All About the AFP: Issues and Information

[SPRINGFIELD_XD_40]

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Of course POLITICS !! Do you know how much INFLUENCE n AUTHORITY the ARMED FORCES have in a country ? Gi abusar lang na sa politiko kay benificial man nila . Problem is damay lang sila kay naa man gyud nay faction pod ang militar , admin ba ka o opposition .

[grabehbebe]

Military preparing for dialogue with GMA


The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is preparing for the dialogue between President Arroyo and military personnel in AFP camps nationwide.

AFP spokesman Col. Tristan Kison said that the President’s dialogue with the military in the course of her provincial trips was not aimed at identifying who among them are pro or anti-government.
"That’s the job of our intelligence and counter-intelligence units. It’s not the job of the President although she can direct these units to conduct these kinds of investigations," Kison added.

Aside from the President who is also the AFP commander in chief, Kison said that top officials of the three AFP major service commands — Army, Navy and Air Force — will be holding dialogues with the officers and enlisted personnel to determine their morale amid the critical issues now hounding the Arroyo Administration. (Aris R. Ilagan)


---http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006031658833.html

[Freeza]

ok...

tan-aw jud nako ang main cause sa ilang problem kay kani jud mo sulod ang politika. either way ang opposition mo gamit nila para pagpahawa sa admin or ang admin mo gamit para pagpabilin sa gahum (not legally).

lets hope the military wont listen to both sides and just stay fucos like decimating the ranks of abu-sayaf and establishing governtment authority particulary in some place in mindanao where milf mnlf have there own so called territory and laws were philippine constitution is piece of paper and to some extent npa scourge but i dont read any papers if they have some kind of establish territory. and if they can establish philippine sovereign in southern province of SABAH where are pinoy brothers were illegaly mass deported like animals

[Freeza]

but there are properÂ* furoms to adress this issues...by attempting to do the so called edsa they will not become a solution they will become a part of the problem as these will have a non ending cycle mutiny edsa4,5,6,7,8,9

yeah i agree... but when they see that this forums are not working they are inviting this individuals to do what should not be done... you know human instincts, people who are desperate.

what forums are not working??.. the government the executive ,legislative, judiciary is functioning ..they may have lost their battle in these forums but the proper furoms are working and funtioning.... if they were ordered to cheat then let them report it to their commander or in civilian courts like filing charges.if they lost the impeacment last year then let them file a stronger one these year.. if the senate cant call witnesses in their so called investigation becuase of eo 464 then they should go th the Supreme court which they have than now just wait for the decision.. and so for the 1017..etc anyway these are all political moves on both sides ... we dont need that lame edsas 1,2,3 to remove marcos, cory ramos ,erap or any sitting president or go overboard like extra constitional means if that is the case were no different from the rebels npa milf mnlf.. although almost all of our respected civilian and military leaders 1986 up have in some point have been rebels them selves...its a mistake that we must not repeat lets remove these edsa mentality and replace it with constitional mentality


im just saying lets support any sitting leader of the country after election and follow the book we are in the modern age anyway revolutions are fit only on baby countries which is just about to taste its independence or newly independent

[FK]

yep the institutions are there pero mura og wala ga function properly... Marcos used the institutions for further put himself in power. ERAP used her allies in senate to cover-up his asses. and now GMA is using again his allies in congress to stop any impeachment bid.

Again this persons I mentions invited so much trouble because they have abused their power.

we dont need that lame edsas 1,2,3 to remove marcos, cory ramos ,erap or any sitting president or go overboard like extra constitional means if that is the case were no different from the rebels npa milf mnlf.. although almost all of our respected civilian and military leaders 1986 up have in some point have been rebels them selves...its a mistake that we must not repeat lets remove these edsa mentality and replace it with constitional mentality.

I really would like to see that...

im just saying lets support any sitting leader of the country after election and follow the book we are in the modern age anyway revolutions are fit only on baby countries which is just about to taste its independence or newly independent.

that should be the case but again if those in power use all the tricks to stop all venues to be accountable in disguise of the constitution...

[grabehbebe]

All cracks in AFP cemented’


DAVAO CITY — All "cracks" within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are now completely "sealed and cemented," said Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., exactly three weeks after the government claimed to have thwarted a coup attempt.

"There are no more cracks. These cracks are now sealed and cemented," Esperon told reporters here upon arrival Wednesday afternoon for the opening of the AFP’s P3-million transient facility at Camp Panacan of the Philippine Navy.

Fractures in the military chain of command were supposedly traced to elite forces such as the Army Scout Rangers and Philippine Marines under which suspected leaders of the Feb. 24 coup attempt served.

"What else can you say now that their leader has gone into hiding and their operations officers are detained?" said the commander of the 70,000-strong Army, referring to former Sen. Gregorio Honasan who the government has tagged as the alleged coup leader.

Honasan reportedly went into hiding after rebellion charges were filed against him and several others including detained 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan, considered to be the group’s operation’s officer, for their part in the alleged plot to overthrow the government. Several other military officers and personnel have been questioned and detained.

Esperon is now reviewing the endorsements submitted by the military body that investigated 53 Army officers and enlisted personnel for their reported role in the coup plot.

The President recently announced that she would soon be meeting with soldiers to explain her side of controversies facing her presidency, possibly including allegations that she cheated in the May 2004 presidential election.

The opposition wants "equal time" to hold dialogues with the soldiers, but Esperon has been cool to this proposal.
Military time not ‘broadcast airtime’
"Ano ito? Airtime (What’s this, like broadcast airtime)?" Esperon asked in reaction to Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero’s call for a separate dialogue with soldiers to give their side on the lingering political crisis.

He stressed that the time the military spends holding dialogues or conferences with the President is not radio nor television airtime that must be afforded to everyone on an equal basis.

"We belong to the executive department and the President is our commander-in-chief. The dialogues with the President are part of what is within the chain of command so you could not equate it with just an open time to everyone to address our troops. This, they should understand," explained Esperon.

On Wednesday, Escudero said opposition congressmen would not insist on holding their own talks with soldiers if military commanders won’t allow it.

Esperon said dialogues with government officials for legislation purposes would be welcomed, but designs to destabilize the government were another matter and would not be allowed by the AFP leadership.

"In fact, we also need to talk with those in the opposition to explain to them the mandate that we follow, as well as the dynamics within which we move within the AFP as an institution," the Army chief said.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Brillantes, chief of the Philippine Army support command, said the opposition should make a formal request "in writing" on this matter.

Brillantes said all military officers and troops tagged in last month’s coup plot will soon be transferred to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

"As soon as that detention facility is finished, those investigated shall be transferred there immediately," Brillantes told The STAR.

Esperon said they could not allow any political groups to destroy the AFP as an institution.

"Never," he maintained.
Anti-coup body findings
Meanwhile Army Inspector General Maj. Gen. Ferdinand Bocobo, head of the Army anti-coup probe body, forwarded to Esperon for his approval their findings and recommendation on alleged erring military members headed by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Lim and several other Army officers, most of whom serve under his command, are currently restricted to quarters. Lim has denied being part of an ouster plot.

"I’m still reviewing it. It was forwarded to me 10 days ago and after I review them, I will submit my recommendation to the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for his action," Esperon said.

Esperon refused to disclose the findings, saying it will be known once AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga receives it.

Despite this development, the names of Army officers previously not linked to the failed power grab have cropped up, according to Bocobo.

He said some of 23 officers and 30 enlisted personnel who were questioned had floated the names of other Army personalities who allegedly planned to join the Feb. 24 anti-government rallies.

For starters, Bocobo said three more Army middle- and junior-grade officers have been summoned to appear for investigation after their names were mentioned by their colleagues.

"The investigation continues because we got new leads from those who gave their statements. We got new names and information… but so far, we are finished with the initial phase (of the investigation)," Bocobo said.

When asked if those investigated admitted to plotting against the government, Bocobo said: "Normally, they would not want to implicate themselves… but we have other sources to prove the involvement of these officers."

Like Esperon, Bocobo refused to reveal the results of their probe but stressed that those found complicit in the failed coup attempt would face charges of four military violations.

These military violations include Articles of War 67 for mutiny; Article 69 for failure to suppress mutiny; Article 96 for conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman; and Article 97 for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

Most of those facing investigation for the cop attempt belong to the elite First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSSR), once headed by Lim.

Aside from Lim, Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza, former FSSR chief of staff, Maj. Jason Aquino, sacked FSSR operations chief, and Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, FSSR chief of personnel, have been directly implicated.

Esperon also shrugged off reports that he was conducting loyalty checks among various military camps. Instead, he said he was traveling the country to inaugurate projects that would benefit AFP officers and personnel such as the transient quarters in Camp Panacan, the second of 16 set to rise in military camps around the country.

"These transient quarters would help the soldiers who travel from one destination to another with a safe and cheap place to stay while in transit," Esperon said.

The AFP, Esperon said, is also in the midst of implementing housing projects for soldiers on a nationwide scale.

He also expressed hope that the AFP would be able to establish schools within its various camps for the benefit of the dependents of soldiers in each area.

---By Edith Regaldo And Jaime Laude
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200603170401.htm

[Freeza]

we dont need thatÂ* lame edsas 1,2,3 to remove marcos, cory ramos ,erap or anyÂ* sitting president or go overboard like extra constitional means if that is the case were no different from the rebels npa milf mnlf.. although almost all of our respected civilian and military leaders 1986 up have in some point have been rebels them selves...its a mistake that we must not repeat lets remove these edsa mentality and replace it with constitional mentality.

I really would like to see that...

im just saying lets support any sitting leader of the country after electionÂ* Â*andÂ* follow the book we are in the modern age anyway revolutions are fit only on baby countries which is just about to taste its independence or newly independent.

that should be the case but again if those in power use all the tricks to stop all venues to be accountable in disguise of the constitution...
patience dear.....



ofcourse she should be smart remember she is a strong leader ..everbody are using the same tricks why shouldn't she use one...

[FK]

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.ph...story_id=69968

ANALYSIS
RP most endangered democracy in Asia
First posted 01:22am (Mla time) Mar 20, 2006
By Amando Doronila
Inquirer

AT NO TIME since the watershed military intervention in Philippine politics in 1986 has the Armed Forces emerged as a pivotal power broker in the country than during the weeks after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's proclamation of a state of national emergency on Feb. 24.

Ms Arroyo lifted the state of emergency on March 3, but claims that residual threats from those seeking to oust her remain.

From this perspective, it can be said that the Philippines has gone through the crisis of Feb. 24 as the most endangered democracy in Asia among the developing countries that composed the "third wave" of new and restored democracies, including Thailand and Indonesia, in the wake of the collapse of authoritarian regimes in Latin America and Southeast Asia in the 1980s.

Thus, Feb. 24 marked a turning point in the democratization wave that might cause Prof. Samuel P. Huntington to revise his widely accepted treatise on the "third wave" of democratization, using the Philippine deviant experience as a case study of democratization in reverse.

[grabehbebe]

‘AFP backs civilian authority’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) declared full support for the government by reiterating its mission to thwart all moves that would subvert civilian authority.

"Nirerespeto natin ang pamahalaang sibil, na kami ay nasa ilalim nila (We respect the authority of the civilian government) and in no way will we subvert the civilian authority," newly designated AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado said yesterday.

Honrado issued the statement only a day after AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga issued a five-point guidance to troops to disabuse themselves of the notion that they are a potent political force.

Honrado appealed to interest groups against using the military in furtherance of political ends. He also reminded troops to remain "apolitical and non-partisan" in these "trying times."

He said the military is bound by its mandate to uphold the Constitution and defend the people against all forms of aggression.

Senga issued a five-point guidance to the officers and men of the AFP’s three major service commands — the Army, Air Force and Navy — to maintain their neutrality amid efforts by some groups and personalities to recruit them for political ends.

Senga stressed the military must be excluded from all political issues.

"In the Armed Forces, along with the national police, we will do our job of maintaining peace and order in the country. We are doing our job in helping hold the nation (together)… nobody, nobody can claim to be the sole entity or agency which holds the nation together," Honrado said.

"Finally, we assure the public that the military will never be a force that will intervene in any political turmoil or will subvert the government," he said.

Honrado explained that the AFP top brass issued the five-point guidance to clarify some concerns and issues affecting the troops.

Amid the incessant political din, members of the AFP must stand their ground and "be cool" enough to see the unfolding developments in the proper perspective, Honrado said.

He appealed to the public to allow the AFP to evaluate the current situation in the light of the five-point directive issued by the AFP in primarily affirming civilian supremacy over the military.

Honrado said the officers and men of the AFP should remain focused on their mission to protect the people and defend the constitutional authorities.

In the five-point guideline, Senga also reminded the troops of the Supreme Court rulings that have established distinct parameters for allowable free speech and civil liberties among those in the military service.

Constitutional rights like the freedom of speech, the AFP chief had pointed out, may be circumscribed by the rules of military discipline.

This is because the military should maintain the rigid discipline in the ranks, Senga stressed.

"While we honor the freedom, the Supreme Court has recognized that in the military service, it is inherent that (there) are certain degrees of curtailment of civil rights to maintain discipline among the ranks," Honrado added.

The latest AFP directive effectively scales down the possibility of the military joining and supporting popular revolts, which in the past, had succeeded in ousting two sitting presidents in 1986 and 2001.
Damage control measures
Senga issued the memorandum at a time when the AFP is still smarting over the alleged involvement of several decorated military officers in a failed coup attempt last month.

The military is doing all damage control measures in the effort to win back the trust of the people and the civilian government.

In this effort, the military top brass had managed to identify and isolate the rogue elements within its ranks by prosecuting them accordingly.

President Arroyo said the purging of the police and military ranks will continue until all "adventurists" in the uniformed services are uprooted and "all residual and anticipated threats of destabilization" are addressed.

Most of those implicated in the latest coup plot last month have been considered "recidivists," or have a history of being involved in military misadventures.

Foremost among them is Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who once headed the Army’s elite First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSSR).

Lim was also implicated in a coup plot in 1989 but was granted amnesty in 1995 and allowed to return to the service.

Lim was among those who laid siege in Makati City in the 1989 coup which was led by then Army colonel Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, one of the founders of the defunct Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM).

Most of those involved in the latest power grab also came from the FSSR.

Aside from Lim, Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza, former FSSR chief of staff, Maj. Jason Aquino, sacked FSSR operations chief, and Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, FSSR chief of personnel, have been directly implicated.

Honasan, on the other hand, is now on the run after being charged for the failed Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.

The government has put up a P5-million bounty for the capture of the former opposition senator for allegedly organizing the Magdalo group of junior officers that seized the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center to trigger another popular uprising.

The Armed Forces said the arrest of Honasan had become their top priority since the former senator was also linked to the reported coup attempt last month.

After the arrest warrant was issued for his involvement in the 2003 failed mutiny, Honasan went into hiding and has not been seen in public since.

Honrado, on the other hand, said the AFP will be helping the Philippine National Police (PNP) in tracking down the former senator.

He said military intelligence units are now coordinating their efforts with the PNP in tracking down Honasan.

Honrado claimed initial intelligence reports indicate Honasan could still be in the country at the moment.

"Well wala namang indicator na nasa labas siya at lahat ng intelligence gathering unit natin ay nagtatrabaho dito at upang mapagbigay ang ating impormasyon sa Philippine National Police (to effect the arrest)," Honrado said.

He said the AFP, as a matter of courtesy to the civilian PNP, will simply play a supporting role in the capture of the fugitive former senator.

Honrado added there is a very slim chance that Honasan is being coddled by his friends in the military.

But he suggested to Honasan to come out in the open and face the charges of rebellion against him.

"The due course of the law would give him a chance to air his side, lalo na kung sinasabi niya na wala siyang kasalanan," he said.




---By James Mananghaya
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200603200401.htm

[grabehbebe]

Stay out of politics, Senga reminds soldiers

By Arlie Calalo
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?...s06_mar20_2006

The Armed Forces has ordered its officers and men to strictly observe the supremacy of civilian authority over the military.

Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Generoso Senga emphasized the need for the military officers and personnel to remain apolitical in The Role of the Armed Forces in these Trying Times.

Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Senga issued the guidelines last March 8.
Some senior military officers based in Camp Aguinaldo believed that Senga’s guidance was a clear reaction to a controversial statement made by Col. Tristan Kison, former Armed Forces information chief.

Kison, who was replaced by Brig. Gen. Jose Honrado, had said the military was a strong pillar that played a key role in keeping President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the helm. He was further quoted as saying that: “If we break, the nation will collapse.�

Reminding the troops about their sworn duty to the people and the Constitution, Senga in his guidance said that soldiers should not involve themselves in any political power play “even if their Commander-in-Chief is embroiled in controversy.�

The Armed Forces chief said soldiers should not be regarded as a potent political force to be used by politicians in the furtherance of their vested interests.
Quoting Senga’s written guidance, Esperon said the military must remain apolitical and “must not wrest power for ourselves.�

Senga said the military’s constitutional duty as protector of the people and state was “not a license to wrest leadership of the government from public officials on the basis of perceived intervention of governance.�

“As professional soldiers, we do not enjoy an unrestrained license to engage in partisan politics or publicly speak our minds against the government without having to take the serious accountability for our unauthorized action,� Senga said.

Citing a 1988 high tribunal decision in the case of Kapunan et al versus the Armed Forces chief of staff, Senga said the Supreme Court set distinctive parameters to the civil rights enjoyed by soldiers.
“It ruled that certain civil liberties of persons in the military service, including freedom of speech, may be circumscribed by rules of military discipline. For one, this is contained in the decision in the case of Kapunan et al that to a certain degree, individual rights of military personnel may be curtailed in order to maintain discipline in our ranks.�

For his part, Esperon during the news conference revealed that the military has already “cemented and sealed� the cracks but they still have to continue in closely watching moves as “threat of an uprising still persists to exist.�
“But we are not letting our guard down,� Esperon said.