Last Thursday, while former Armed Forces Chief Generoso Senga, now ambassador to Iran, was testifying at a court martial trial in Camp Aguinaldo on the stirrings in the military in February 2006, members of the Magdalo group were at the Commission on Election for a hearing on their application for accreditation of Magdalo Para sa Pagbabago as a regional political party in the National Capital Region.
Questions asked of Former Air Force Lieutenant Ashley Acedillo, secretary general and spokesman for the Magdalo group, revolved around whether they advocate violence as a means to introduce change. ( Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had wanted to be present in the the Magdalo’s case at the Comelec but he was not granted permission by the Makati Regional trial Court.)
Acedillo told Comelec commissioners that their participation in the election process is proof of their advocacy for reform through peaceful means.
This is departure, of course, from how they were thrust into public consciousness. In July 2003, some 300 of them, junior officers and enlisted men, took over the Oakwood Hotel. Accusing Arroyo administration of massive corruption and manipulating the war in Mindanao, they demanded the resignation of Gloria Arroyo.
The idealistic officers all ended up in detention but their allegations about corruption by Arroyo and her officials have been affirmed by subsequent exposes. The government’s efforts to demonize them had backfired and Trillanes was elected senator while in prison.
Acedillo, who is out on bail, said the desire for reforms and for a better life for Filipinos that brought them to Oakwood six years ago is very much alive in them. But, he said, “We understand that if we are to effect or pursue meaningful change in governance, we will have to be part of governance mechanism and we cannot do so if we are not elected.”
The organization, which now includes civilian members, counts on more than 100,000 card carrying members in many provinces.
In Metro Manila, the Magdalo will be fielding former Navy Capt. James Layug for the congressional seat in the second district of Taguig City. Acedillo himself will be running to represent the first district of Cebu.
Other Magdalo candidates are Army Capt. Dante Langkit , also for congressman, in Kalinga and former Marine Capt. Gary Alejano for mayor of Sipalay, Negros Occidental.
On the national level, Magdalo will field their supremo, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim for the Senate. In this regard, they are talking with other opposition political parties for possible alliance. He said they will also be supporting the senatorial bid of Col. Ariel Querubin.
Acedillo said that they are also thinking of the party-list option Magdalo.
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I was late for the court martial hearing of the 28 officers charged with mutiny for something that did not happen in February 2006 following the revelations of the role of the military in thwarting the will of the people in the 2004 elections as heard in the “Hello Garci” tapes.
On the witness stand was ambassador to Iran Generoso Senga, who was the Armed Forces chief- of- staff in February 2006.
Senga had testified that on the evening of Feb. 23, 2006, then Philippine Marines commander, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda; Lim, then the commander of the Army Scout Rangers; and Querubin, then the commander of the First Marine Brigade based in Marawi City came to his office and informed him of a plot of some soldiers to join the protest rally against Arroyo the next day. He said the three told him of their plan to join the rally.
Upon further questioning by Trial Judge Advocate Col. Serme Ayuyao, Senga said, “there was a plan for elements of different units of the AFP and PNP to join protest rallies and announce withdrawal of support from the President…It was a failed (coup) attempt.”
I caught up with some defense lawyers incompetently conducting cross examination of Senga, who sounded dismissive and arrogant. Many times, he would anxiously look at his watch. Ayuyao told the court that the witness still had to go to a meeting.
What I found significant was the cross examination by Vic Verdadero, counsel for Lim and many other Scout Ranger officers.
Verdadero asked Senga, “When Miranda, Lim and Querubin went to your office, they told about the protest rally the following day and that the officers were restive. And that they were joining the rally to be able to control the officers.” Senga said “yes.”
Verdadero asked, “Did they come in uniform”. Senga replied. “Yes, in uniform.”
Verdadero told Senga the three were in civilian clothes. Senga amended his answer saying he can no longer recall what the three were wearing.
Verdadero asked Senga if Miranda, Lim and Querubin were armed. Senga replied, “I didn’t see any firearm.”
Verdadero’s last question was, “You didn’t order their arrest right then and there because they did not commit any crime.” Senga answered, “yes.”
Verdadero asked Senga if Miranda, Lim and Querubin were armed. Senga replied, “I didn’t see any firearm.”
Verdadero’s last question was, “You didn’t order their arrest right then and there because they did not commit any crime.” Senga answered, “yes.”
I’ve said that too in some previous posts here. Mutiny involves a threat of physical violence against a superior. Simple questions:
When Senga “ordered” Lim to stay in his quarters, he did so, didn’t he? So, why on earth are they charged with mutiny?
Also, during the supposed trek to Makati, the marine component headed by Querubin did not go to the rally, did they? Did they go back to baracks? Yes or no? So where was mutiny there?
Senga is the culprit here more than anybody at the time. He was the chief of staff — he had all the power in the world to decide at that very moment to either charge the officers with mutiny (coz he knew what went on) or to kill all allegations, and this, he could have done with one stroke of the pen, instead of listening to lil prick Esperon.
Senga, the supposed Mindanao veteran, lost his balls at a time when he, as the military chief needed it most.
All the scandals that have surfaced after July 2003 (Carlos Garcia ill-gotten wealth, fertilizer scam, NBN/ZTE, et, et, etc.) confirmed the Magdalo’s accussations hurled against Gloria Arroyo.
In a few years time, the Magdalo will be force to reckon with in the electoral arena.
bayad na si senga, ano pa ba ang mapapala sa isang parehas na hustisya sa ating bansa? kung saan ang mga kriminal ay pinapawalang sala at binibigyan ng pardon at yung mga kaalyadong kriminal ay nabibigyan pa ng puwesto at milyong pisong pabaon….
maging mapagmatyag, sa laki ng kasalanan nila sa byan ay hihirit pa ang mga damuho ng isang malaking panlilinlang upang manatili sa puwesto at mapagtakpan ang kanilang malawakang pangungurakot.
di ka na magtataka…kung gaano sila katapang magsinungaling ay ganun din sila kagarapal magnakaw!
ambassador to iran…sarap buhay ng damuho! samantalang maraming sundalo walang maayos na tahanan, walang mga bala, bota at mababang suweldo – iba talaga pag pera na ang nangusap pati karangalan at mabuting pangalan ay ipagpapalit sa panandaliang pera at posisyon…
may katapusan din ang maliligayang araw ninyo!
NO TO YES MAM/YES SIR LAPDOG GENERALS!
NO TO TRAPOS 2010!
Senga contradicted himself, litong-lito na rin ang urong ang yagbols na ito.
“It was a failed coup attempt” he said, but when questioned by Verdadero, “You didn’t order their arrest right then and there because they did not commit any crime,” Senga answered, “yes.”
Aba, IQ between 35-36, din e!
Senga, Ambassador to Iran? I wonder if the Iranian government is aware that this guy was Chief of AFP, for I doubt that he would be accredited if they knew he was a soldier and could be a possible spy.
I know for instance that over here in Japan, background of wannabe ambassadors to Japan are strictly scrutinized especially when the Philippines for instance claims close ties with the US and the Pentagon.
Meron ngang former Congen dito, di makapasok ulit sa Japan because of a strong protest by Filipino residents here to her wish to be reappointed here as ambassador. Nakapasok ang mga petitions in fact sa Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan against her request for posting in Japan. Dito kasi pinapansin ang tinig ng bayan.
Who knows? For his apparent traitorous nature, Senga could have volunteered to spy for the US. Doble pa ngayon ang bayad niya!
Kwidaw ang Iran dapat sa mga katulad niya!
Kung may pilipino sa Iran, dapat i-report niya ito sa Iranian government. Ganyan ang ginawa namin in fact doon sa isang recruiter na naging labor attache sa Japan. Ni-report namin sa Ministry namin na may dating kaso siya tungkol sa mga visa scam sa Singapore. Pinatawag, pero di sumipot. Pina-recall na lang noong ambassador para huwag nang lumaki ang usapan daw!
Iyan ang mga ilan sa puedeng gawin ng mga pilipino na nasa ibang bansa para makatulong sila sa paglilinis ng bansa nila. Hindi dapat pinapalampas ang mga ganitong pag-aabuso. Kaya sinong may sabing walang magagawa ang mga pilipino at ex-Filipinos para sa bansang sinilangan nila. Maraming paraan sa totoo lang basta kalimutan lang ang mga vested personal interests. Successful kahit na anong movement lalo na kung sasabayan pa ng taimtim na dasal at pananampalataya sa Diyos dahil di puedeng mamayani ang kasamaan sa kabutihan!
In a criminal-friendly government, these officers who fought for truth and justice will be convicted.
Look at the criminals in the loose led by Gloria Arroyo herself.Her husband, her son, her deputy national security adviser, her former comelec chair,her comelec commissioner, her agriculture secretary, the congressmen who use government money for their jetsetting and shopping and dining abroad, etc. etc.
These officers had no record of stealing a centavo from the government.
Only when GMA is gone from power will these officers and gentlemen get justice.
Oo nga naman, kung talagang may “crime” eh di sana pinahuli na ni Senga on the spot itong tatlo. In Senga’s interview, if I can recall it right sabi pa nga niya na iimbetigahan pa kung kasama nga si Querubin sa “coup”. This statement alone, means Senga did not think that there was any crime committed at all then. Kung totoong may krimen eh di hindi na sana pinauwi ang mga ito! Deretso na sa jail, pronto!
marami na ang sumasaling civilians sa Magdalo Para Sa Pagbabago,local man o abroad,ordinary Filipinos are hunger for a real change,tama ka Gabriela.in a few years,Magdalo will become a political force to reckon with.
sa paningin ng ordinaryong tao,walang kasalanan ang tanay boys.the more time they keep them there,the more people will throw their support to the Magdalo.
Chi,in the trial many things also depend on the lawyer. Last Thursday, a number of the defense lawyers were unprepared. One even came late, after Senga had finished his direct testimony. How can he make a sensible cross examination?
Ellen,
Bakit ipinagpapatuloy ang mga trials kung late ang lawyer na mahalaga sa pagpapairal ng katarungan? Kahit saan bansang matino, walang trial kung walang lawyer dahil iyon ang dapat na process. Kung walang excuse nga ang lawyer, napapaalis sa kaso at pinapalitan ng mas competent, etc. na abogado, etc.
Unbelievable talaga. No wonder, lousy ang hustisya sa Pilipinas! Ano ba iyan? Parang mas grabe pa noong umalis kami ng Pilipinas. Lalong parang naging backward!
Sa totoo lang nakakasuka ang mga abogado sa Pilipinas. Sila pa ang nagtuturo sa mga clients nilang magsinungaling and to try to evade the law. Never heard ko iyan kahit na doon sa mga abogadong humahawak ng kaso ng mga yakuza sa totoo lang. Apparently, kailangang palitan ang sistemang pulpol ng Pilipinas!
Baka naman kasi nasanay na walang dumarating na mga witnesses sa mga nakaraang hearings.
Senga is in the pocket of Espweron who, like Swab-it Swings-on holds a rope tied on gloria’s neck.
Kung meron ba namang delikadesa ‘yang si Senga, dapat ay hindi rin niya tinanggap ang ambassadorial post at sa halip ay nilinis ‘yung pangalan nina BGen LIM at Col QUERUBIN.
Sayang na heneral. Nasupot sa mas supot sa kanya.
…fellow human beings….Sorry, nagkulang ng “s.”
Ellen, it’s unfortunate that some defense lawyers were unprepared and late. Bibigay na sana si Senga ng tuluyan sa magaling na cross-examination.
With a lot of the scheduled hearings cancelled, some even at the last minute, witnesses not showing up at all, this kangaroo court is perceived only as a means to detain the Tanay boys to keep them away from the criminal first family.
I am even doubtfull if this court will be an objective one. It may even be to the benefit of the “accused” to keep pushing the hearings of this kangaroo court to the end of the reign of the boobuwit so maybe the panel who will render the judgement will not be thinking of the promotions they will be given if they render a guilty verdict on these men.