Navy commodore named ISAFP chief

NEW YORK (via PLDT) — President Arroyo has appointed a new chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

Navy Commodore Tirso Danga replaces Maj. Gen. Pedro Cabuay, who was appointed acting ISAFP chief shortly after the July 27 failed mutiny.

Prior to his new post, Danga served as commander of Camp Aguinaldo, the military’s main headquarters in Quezon City.

Cabuay, meanwhile, keeps his concurrent post as chief of the J-2 division, which supervises all military intelligence operations.

Cabuay replaced Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, who resigned days after the mutiny.

Corpus is now detailed at Malacañang’s "war room" as presidential assistant for civil-military operations. He is in charge of monitoring the Arroyo administration’s program aimed at resolving the Muslim and communist insurgencies.

The mutineers accused Corpus and resigned defense secretary Angelo Reyes of masterminding the bombings in Mindanao to frame the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as a terrorist group and eventually get more US funding for Mrs. Arroyo’s anti-terrorism campaign.

They also accused the military leadership of selling weapons and ammunition to rebel groups, as well as planning bombings in Manila in a bid to extend Mrs. Arroyo’s stay in power through martial law.

Corpus and Reyes deny the accusations.

Reyes resigned on Aug. 29, a month after Corpus quit, to spare the Arroyo administration criticism for keeping him and to preserve the "confidence of our people in the Filipino soldier."

Rumors of restiveness in the military following the mutiny prompted Mrs. Arroyo to meet with top military officials.

The military assured it would uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.

Shortly after his appointment to the ISAFP, Cabuay told an inquiry that the mutineers originally planned to assassinate the President and other top officials.

He also linked a son of deposed former President Joseph Estrada, San Juan Mayor Jose Victor "JV" Ejercito, to the mutiny. Ejercito denied the allegations and accused the Arroyo administration of political persecution.

The Arroyo administration accuses Estrada’s camp of trying to destabilize the government and of having links to the mutiny. Estrada denies the allegation.

Estrada was ousted by a military-backed popular uprising in early 2001 following corruption allegations. He was replaced by then vice president Gloria Arroyo.

Estrada is currently on trial for allegedly running an illegal gambling protection racket, embezzling state funds and profiting from insider trading during his 31-month presidency. — Marichu Villanueva