AFP to Cory: Stop recruiting soldiers
Senga allays fears of intervention
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BY VICTOR REYES

ARMED Forces chief Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga yesterday afternoon hastily called a press conference to deny reports that junior military officers are to set to move against President Arroyo while she is in New York for the 60th UN General Assembly.

Text messages of the alleged military move swirled in military camps on the eve of Arroyo’s scheduled departure at 10 p.m. today.

"So I am right here now affirming the stand of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We shall remain apolitical and we will not intervene in this present political crisis," said Senga.

Senga also warned leaders of the movement seeking the resignation of President Arroyo, including President Corazon Aquino and former defense secretary Renato de Villa, a retired chief of staff, against recruiting men in the active service in their campaign.

Senga said his leadership will stick to the stance set by his predecessor, Gen. Efren Abu, who struck July 8 an agreement with other senior officials to stay "apolitical" in the ongoing leadership crisis.

"We stated that the AFP will be apolitical, we shall support and defend the Constitution, follow the rule of law so that stand has not changed and we’d like to affirm, reaffirm that stand of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," said Senga.

Senga also warned groups which he said are openly enticing active members to break the chain of command.

"This is against the law, this is against rules and regulations of the AFP and we shall deal with any member of the Armed Forces who will break this law," he said.

When asked who are the people enticing soldiers to engage in political activity, Senga said: "For example, former President Cory Aquino, she made a statement that she has friends in the military."

"Former chief of staff Gen. Renato de Villa said similar things. These tend to confuse the minds of our officers and men. We want to make this clear: We are firm in our stand that we should remain apolitical, will not intervene in this political crisis and this political exercise," he said.

Aquino and De Villa have called for the resignation of Arroyo due to alleged cheating in last year’s elections. The two have joined some of the street protests denouncing the killing of the impeachment process at the House last week.

Senga also called on all officers and men of the AFP "to focus on our job, our mission on counter-insurgency mission, our mission against terrorists and our non-military activities to help in socio- economic development programs."

On the alleged restiveness in the officer corps, Senga said: "That has been the line of so many people. That is why we have made a call for them to…identify themselves, have a dialogue with us."

Senga said the military leadership is not aware of "God Save the Queen, Part 2," a purported plot hatched by a group identified with former Sen. Gregorio Honasan to counter anti-Arroyo officers in the military.

The original "God Save the Queen" was an alleged plot by Honasan and leaders of the mutiny that developed into the People Power Revolt of 1986 to "save" Aquino from what they saw as the manipulation by "communists and leftists" in her newly installed government.

This led to the sacking in November 1986 of then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, the reputed patron of Honasan, on one side, and of Labor Secretary Bobbit Sanchez, among other perceived leftists, on the other side.

This break-up of the Edsa 1 anti-Marcos group was followed by at least seven coup attempts against the Aquino government.

"Gringo (Honasan’s nickname) has launched operation God Save the Queen 2 to rescue GMA from ouster by a military-backed people’s revolt. (Jake) Malajacan and (Director Victor) Batac have identified the idealist junior and middle level officers allegedly involved by posturing themselves as part of the anti-GMA forces," said a text message which spread in military camps.

Malajacan, a retired Army colonel, and Batac, a retired police director, are classmates of Honasan in the PMA Class of 1971. The three took part in the failed coups against the Aquino government.

"The list of officers and AFP/PNP units was submitted to GMA…The AFP/PNP officers reported are now subjects of intense counteraction by GMA loyalist commanders and security officials," the text message read.

He denied that a crackdown is ongoing against officers supposedly set to join the campaign to oust Arroyo.

"There is no such thing (crackdown). What we are saying is we want all members of the Armed Forces to abide by the rules and regulations and we are asking them to be professional soldiers, the way it should be," said Senga.

Rep. Roilo Golez (Ind., Parañaque) accused Malacañang of politicizing the military and causing the latest controversy in the AFP brought about by the appointment of Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, deputy chief of staff, as officer in charge of the Southern Command.

"There is now too much politics in running the AFP with Malacañang controlling the levers and interfering with the chain of command and process. Perhaps, Malacañang, as part of its survival plans, would like to be sure of the personal loyalty of the Southcom chief and could not care less about correct procedures," he said.

Golez served as national security adviser of Arroyo. He resigned from Arroyo’s party Kampi, and as chairman of the House defense committee, in late June, at the height of the House inquiry into the "Hello Garci" recordings that allegedly showed President Arroyo cheated in the May 2004 elections. He said Arroyo had lost the moral authority to lead the country and that resignation was the only decent alternative for her.

Golez said based on initial reactions to Adan’s appointment, which was met with criticisms within the officers’ corps, even Senga and Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz were caught unawares that Arroyo had disregarded the recommendation AFP Board of Generals which is headed by Senga.

Until Adan’s designation as OIC Thursday night, it was widely assumed that Maj. Gen. Samuel Bagasin, chief of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, would head the biggest among the five unified area commands of the Armed Forces.

Bagasin was said to be the top recommendee of the Board.

Adan, who assumed as Southcom chief on Friday and a member of the Board of Generals, has said he himself was surprised when told Thursday to take over Southcom.

Military sources have said Adan was not even been considered by the Board which deliberates on the promotion of generals and their appointment. – With Peter J. G. Tabingo