AFP restive; Senga calls up commanders
Sacking of general, colonel roils military

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sacking of a Marine general and a colonel for their appearance before a Senate hearing on Wednesday has triggered renewed restiveness in the military, prompting the AFP leadership to mount a drive to soothe the officers corps.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga called up area commanders Wednesday to explain why he sacked Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani as assistant superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy and Lt. Col. Alexander Balutan as assistant PMA commandant.

Senga then instructed the commanders "to inform our men regarding the matter," said Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual. chief of the AFP’s Public Information Office. "So the dialogue with the junior officers are ongoing."

Pascual said Senga is talking with area commanders not because he was afraid that the Gudani case would serve as rallying point for another uprising or destabilization move.

"Not necessarily…Our officers and men are intelligent enough, they are not going to be carried away by this scenario," he said.

The relief order, which came after the two appeared at the Senate committee on national defense, triggered massive demoralization in the Armed Forces, according to Senate sources.

"They were proud of Gudani and Balutan. They salute these two brave Marine officers. But they are really frustrated about the decision of the AFP hierarchy to initiate court martial proceedings against the two for alleged insubordination," one of the sources said.

Gudani and Balutan were sanctioned for appearing before the Senate inquiry without the approval of President Arroyo, in violation of Executive Order 464 that was signed by the President Wednesday afternoon.

The sources said the demoralization is not only among junior officers.

"Even senior military officers are disappointed. They watched the hearing closely. They were expecting that the courage of the two officers would rub off on their senior officers and that they’d finally wake up and realize that the military is supposed to be non-partisan. But all they got was disappointment. Politics prevailed in the end," another source said.

The sources said the AFP is now abuzz with talks that junior military officers, who claim to have had their fill of dirty politics, are planning an "exercise" similar to the July 2003 Oakwood Hotel siege.

"Baka magulat tayong magkaroon bigla ng Oakwood 2. That is really very possible," the other source said.

On Wednesday night, rumors spread that the Marines who were angered by the sacking were set to move against government.

Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda dismissed the rumors and said the Marines would not take a political stand.

"I want to talk with the Filipino people. You do not wish for a Marine to be partisan. I am telling you my countrymen that we, Marines, are not experts on political matters. It will be safe for all of us and for the country that we remain apolitical and neutral and allow us to do what is mandated of us," he said.

"Allow us to be neutral, allow us to be apolitical because if your military, or your Marines in particular, will side with the administration or with the opposition, you can just imagine the trouble it can create because we are armed," he added.

The Senate sources junior military officers in civilian clothes were present during the hearing,

"They were seated at the back. They were giving moral support to Gudani and Balutan," one of the sources said.

"They have been observing. They have long wanted to do something to change the present political landscape but they are barred by the law from doing so. They were expecting a lot from the Senate inquiry into the supposed role of the military in the cheating of the May 2004 election results," another source said.

NO PROBLEM

Pascual, asked if Senga has talked with Miranda over the Gudani’s and Balutan’s relief, said he was not aware of any communication between the two generals. But Pascual said Senga has talked with Navy chief Vice Adm. Ernesto de Leon, who has administrative control over the Marines.

"He (De Leon) said there is no problem with the Navy at present because the Marines is under him," he said.

Pascual stressed Gudani and Balutan were relieved and being investigated for violation of the Article of War 65 or willfully disobeying a superior officer and not for what they revealed before Senate.

Without elaborating, Pascual also said military officers view the Senate inquiry on the wiretapping issue as "politically motivated."

"Once again, we appeal to our political leaders particularly the opposition not to involve the Armed Forces for whatever agenda they have. We really would like to focus on our job, we really would like to reform the Armed Forces," he said.

On whether Marine officers would move against the government in support of Gudani, Pascual said: "He is a good military general but he committed an offense."

"So probably there is sympathy because they are our fellow officers. On the question whether they (other Marine officers) will move, I think that will not happen. That will not happen because General Gudani and Colonel Balutan committed an offense," he added.

Miranda admitted Marines officers were affected by the testimony of Gudani and Balutan but said this does not mean they are going to intervene.

"I am in the process of talking to the people," he said.

Miranda also said he was saddened by the decision of Gudani and Balutan to testify before the Senate without presidential approval. He said the military has to be covered by laws and regulations.

Asked if Senga has spoken to him regarding the Gudani issue, Miranda replied in the negative. But he said he had a telephone conversation with the Navy chief Wednesday night to discuss a recent Marines operation that resulted in the killing of the top wanted person in the Lanao provinces and the killing of a Marine in an encounter with Abu Sayyaf rebels in Sulu.

The Gudani issue was discussed only in passing, he said.

Asked if the Marines is sympathizing with the plight of Gudani and Balutan, Miranda said: "The Marine corps will always be one for the Filipino people and the Constitution."

Miranda said Balutan went to the Marines headquarters Wednesday night to seek his advice. He declined to reveal what they discussed.

"I dined with him, he listened to my advice. But whatever we talked about, I promised (to him that) I will not discuss (it n public)," he said.

TESTIMONIAL PARADE SCRAPPED

Lt. Gen. Cristolito Balaoing, PMA superintendent, said the AFP has cancelled the testimonial parade to be held for Gudani on Saturday at the PMA grounds in Baguio City.

Balaoing said Gudani also requested for scrapping of the ceremony which is traditionally held in honor of the retiring officer.

"We cannot proceed anymore with the testimonial parade in honor of General Gudani. The initiative came from him. I just spoke with him early this morning. He knows what will happen, he accepts it," he said.

But Balaoing said even without Gudani’s request, the testimonial parade could not be held because under military rules, only officers without pending cases are given the honor.

"It’s part of the standard operating procedure that if you have a pending case, you will be stripped of the privileges and honor. That is part of the punishment. He should be held accountable for his actions," said Balaoing.

SENATE CUSTODY

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the committee on national defense and security, said Gudani and Balutan are now under the legal custody of the Senate, meaning the Senate would provide them the legal excuse so they would not be considered AWOL (absent without official leave) by the AFP.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Gudani and Balutan could raise before the court martial the legal custody being extended to them by the Senate. "But we cannot interfere in the court martial proceedings as the Senate," he said.

Biazon agreed with Drilon. He said the Senate, however, could help the two officers by providing them legal assistance. "That is all we could give them at this time, legal assistance and legal custody," Biazon said.

Biazon said he has yet to schedule the next hearing, adding that "I have yet to find a way to go around that EO 464…we will find a way to ensure the presence of concerned military officers in the next hearing." – Victor Reyes, Joan Dairo, Jocelyn Montemayor, and Ruelle Albert Castro