Military – Page 54 – ellen tordesillas

Gringo won’t join Cavaliers’ Club at Senate

Published by Ellen on June 30, 2007

by Christina Mendez
The Philippine Star

Sen. Gregorio Honasan has rejected the invitation of his Philippine Military Academy classmate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, to form the so-called Cavaliers’ Club composed of four PMA alumni who were elected senators.

Honasan said that as an independent senator, he would work for a Senate that would push for measures that are good for the country rather than push for the personal interests of some people.

“We cannot afford to chop up a small chamber like the Senate into smaller groupings. The Cavaliers Club existed even before it was called a Cavaliers Club,” he said in an interview.

Command responsibility

Published by Ellen on June 28, 2007

“We will end the long oppression of barangays by rebel terrorists who kill without qualms, even their own. Sa mga lalawigang sakop ng 7th Division, nakikibaka sa kalaban si Jovito Palparan. Hindi siya aatras hanggang makawala sa gabi ng kilabot ang mga pamayanan at maka-ahon sa bukang-liwayway ng hustisya at kalayaan.”

These words were spoken by Gloria Arroyo in her state-of-the nation address, July 24 last year.

This is one proof that all killings allegedly perpetrated under Maj. Gen.(ret.) Jovito Palparan’s command was encouraged and approved by Gloria Arroyo. Under the principle of command responsibility, Arroyo should be held liable for those killings.

DOJ junks coup raps vs Gringo;Affirms charges vs Trillanes

Published by Ellen on June 22, 2007

Update:Clearing Gringo dismays prosecutors

by Evangeline de Vera

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez today exonerated Sen.-elect Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan from all criminal culpability in connection with the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, reversing the finding of probable cause by a panel of Department of Justice prosecutors.

In a 19-page resolution on the petition for review filed by Honasan, Gonzalez said there was insufficient evidence to back the criminal information against Honasan before the Makati regional trial court.

Gonzalez, however, reaffirmed coup d’état charges against Sen.-elect Antonio Trillanes IV and other members of the so-called Magdalo group that staged the mutiny.

The ghost of Hello Garci is back

Published by Ellen on June 19, 2007

The plan of the three Cavaliers in the new Senate – Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes IV, to re-open the investigation of the “Hello Garci” scandal must be giving some officials sleepless nights.

This investigation would render irrelevant the Mayuga report which Malacañang and the military leadership had tried so much to keep from the public. Retired Admiral Mateo Mayuga (now defense undersecretary) has been quoted to have said that he will bring the secrets of his report, which I presume would be the involvement of ranking military officials in the cheating for Gloria Arroyo in the 2004 elections, to his grave.

Well, he can bring his whole report to his grave, the people will have a way of uncovering the truth.

Army division hails Trillanes victory

Published by Ellen on June 18, 2007

by Gilbert Bayoran
Malaya

Bacolod City — The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division with troops stationed in Negros, Panay, Cebu and Bohol on Monday congratulated mutiny leader and Antonio Trillanes IV on his election as senator.

“The 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army under the command of Maj. Gen. Jovenal D. Narcise pass on good wishes to Senator-elect Antonio Trillanes IV (for his) proclamation. We … are hopeful that the AFP bills unrealized in the 13th Congress will be studied for his and other senators’ consideration,” Lt. Col. David Tan, spokesman of the 3rd ID, said in a statement titled “3ID, cheerful for Trillanes victory.”

Tan said the statement reflected Narcise’s sentiment.

AFP unlikely to let Trillanes attend sessions

Published by Ellen on June 17, 2007

by Victor Reyes

A military lawyer today said the Armed Forces might not allow newly proclaimed senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer who was among those who led the short-lived Oakwood mutiny, to attend sessions in the Senate.

Lt. Col. Jose Feliciano Loi said under the military justice system, detainees cannot leave their place of confinement.

Trillanes, who is detained at the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City for the mutiny, is charged under the Articles of War, specifically for violation of Article 96 or conduct unbecoming an officer.

Halatang panic sina Esperon

Published by Ellen on June 16, 2007

Pinipilit kong intindihin si AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon sa kanyang pikon na pananaw sa pagkapanalo ni Lt(sg) Antonio Trillanes IV sa pagka-senador.

Napanood ko sa TV noong Biyernes ng gabin ang reaksyon niya sa pinakahihintay ng bayan na proklamasyon ni Trillanes bilang senador. Hindi maitago ni Esperon ang kanyang inis.

Sa halip na makinig sa boses ng 11 milyon na Pilipino na bumoto kay Trillanes, ang mga balakid pa rin ang kanyang pinagsasabi ni Esperon. Porke’t sinasabi raw ng Articles of War ito at ito.

Lawyers of accused officers walk out of court martial hearing

Published by Ellen on June 16, 2007

This one I missed last Friday because I was assigned to be at the Erap trial at the Sandiganbayan.But here’s the report of Christine Avendaño of the Inquirer.

In the report I noticed that Gen. Yano ignored the appeal of defense lawyers to suspend because it was past lunchtime. This is grossly inconsiderate of the court martial panel. They don’t have the provision to provide lunch at the court room and yet they don’t want to call for a lunchbreak. Or maybe that’s the reason they didn’t want to call for a lunch break. No food, no lunchbreak. What miserable state we are in!

But one good thing, the momentum is high to insist on justice.

Lawyers of accused rebel soldiers walk out of hearing

History in the making

Published by Ellen on June 14, 2007

It’s a busy morning for journalists today.

Today at 10:30 a.m., Antonio Trillanes IV, who ran for senator under the Genuine Opposition will be proclaimed winner in the May 14 elections.

To say that this is sweet victory for the detained Navy officer (he was deemed resigned from military service when he filed his certificate of candidacy last February) is an understatement. It’s a classic example of triumph over overwhelming odds. It’s inspiring. It’s redeeming.

Decapitated AFP

Published by Ellen on June 13, 2007

Retired Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello of Bantay-Boto electoral watchdog warned of a “decapitated Armed Forces” if Antonio Trillanes IV, detained senatorial candidate of the Genuine…

Category: Military