Disgruntled Class 1977 PMAyers meet with Noynoy
(The Philippine Star) Updated April 19, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Some key members of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1977 have secretly met with Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno Aquino III, prompting some military officers to warn against efforts to divide the Armed Forces, according to sources.
Sources said Army Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer was among those who met with Aquino several weeks ago, apparently to gripe and try to secure concessions.
Ferrer, who was given a citation by President Arroyo as martial law administrator in three provinces in Mindanao following the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre, has complained that he was not chosen Armed Forces chief last month.
Mrs. Arroyo named Gen. Delfin Bangit, a member of PMA Class 1978, as Armed Forces chief.
Another source in the Armed Forces said key posts in the military are already held by members of Class 1978 and that they would not likely easily give up their posts.
Bangit is scheduled to retire in July 2011 while Ferrer will retire six months later, giving the latter a small window to secure the top military post.
“We just hope that there is nothing to that meeting,” a senior officer, who asked not to be named due to lack of authority to speak to the media, said.
“We want the AFP insulated from politics.”
However, Aquino appeared to be close to a younger batch of PMA graduates, and that it would be hard for him – if elected – to grant concessions to older generals, the same officer said.
Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said the Armed Forces must remain strong and ready to safeguard democracy despite attempts by some political parties to convince some officers to become partisan.
Gonzales issued the statement in his address to the 250-strong 85th Infantry Battalion deployed in Masbate to eradicate election-related violence and ensure an orderly and peaceful conduct of election in the province.
He emphasized the role of the Armed Forces in ensuring clean and peaceful elections on May 10, as he reminded the soldiers that “credible elections are the foundation of any democracy, and peace and a working democracy are essential requirements to progress.”
“Now that the country is mired in murky politicking, Institutions like AFP must be strong,” he said.
“We will show to the whole nation that it is about time for the country to move forward.”
Gonzales told the soldiers, most of whom came from peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Haiti, that he was very happy for the “very good coordination” being done by the AFP, the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections for security preparations for the first-ever automated national election in the country.
“I am very proud of our Armed Forces,” he said.
“I will be your advocate now and after June 30. Do your duty. Clean up Masbate. Neutralize all the undesirable elements. Collect loose firearms and arrest goons.”
The day before, the AFP, PNP and Comelec held a joint command conference in Camp Aguinaldo.
US emissaries reach out to Aquino
CALAMBA, Laguna – Emissaries of the US government have started to reach out to LP standard-bearer Aquino, who has yet to find out whether these types of communication are official.
“There have been contacts (from the US government), but I am not sure how official they are,” he said.
“They talked to people who are close to me. I cannot say if it is official, I am not even sure if they have been tasked to do this.”
US diplomats typically meet with top contenders for the presidential race during Philippine elections.
Aquino told reporters about the communication after he was featured on the cover of the April 25 issue of the American newsmagazine Time.
Aquino said the American emissaries wanted to meet him personally.
“I said why not, let’s talk to everybody,” he said.
Close friends have sought for clearance on the US invitations to talk about the LP or its platforms, he added.
Aquino said nothing was specific yet regarding the discussions that were of general viewpoints.
He has yet to meet and talk with new US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr., who arrived in Manila to assume his post last April 10, Aquino said.
Other US lawmakers have also voiced concern, especially after Fil-Am businesswoman Loida Nicolas-Lewis met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and told her about the need to send top-level election monitors to the country.
The US is sending an observer team from the National Democratic Institute to monitor the elections.
Black propaganda
MALOLOS CITY – Sen. Francis Pangilinan branded yesterday as “black propaganda” the Nacionalista Party’s allegations against candidates of the Liberal Party.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of Rock the Vote Concert in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga on Saturday, Pangilinan said NP’s black propaganda against LP candidates were meant to push NP candidates ahead.
Pangilinan, LP campaign manager, denied the “Aquinorroyo” accusations against LP standard-bearer Aquino.
The NP is trying to shield standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. from the “Villarroyo” allegations, he added. – Paolo Romero, Delon Porcalla, Dino Balabo
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