‘All cracks in AFP cemented’

DAVAO CITY — All "cracks" within the ranks of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are now completely "sealed and cemented," said Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., exactly three weeks after the government claimed to have thwarted a coup attempt.

"There are no more cracks. These cracks are now sealed and cemented," Esperon told reporters here upon arrival Wednesday afternoon for the opening of the AFP’s P3-million transient facility at Camp Panacan of the Philippine Navy.

Fractures in the military chain of command were supposedly traced to elite forces such as the Army Scout Rangers and Philippine Marines under which suspected leaders of the Feb. 24 coup attempt served.

"What else can you say now that their leader has gone into hiding and their operations officers are detained?" said the commander of the 70,000-strong Army, referring to former Sen. Gregorio Honasan who the government has tagged as the alleged coup leader.

Honasan reportedly went into hiding after rebellion charges were filed against him and several others including detained 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan, considered to be the group’s operation’s officer, for their part in the alleged plot to overthrow the government. Several other military officers and personnel have been questioned and detained.

Esperon is now reviewing the endorsements submitted by the military body that investigated 53 Army officers and enlisted personnel for their reported role in the coup plot.

The President recently announced that she would soon be meeting with soldiers to explain her side of controversies facing her presidency, possibly including allegations that she cheated in the May 2004 presidential election.

The opposition wants "equal time" to hold dialogues with the soldiers, but Esperon has been cool to this proposal.

Military time not ‘broadcast airtime’

"Ano ito? Airtime (What’s this, like broadcast airtime)?" Esperon asked in reaction to Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero’s call for a separate dialogue with soldiers to give their side on the lingering political crisis.

He stressed that the time the military spends holding dialogues or conferences with the President is not radio nor television airtime that must be afforded to everyone on an equal basis.

"We belong to the executive department and the President is our commander-in-chief. The dialogues with the President are part of what is within the chain of command so you could not equate it with just an open time to everyone to address our troops. This, they should understand," explained Esperon.

On Wednesday, Escudero said opposition congressmen would not insist on holding their own talks with soldiers if military commanders won’t allow it.

Esperon said dialogues with government officials for legislation purposes would be welcomed, but designs to destabilize the government were another matter and would not be allowed by the AFP leadership.

"In fact, we also need to talk with those in the opposition to explain to them the mandate that we follow, as well as the dynamics within which we move within the AFP as an institution," the Army chief said.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Brillantes, chief of the Philippine Army support command, said the opposition should make a formal request "in writing" on this matter.

Brillantes said all military officers and troops tagged in last month’s coup plot will soon be transferred to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

"As soon as that detention facility is finished, those investigated shall be transferred there immediately," Brillantes told The STAR.

Esperon said they could not allow any political groups to destroy the AFP as an institution.

"Never," he maintained.

Anti-coup body findings

Meanwhile Army Inspector General Maj. Gen. Ferdinand Bocobo, head of the Army anti-coup probe body, forwarded to Esperon for his approval their findings and recommendation on alleged erring military members headed by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Lim and several other Army officers, most of whom serve under his command, are currently restricted to quarters. Lim has denied being part of an ouster plot.

"I’m still reviewing it. It was forwarded to me 10 days ago and after I review them, I will submit my recommendation to the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for his action," Esperon said.

Esperon refused to disclose the findings, saying it will be known once AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga receives it.

Despite this development, the names of Army officers previously not linked to the failed power grab have cropped up, according to Bocobo.

He said some of 23 officers and 30 enlisted personnel who were questioned had floated the names of other Army personalities who allegedly planned to join the Feb. 24 anti-government rallies.

For starters, Bocobo said three more Army middle- and junior-grade officers have been summoned to appear for investigation after their names were mentioned by their colleagues.

"The investigation continues because we got new leads from those who gave their statements. We got new names and information… but so far, we are finished with the initial phase (of the investigation)," Bocobo said.

When asked if those investigated admitted to plotting against the government, Bocobo said: "Normally, they would not want to implicate themselves… but we have other sources to prove the involvement of these officers."

Like Esperon, Bocobo refused to reveal the results of their probe but stressed that those found complicit in the failed coup attempt would face charges of four military violations.

These military violations include Articles of War 67 for mutiny; Article 69 for failure to suppress mutiny; Article 96 for conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman; and Article 97 for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

Most of those facing investigation for the cop attempt belong to the elite First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSSR), once headed by Lim.

Aside from Lim, Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza, former FSSR chief of staff, Maj. Jason Aquino, sacked FSSR operations chief, and Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, FSSR chief of personnel, have been directly implicated.

Esperon also shrugged off reports that he was conducting loyalty checks among various military camps. Instead, he said he was traveling the country to inaugurate projects that would benefit AFP officers and personnel such as the transient quarters in Camp Panacan, the second of 16 set to rise in military camps around the country.

"These transient quarters would help the soldiers who travel from one destination to another with a safe and cheap place to stay while in transit," Esperon said.

The AFP, Esperon said, is also in the midst of implementing housing projects for soldiers on a nationwide scale.

He also expressed hope that the AFP would be able to establish schools within its various camps for the benefit of the dependents of soldiers in each area.