PAF on piggybacking general: ‘It was just plain Pinoy hospitality’

He was just accepting a genuine gesture of Filipino hospitality.

This was the explanation given by Air Force officials on piggybacking Brig. Gen. Marciano Ilagan, who appalled lawmakers said had placed the entire military in a bad light.

President Arroyo, on the other hand, indicated yesterday that as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces she was not inclined to take any disciplinary action against Ilagan.

Air Force spokesman Maj. Arturo Orticio said Ilagan merely accepted an offer from a local porter to carry him on his back to the boat from the shore after attending a memorial service Sunday for the 10 US servicemen who were killed in a helicopter crash in waters off Negros Oriental Friday.

"The piggyback thing was offered to all VIPs present during the memorial service, (including) the governor, other local officials, the general (Ilagan) and the US army master sergeant (Michael Farris)," Orticio said.

"When the offer was made to M/Sgt. Farris, he declined because he knew that he was very heavy," he said. "It was a genuine Filipino tradition of hospitality."

He pointed out that it is customary for Filipinos to offer the best amenities to their guests. "We even offer our best bed to our visitors," he said.

"Maybe we should put this issue (to rest), it will not help our nation," Orticio added.

Ilagan on Tuesday said he gave a "verbal explanation" to Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Defensor and that he would rather keep silent on the brouhaha. "Silence does not mean he is at fault or he committed any fault. Let us not make an issue out of this," Orticio said.

No formal charges were filed against Ilagan, said Mrs. Arroyo at an informal press conference at Villamor Air Base when she flew in yesterday from General Santos City and Zamboanga City, where she joined Tuesday top American military officers led by Gen. Donald Wurster who are participating in the Balikatan 02-1 exercises in Basilan.

The President, however, asked Presidential Assistant Jesus Dureza, who was with her in Zamboanga City, to explain to Palace reporters the inquiry conducted by Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu.

According to the inquiry, said Dureza, there were three other people before Ilagan who were carried piggyback by local porters to the banca, namely, the governor, a priest, and another participant at the service. But it was only Ilagan who was caught on camera by Reuters. Dureza said Farris declined to be carried because he was "too big" for the much smaller porter.

Dureza also said that Wurster felt bad for Ilagan whom he profusely lauded for helping the US troopers in their search and rescue mission for the victims of the Chinook crash. "Unfortunately, the incident undid all his good deeds," Dureza quoted Wurster as saying.

"General Cimatu said General Ilagan is a good soldier," he added.

Because of the flak he got, Ilagan has confined himself to quarters, Dureza disclosed.