By Ronron
December 21, 2007
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. on Friday linked opposition Senator Panfilo Lacson to the alleged power grab plot in February 2006 where rebel Army officer Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda figured in.
Esperon made the accusation against Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, in reaction to the latter’s statement that Esperon’s term extension as chief of staff could cause demoralization within the uniformed service.
“I don’t know with him (Lacson). But what I can say is I know the Armed Forces more than he knows,” Esperon said when interviewed at the sidelights of the celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the AFP at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“Gen. Lacson is mad against anti-coup (personalities)… Maybe it’s because I saw his name in one declaration,” he added.
The declaration, he said, was on a piece of document dubbed as “Diamond Statement” that was recovered during the height of the alleged power grab plot in February last year.
“The Diamond statement was recovered from participants in the February 2006 incident and there were names mentioned on it as possible leaders, the way the names of Gen. Lim and Trillanes were mentioned in the statement recovered from the Peninsula (hotel last November 29),” Esperon said.
Authorities have said that Lim and opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the core leaders of the Magdalo Group, were supposed to be the leaders of a transition government had they succeeded in grabbing power from the Arroyo government last November 29.
Esperon did not categorically say if Lacson was going to be leader had the February 2006 coup plot succeeded.
He said the matter remains under investigation at the Department of Justice, and should he retire from the service, he would be willing to testify against Lacson.
“When I retire, I would be free to testify in any forum,” Esperon said.
Asked if Lacson, therefore, remains a threat to the present government, Esperon only said: “I do not look at it that way. It’s probably why they are not succeeding.”
Esperon was clear, however, in saying that Lacson has nothing to do with the November 29 incident.
Esperon reiterated that he is not pushing for an extension of his term when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9 next year, saying that he has already planned a grand vacation with his wife in the northern part of Luzon.
“It’s entirely the prerogative of the President so I’m not one who would strip her of that prerogative… But I’m not the one who would really go for it. A career in the military service is not the end of life,” he said.
Esperon refused to say if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo discussed with him his possible extension during Arroyo’s visit yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo where she was the guest of honor of the AFP 72nd anniversary celebration.
“That’s privilege communication,” Esperon said.
Esperon had said that there would be nothing irregular if he is extended because the chief of staff can also be allowed by law to complete his three-year term even if he or she is already 56 years old./DMS
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