‘Cory general’ to seek reforms in AFP, PNP

MANILA, Philippines - In 1986, generals joined the People Power revolution that catapulted the late President Corazon Aquino to power.

Called the “Cory generals,” they also served under her administration and stood by her when her leadership was threatened.

Retired major general Ramon Montaño is one of the generals who defended Aquino when her presidency was threatened by a series of coup attempts from 1989 to 1990. Proudly calling himself a “Cory general,” Montaño is once again running for senator with the goal of filing legislation that will reform the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He wants the politicization of the police and military to stop. 

“Under the law, for instance, the PNP should be headed by a national police commission but what happened was that it was placed under the secretary of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government). So now, the approval of the mayor is needed before you can be a police chief in an area. The PNP has been politicized,” Montaño explained.

The Philippine Military Academy graduate (batch 1958) also vows to push for measures that will give senior citizens more benefits and ensure their timely release.

But since his retirement as commander of the Philippine Constabulary in 1990, Montaño failed several times to enter the political arena.

In 2004, he ran for senator under the ticket of then presidential aspirant Eddie Gil but later withdrew. He also lost in his bids to become mayor of Makati City in 1992 and congressman of Negros Oriental in 1995, 1998 and 2007.

Now 76, Montaño, who is a member of the PNP Council of Elders, will not give up until he sees reforms in the PNP and the AFP. “I was convinced by my fellow Cory generals to run again because we don’t see any reforms in the police and military, despite having former policemen and soldiers in the Senate. We are dying one by one but the changes that we are hoping for are not happening,” Montaño said.

Determination and courage are ingrained in Montaño’s vocabulary and history. It was during his term as PC chief when the most number of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army leaders from the Central Committee surrendered to the government.

He led the retired generals in calling for the resignation of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo because of the alleged rigging of the 2004 elections. He also accused the military intelligence community of fanning coup rumors to get on the good side of the former president.

So before the 2010 presidential race, Montanno and nine other retired PNP and AFP generals vowed to protect the votes of President Benigno Aquino III, Cory’s only son.

In March 2012, Montaño revealed that several politicians, in cahoots with some retired military officials and businessmen, were plotting to oust President Aquino.

This year, while he is seen as an underdog in the May 13 polls, Montaño said that he is enjoying the support not only of retired police and military officials but even those still in active service who genuinely want to serve the country.