FVR: AFP won't allow martial law

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines will not go along with an unconstitutional or illegal order from the commander-in-chief, according to former President Fidel Ramos.

Ramos, a former defense secretary, AFP chief and head of what used to be called the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police, was reacting to reports that President Arroyo is planning to declare emergency rule in a last-ditch attempt to perpetuate herself in power.

“The AFP will not obey because both the youth and the older generation – (the soldiers’) sons and mothers – will not allow it,” Ramos told The STAR the other night.

In a related development, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. accused yesterday his predecessor, Avelino Cruz Jr., of politicizing the Armed Forces when he urged troops to disobey an illegal order from the President.

Speaking at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan after taking his oath as a member of the pro-administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Teodoro said Cruz has no basis in warning that “disturbing trends” indicated Mrs. Arroyo could be setting the stage for the declaration of emergency rule.

Cruz, in a speech earlier this week, said the “disturbing trends” pointed to the possibility that the 2010 elections would be postponed so the President could stay in power beyond June 30, 2010.

“There’s no basis to this (Cruz observation),” he said.

“There is no plan to declare martial rule. The AFP should be left alone and should not be dragged into any partisan political activities.”

Teodoro said as a lawyer, Cruz knows that the President has the power under the Constitution to do something to address security concerns.

“We might be having a nice gathering today, but we cannot tell that nothing will happen in the future,” he said.

“We could not just tie the hands of the President to do something.”

AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado said the military would disobey an illegal order and would always abide by the Constitution.

‘Bury con-ass’

The United Opposition (UNO) dared yesterday the President’s allies in Congress to “bury” plans to convene Congress into a constituent assembly.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, UNO president, said he is not convinced that Mrs. Arroyo’s congressional supporters have completely abandoned con-ass moves.

“If con-ass is dead, as the House majority leader says it is, then they should bury it,” he said.

“The House majority leader may have declared con-ass as dead, but the problem is that Mrs. Arroyo and her congressional allies have no intention of burying the dead. So the statement should be taken with a grain of salt.”

Binay said the statement of Majority Leader Arthur Defensor is apparently intended to influence the public and the opposition into lowering their guard when Congress opens on Monday.

“The opposition is ready to square off with Mrs. Arroyo’s allies in Congress,” he said. “We will not abandon our vigilance, whether it’s against con-ass or against martial law.”

Binay said Mrs. Arroyo’s supporters had rammed the approval of House Bill 1109, which seeks to convene Congress into a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution.

“The persistence to push for con-ass should be seen within the context of her obsession to remain in power beyond 2010,” he said.

“To achieve this, she is exploring all options. With con-ass out of the picture, her options are narrowing to only two – the Transition Council being peddled by her security adviser and military rule.”    – Jaime Laude, Jose Rodel Clapano