ( na nasilip ko kina, Hen Li, and co. ), MAKA-DIYOS, MAKA-TAO, at MAKA-BAYAN. Ang mga ito ang dapat na partidong prinsipyo,magpapasigla sa takbuhin ng bansa, wala ng iba pa…( hindi yuong sang-katirbang sinungalin na mga abogao, at di naman lahat, para sa mga mabubuti at honest ).
Tama ka Rudolfo…pero mas magaling din kung meron tayong systema na magbabalanse para maiwasan ang pangaabuso sa kaban ng bayan at karapatang pantao!!!
Palagay ko ang Grand Jury AT Trial Jury na ginagawa sa US, at dapat kinupya din ng Pilipinas ( winalis yata ito, ng sadya ng mga na-unang framers ng Saligang Batas, para mawala o maitago ang pagbabalanse, at maiwasan ang abuso sa
kaban ng bayan, at karapatang pantao. Kaya lakas loob na ina-abuso ang kanilang mga tungkulin na naka-atang sa balikat ). Ang Jury System o sistema, ay nagbibigay ng karapatan sa mga mamamayan ( kahit ordinaryo ) na maipabilango, mapa-alis sa tungkulin ang mga nagkasalang, nanunungkulan sa bansa. Sila ang pinakikingan ng Hustisya
or judges, kung dapat mag-resign, ibilango ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno. Dapat ito ay isinama sa pag-gawa ng batas ng Pilipinas..Ang mga tiwaling nanunugkulan, kusang nagbibitiw
sa tungkulin, kapag, sinaling o lumabag sa JURY SYSTEM na ito..Nagtataka lamang, dahil ang bansang Saligang Batas ay
halos kopyada sa US, ngunit ito ay nawala ( kaya marami tuloy ang tiwali sa tungkulin, ngunit lalong kapit sa kanilang inu-upaan, kahit na maraming charges ).
Ang nakikita kong pinakamagandang sistema upang mabalanse ang batas at maiwasan ang pang-aabuso ng mga tusong naghaharing uri sa pamahalaan ay TANGGALAN ng piring si Aling Liberty. Hindi kasi niya nakikita kung ano ang laman ng magkabilang tara ng kanyang timbangan!
Kapag lumamang ang na$a kaliwa lalo’t matatabang manok ang regalo ng mayayaman kay huwe$/pi$kal o kaya’y $a mahi$trado, aba’y di$$mi$$ed kaagad ang ka$o. Wala ng marami pang u$apan!
“They are the the group represented by the Hello Garci generals – Esperon, Ebdane, Habacon, Kyamko. They are all there mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes. Cuddled and richly rewarded by Arroyo.” – Ellen
————
You forgot Art Lomibao was mentioned by Garci himself.
Thanks for the translation, Magno!
Rudolf,
You don’t have to wonder. ‘Wag magtaka.
Ang unang unang inalis sa ating Saligang Batas ay ‘yung equal implementation of the rule of law para sa mahirap at mayaman.
Dahil lahat ng mayayaman (lamang) ang maaaring kumandidato sa mga elective positions ay tinanggal nila ang grand dury system.
Kung meron mang mayamang nakulong, ano’ng klaseng kulungan meron sila? Hindi ba’t parang five star hotel na kumpleto sa mga amenities? Meron pang mga tagapagsilbing jail guards at kapwa bilanggo? Baka nga meron pang live entertainment, hindi lang natin alam?
Hello, matindi pala, KUSANG winalis ang Grand Jury sa Pinas ???..marahil, kaya pinatay, pati mga kapatid ni Andres Bonifacio, ng KKK, dahil MAHIRAP sila. Ganito din yata, winalis o pinatay ang JURY SYSTEM sa Pilipinas, dahil magkakaroon ng boses ang mahihirap, para
ipakulong ang mga mayayamang tiwali sa gobyerno ( ngunit, yumaman sila sa pagnanakaw ng kwarta ni Juan de La Cruz ).
paki, bukas lang ang, mail@philjury.ning.com samahang
gustong ibalik ang Grand and Trial Jury sa bansa. Baka sakaling maibalik uli. May tanong lamang ako, papaano ang
kalagayan ni “pacman” Manny Pacquiao ngayon na mayaman na sya, na nangaling sa kahirapan ?? alam nya ang takbo ng hustisya sa US, dahil resident din sya dito ( may mga bahay, ari-arian ). Sakaling maging congressman sya, dapat
ito ang una niyang gawing bill sa house of Tongress, icon
na sya ng bansa, at maraming kakabig o tagahanga.Kung maga-gawa nya ito, isang KAMAO na pang TKO na naman ito, sa mga
dambuhalang kalaban ( Cotto, De la Joya, Hatton, etc ) nya ( in politics ). Ang Grand Jury, ay katulad ng pag-alis ng takip ng mata o piring ni M(s) or Aling Liberty, para dilatan ang mayayamang nagkasala sa Saligang Batas.
Tanong lang po. Paano inalis ang grand jury sa Pilipinas e kahit kailan hindi ito nangyari sa Pilipinas?
Kapag sinabi bang grand jury, yun ba yung grand jury na nag iindict sa accused na tanging prosecution ang nagdidirect ng proceedings? Hindi nangyari yan sa atin.
O yung trial by jury? Indi rin yan nangyari sa civil courts natin. Tanging sa court martial na covered by Articles of War ang nag oobserve ng trial by peers.
Paki enlighten lang po.
Oblak,
Ito naman, eh palagay lang, hane?
Hindi pa nga nangyari dahil sa papel pa lamang, sa pag-aaral ng mga ilustradong mayayaman, hindi nila kayang tanggapin na ‘yung pagdurusa ng mahihirap sa pagbuno ng kaparusahan sa katulad na kasalanan ay hindi nila kayang tanggapin at inaaaring napakalaking kahihiyan at batik sa kanilang karangalan.