‘Adventurism still exists in military’

Military adventurism is still a threat despite the government’s success in thwarting the Oakwood mutiny in 2003, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said yesterday.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Tristan Kison said the problems prevalent when former President Fidel Ramos was a young Army lieutenant still exist today.

Speaking in a breakfast forum at Club Intramuros in Manila yesterday morning, Kison said the causes that drove previous military officers to plot against President Arroyo are still present.

"The reasons are still present," he said.

"The problems encountered by Fidel Valdez Ramos when he was still a lieutenant in the AFP still exist now that he is an ex-president," he said.

"These problems cannot be immediately resolved because we are lacking in resources and lacking in system for change. In fact, there are even instances when there is resistance to change," he added.

Kison said in past recruitment activities he was even able to pinpoint particular units that were regularly encouraged to join the misguided cause.

Coup plotters would need a large battalion of fighter pilots, as well as Scout Rangers and Army Special Forces to achieve their objective, he added.

Kison said there was still some grumbling within the military, but this was discovered while still in its early stages.

"One good indication is that they no longer believe this misinformation because what we want is real reform," he said.

The soldiers whom the young officers were trying to recruit were the ones who turned them in to their superiors, he added.

Kison said they are trying to assuage the concerns of the budding renegades.

"One effort is that our commanders are meeting with junior officers to address the problem," he said. "We are also looking into how extensive is their recruitment."

Kison said many graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), a majority of them top officials of the AFP, might have experienced culture shock after they left the academy.

"In the PMA they are taught the right thing," he said.

"The cadet does not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate (these things). But when they leave the PMA they cannot see the idealism taught them. That’s why they are have become disillusioned. It is difficult to adjust when you are already outside."

Kison said as PMA cadets they were taught to become idealistic, but they become disillusioned once they formally serve the military.

"The burning idealism pushed some young officers to aspire for change and recruit supporters," he said. "All of us want change but not through chaos and not by hurting others."