AFP officers ready to use force vs GMA — LA Times
Wednesday, 10 19, 2005
Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are ready to chuck their military careers and support a coup d'etat against President Arroyo, in the hope of bringing about change in the country, reporter Richard Paddock wrote in the other day's issue of the Los Angeles Times.
“The turmoil in the Philippines has reached such a state that some military officers say they are willing to throw away their careers, like (Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent Leandro) Aragoncillo, in the hope of bringing about change,” the LA Times report said.
“Several officers who support a coup slipped away from their bases one recent night to meet with a reporter and dis-cuss their desire to overthrow Arroyo,” Paddock wrote.
The urgent need for a change was underlined when the officers were quoted as saying that under the Arroyo's administration, “corruption has flourished at the highest levels of govern-ment while the people have become impoverished.”
The officers added they are prepared to use force to remove the President. In her place, they said, they would install a committee of respected officers and civilians who would rule until a new Constitution could be drafted and democracy restored.
Referring to their having relied on constitutional means to oust Mrs. Arroyo through an impeachment, the same group of soldiers reportedly told the LA Times they were hoping Congress would do its job, with one soldier adding: “we were hoping that Arroyo would realize her mistake and step down, but now we have no option. She will not finish her term.”
On the same day the LA Times story came out, the Tribune also carried a statement from the Young Officers Union new generation (YOUng), a clandestine group of military officers who issued a “final call” to Mrs. Arroyo, urging her resign, otherwise, it said, bloodshed can no longer be avoided.
The call for resignation also included Mrs. Arroyo's “corrupt officials” including “her corrupt generals.”
The same statement also urged the top brass of the AFP to join their group.
YOUng pointed out the need for Mrs. Arroyo to resign, as she poses “a grave danger to the survival of the country and its citizens.”
“Therefore, we strongly demand for the last time that Mrs Arroyo and her corrupt officials and generals resign immediately and avoid bloodshed. Otherwise, bloodshed will be on their side,” the statement said.
The signatory to the statement also reminded the military top brass, led by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga, that the survival of the AFP as an organization depends on their cooperation with the YOUng group. “You are not our enemies. Dishonest politicians, smugglers, tax evaders, gambling lords and other dregs of society are,” said the statement, apparently addressing the military top brass.
The LA Times report appeared to have interviewed detained President Joseph Estrada, who was quoted as having said that given the crisis situation in the country today, Mrs. Arroyo “ is on day-to-day survival,” with Estrada adding: “I don't believe she can last.”
Los Angeles Times - AFP officers ready to use force vs GMA
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