AFP monitoring three retired military officials on alleged destabilization plots; recruitment within PNP also confirmed

By Ronron
June 7, 2005

The Philippine military identified three retired officers who allegedly have a role in the recent destabilization plots against the government based on their pronouncements to the public.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said military agents are already monitoring the activities of former Defense Secretary and Army chief Maj. Gen. Fortunato Abat, retired Commodore Ismael Aparri, and Brig. Gen. Angel Sadang.

"We’re cautious of their statements… Their activities are being monitoring," Pascual told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

Abat is one of the leaders of the Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Soldiers (FORCES) and one of the convenors of the Coalition for National Salvation, a group launched in April that seeks for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Aparri is the spokesman of the Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military for Solidarity (YES-ARMS), while Sadang heads the Generals for Constitution.

Aparri and Sadang’s organizations are also critical of the Arroyo government.

"Their statement is a cause for concern for the Armed Forces because they are telling our soldiers to break the chain of command," Pascual said of the three, who are allegedly exploiting current issues within the military, such as the reported extravagant repair of the sidewalks inside Camp Aguinaldo and the construction of a resort house for the military in Boracay.

The AFP leadership had already explained that the cost of the sidewalks repair is only P5 million, and not P19 million as initially reported, and that the military resort house in the famous Boracay Island is an initiative of a non-governmental organization, and not of the AFP.

In a brief phone interview, Abat denied the allegation against him, and pointed instead to the government as the one responsible for its destabilized state now.

When asked if his and his group’s call for Arroyo to step down could be read as a form of destabilizing the government, Abat replied: "We are calling for her ouster because she is destabilizing the government through malgovernance."

Aparri, in a separate interview, also belied the destabilizer tag imposed upon him by Pascual.

"I am the one being recruited by the agitated soldiers to speak for them. They (soldiers) are the ones asking me to speak for them because they are voiceless. I’ve never recruited anyone," Aparri told reporters at his office at the Association of Generals and Flag Officers inside Camp Aguinaldo.

Aparri expressed disappointment over the fact that "in this country, when you speak against the government, you are a destabilizer."

"Is it wrong to speak for the unattended?… They can call me anything but we are not destabilizing the government," Aparri said.

He disclosed that soldiers are particularly concerned on the failure of the government to settle the P36 billion unpaid pension differentials to war veterans, and the issues of the military resort house in Boracay, the repair of the pavement in Camp Aguinaldo, the lack of equipment and facilities for soldiers in the field, and many others.

"What is his (Pascual) basis for calling me a destabilizer? Just because we are speaking for the soldiers who are voiceless? If that makes me a destabilizer, then I accept it. We are reformist, nationalist who take care of the veterans and the soldiers. We have not much to advertise for ourselves," Aparri said.

Pascual issued a warning to the three that the military has a very active internal counter-intelligence capability that could monitor very well their activities.

The recruitment activities conducted by some sectors outside the military service was already admitted by the AFP in earlier pronouncements.

But, according to Pascual, the plot is still in its initial stage since it is only limited to mind-setting or mental planning activities.

He said the AFP is countering these moves by informing and educating well their troops about the real score on certain issues, thereby discouraging the soldiers from joining possible military adventurism.

"We have a very stable command structure. The chain of command is intact," Pascual described the AFP at the moment in light of the alleged destabilization plots.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed yesterday that recruitment within the police ranks is also on going in support for the alleged destabilization plot against the government.

However, Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil refused to identify the recruiting party.

"The seat of government power is besieged anew by a malicious effort to throw it off balance by way of a seemingly elaborate and grand design at destabilization," PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said in a separate statement issued yesterday.

Quoting "highly reliable intelligence reports," Lomibao said the "latest uncovered attempt at destabilization could be part of a larger scenario that was preceded by an earlier series of deliberate disinformation efforts, and possibly including some sensationalized scandals, unfounded rumors and other manipulative means of spreading false information."

The PNP chief said key police officials met over the weekend to assess the recent developments.

But amidst the destabilization rumors, Lomibao assured that the PNP will stand "squarely behind the rule of law and will stay focused" on its "mission to protect and serve the people."

"The (PNP) under my leadership will insure that any further step at destabilization that borders on the illegal and with willful criminal intent shall be addressed accordingly by uncompromising police action consistent with existing laws," Lomibao said.

He stressed that the PNP will not be swayed by any motive and will remain faithful to the Constitution and to its sworn duty./DMS