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Category: Military

Disputing government lies

Published by Ellen on January 20, 2008

Army Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, who is detained in Camp Capinpin in connection with the alleged plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006, sent us a note to dispute what he said were the lies that the government is peddling against his “men” who were arrested last week and charged for allegedly planning to stage a coup.

The soldiers are former Army Rangers Sgt. Orlando Valencia, Corporals Ramon Perania, Redantel Maranan, and Walter Francisco. They once belonged to the Third Scout Rangers battalion that Guinolbay commanded.

A civilian driver, Kim Agas, who was mistaken as a former soldier, was also dragged in.

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Wanted: A better scriptwriter

Published by Ellen on January 17, 2008

Update on coup plot, click here for Victor Reyes’ story

As I’m writing this column, it was announced by the Department of Justice that former Scout Ranger Sgt. Orlando Valencia has been ordered released after their initial investigation showed “no probable cause” for charges filed against him by the PNP Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group.

Valencia, together with three other former Scout Rangers Corporals Ramon Perania, Walter Francisco, and Redantel Mara-nan and a civilian driver Kim Agas were arrested Tuesday afternoon by elements of ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) for allegedly plotting a coup.

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To extend or not to extend

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2008


It looks like AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon’s intense (some even say “shameless”) lobbying for extension of his services is for nothing. Two of Gloria Arroyo’s influential advisers have told her to let go of Esperon when he retires on February 9.

Our usual reliable sources said Rear Adm. Leonardo Calderon, AFP deputy chief of staff for intelligence, and national security adviser Norberto Gonzales discussed with GMA the pros and cons of extending Esperon’s services and the cons outweighed the pros.

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Press photogs group declares DOJ chief ‘persona non grata’

Published by Ellen on January 15, 2008

Related story: PNP to “force out” media ignoring orders to leave

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has been declared as “persona non grata” by the Press Photographers of the Philippines following his media advisory that stated journalists may incur criminal liability should they fail to heed the order of authorities during emergency situations.

“We cry foul! We vehemently denounce such statement! And we declared Sec. Raul Gonzalez ‘persona non grata’,” said the PPP in a statement.

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Enough of the “moro-moro”

Published by Ellen on January 14, 2008

Related story: “Plot” seen as ploy to extend Esperon -Biazon

Malaya editorial:

If Gen. Hermogenes Esperon is obsessed with staying as AFP chief after his scheduled retirement next month and if Gloria Arroyo is inclined to grant his wish as payment for services rendered, why don’t the two of them get it done away with?

It’s not the first time an AFP chief wants to stick to his post like a leech (think Fabian Ver). It’s also not the first time a widely discredited president wants to keep a trusted man at the AFP helm (think Ferdinand Marcos). So there’s a precedent.

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Gonzalez to international media watchdog: go jump in the lake

Published by Ellen on January 14, 2008

by Evangeline de vera
Malaya

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday said only President Arroyo could make him withdraw an advisory he issued last week in which he told media practitioners not to interfere in legitimate police and military operations on the pain of sanctions.

He dismissed the call of a New York-based media group Committee to Protect Journalists to withdraw his advisory on the ground that it poses a threat to press freedom and democracy.

He said he takes orders only from the President, and the foreign media group can “go jump in the lake.”

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Six new batallions and an extension

Published by Ellen on January 14, 2008

by Ramon J. Farolan
Inquirer

At the recent AFP command conference in Camp Aguinaldo presided over by the Commander in Chief, President Macapagal-Arroyo, the Armed Forces reported that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), remain the main threat to national security. At the same time, the AFP reported its gains against the insurgency saying that communist strength has fallen to its lowest levels in 20 years with only 5,760 active guerrillas operating throughout the country.

The AFP spokesperson Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters that NPA influence has been neutralized in 202 villages while 13 “guerrilla fronts” were dismantled, reducing the number of such fronts—whose shadow governments are administered by the rebels—to 87.

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Jan. 22 plot?

Published by Ellen on January 12, 2008

Take note of this news item from the Philippine News Agency, the government’s news agency. Gonzalez is talking about a Jan. 22 plot.

On Jan. 22, 2001, Gloria Arroyo was installed into the presidency without election by a military-backed group of civil society members.

Take this news item in consideration with the other reports that have been coming out in the past few days: the ‘floats’ of Teodoro, Esperon, and Razon on a new destabilization plot involving Magdalo officers, revival of national ID, charter change,the report about plan to assassinate Erap, the tension in Tanay last Friday,Gonzalez’ warning to media….

Let’s be alert.

Update: Wala naman pala e. Military, police say “plot” unconfirmed.

Deparment of Justice (DOJ) secretary Raul Gonzalez warned the alleged brains behind the attempt to topple goverment this Jan. 22 not to belittle the Arroyo government’s staying power.

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