by Victor Reyes
Malaya
Military lawyers are determining whether detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim could be charged again for violating the Articles of War.
The former Scout Rangers chief on Wednesday asked soldiers to make a stand on the moves of Palace allies to amend the Constitution, and not to allow themselves to be used.
The call was contained in a message read during the multi-sectoral, anti-Charter change mass action in Makati City.
by Lito Banayo
Malaya
“It ain’t over till the fat lady sings”, is a wit’s description of how “boring” operas end. Those who do not appreciate the long arias and have ears only for the operatic highlights often wonder when it would all end.
What this country has had to suffer through the years has been a long and badly sung, badly-scripted, badly-acted opera. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has inflicted her unworthy presence in the life of the nation far too long. First she pushed off the popular troubadour, Joseph Estrada, off the stage, even before the half-way intermission. Then she connived with Garci and Abalos and “her” generals in both the military and the police, in order to keep the klieg lights focused on her bad act for six more years.
It has thus been eight years, four months, and eleven days since she mounted the stage as our prima donna. Before her, no other don or donna except Ferdinand Marcos stayed in power as long. The latter had been president by genuine election for two legal terms. But on his seventh year in office, he declared martial law, and proceeded to rule for another 13 years and 5 months until a mutiny in the ranks of his praetorians, supported by people power, got him and his family packing into Hawaii, courtesy of the United States military.
Message of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim delivered by Mrs. Aloi Lim at the Stop Con-Ass rally in Makati, June 10, 2009
Protektor ito ng mamamayan at ng estado.
Hindi nito obligasyon ang sang-ayunan ang katiwalian ng administrasyon.
Hindi trabaho ng AFP ang mandaya sa eleksyon.
Hindi dapat binibigyan ng premyo ang mga heneral na mahilig magbenta ng serbisyo sa mga politico.
At lalong hindi gawain ng sundalo ang pumatay sa mga aktibista, mga mamamahayag at mga taong walang kasalanan at walang kalaban laban.
Nuong isang linggo, nag issue ako ng statement at sinabi ko duon, “I, therefore, call on every officer and enlisted man to follow your conscience and do what is right – PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE!”
Got this image is from Dennis Garcia’s Facebook wall
No doubt about it. The abominable House Resolution 1109 that trampled on the basic law of the land was passed by the House of Representatives because Gloria Arroyo ordered it.
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo noticed towards midnight last Tuesday, when the voting was about to take place that administration congressmen were marching into the plenary hall.
Ocampo said those congressmen couldn’t be made to return to the Batasan at that late hour by House Speaker Prospero Nograles. “It had to be an order by Gloria Arroyo,” Ocampo said.
Update: Sen. Rodolfo Biazon warns of restiveness among soldiers. AFP Spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner: The AFP will remain non-political and professional. It will not…
Update:
Looks like Maj. Gen. John Martir’s luck has been stalled. A reliable source said the Board of Generals recommended Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban as Marine commandant.
Martir, the source said, was given the choice of a Sulu assignment. He chose to be where he is now.
Maj. Gen. John Martir was a no-show yesterday at the court martial hearing of the 28 officers accused of allegedly committing mutiny on February 2006.
Yesterday’s hearing was supposed to be the start of the cross examination of Martir by the defense lawyers.
The Supreme Court yesterday granted the petition of the sister of Navy Lt. Nancy Gadian for a writ of amparo. What now?
Upon receipt of the order, Harry Roque, counsel for Nedia Diamante, sister of Lt. Gadian who filed the petition last Tuesday before the Supreme Court, informed the High Court that he has advised Gadian to seek temporary sanctuary at the Supreme Court in the absence of an accredited sanctuary.” (Download urgent-motion-for-sanctuary)
“She should find her way to the Supreme Court, introduce herself and seek sanctuary there,” Roque said.
In a statement, the Philippine Navy said with the Supreme Court order, “we hope Lt. Gadian will finally face the Investigation Committee formed by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense to substantiate her serious allegation of corruption of Balikatan ‘07 fund that has dragged the AFP into a controversy.”
Breaking News:
Philippine Navy welcomes SC grant of privilege of writ to Gadian; hopes she will face investigation.
The Supreme Court granted today the writ of amparo for Lt. Nancy Gadian, the navy officer who has been declared AWOL by the Philippine Navy. (Download writ-of-amparo)
The Supreme Court also directed the Court of Appeals to hear the petition on March 28, 2009 at 10 a.m. and decide it within 10 days.
The petition was filed last Tuesday by Nedina Gadian Diamante, sister of Lt. Gadian with the assistance of CenterLaw Philippines. (Download petition)
CenterLaw’s Harry Roque said, “This is unpredented that a military officer is granted relief by the Supreme Court.”
A well-placed source in the Arroyo administration told us there would be movements in the next few weeks in the mid-level of the military that would compel a three-star general to move out of his area command a month before his retirement.
The source said the movement is apparently towards putting in place Arroyo’s dream team that would help her implement her no-exit plan in 2010.
The information we got is that Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga will be turning over the Western Mindanao Command to Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, currently the Marines commandant, sooner than his (Allaga) July 16, 2009 retirement.
Breaktime, May 5, 2009 hearing
Update: The hearing for May 19 has been reset to May 26.
I never harbored the illusion that the 28 officers accused of mutiny in connection with something that did not happen in February 2006 will get justice as long as Gloria Arroyo is in power.
That view is becoming a disturbing concern by the decisions of the panel presiding in the court martial led by Maj. Gen. Jogy Fojas.
On Tuesday, the defense lawyers will start the cross-examination of Maj. Gen. John Martir.