New Marine chief to ‘plotters’: ‘Come home’
‘Annihilate Abu Sayyaf,’ Dolorfino tells men
MANILA, Philippines — The new commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps called on his men to “stay apolitical” as he reached out to detained Marines being tried for a supposed failed power grab in February 2006 power grab to “come home.”
Major General Ben Dolorfino issued the calls in his assumption speech on Friday, amid rumors of a fresh plot to topple the government supposedly to be timed with the verdict on the plunder case against former president Joseph Estrada.
At the same time, Dolorfino rallied his men to “hammer down and annihilate” the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.
“We must be apolitical at all times in order to perform our mandate,” Dolorfino said. “Changes in the system can only be made by the people or their duly-elected representatives through constitutionally established democratic processes.”
Dolorfino acknowledged that the alleged February 2006 coup plot and the one mounted in 1989, the bloodiest against then president Corazon Aquino, “created cracks [in] the institutional strength” of the Marine Corps.
“If there are still wayward minds out there, I enjoin you, my brothers, to come home and be true Marines once again,” said Dolorfino, who took over from Major General Nelson Allaga, who recently assumed his new post as Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief.
Nine Marine officers and 19 others from the Army Scout Rangers are on trial for mutiny before a court martial. The Marines include ex-Corps commandant Major General Renato Miranda and two Medal of Valor awardees — Colonel Ariel Querubin and Lieutenant Colonel Custodio Parcon.
Querubin and another co-accused in the February 2006 case, ex-Scout Rangers chief Brigadier General Danilo Lim, were involved in the 1989 uprising, but were reinstated in the service after being granted amnesty under the Ramos administration.
Authorities foiled an alleged plot by Lim and Querubin on February 24, 2006 to lead soldiers in a mass withdrawal of support from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose legitimacy has been questioned over allegations she rigged the 2004 elections with the help of several military officers.
Querubin also led a standoff at the Philippine Marine headquarters two days later following Miranda’s sudden relief. Allaga replaced Miranda, who allegedly knew of Lim and Querubin’s plans.
Dolorfino also tackled the July 10 and August 18 encounters with the Abu Sayyaf and rogue Moro rebels in Basilan that left 29 Marines killed, 10 of them beheaded.
“Let us never be discouraged by the recent trials that beset the Corps, particularly in Basilan. All the more we should rise up and work together in pursuit of our mission,” he said.
Rallying his men, Dolorfino said: “I would also like to see decisiveness in the conduct of our operations. The enemies are meant to be hammered down and annihilated.”
Dolorfino said he would adopt a “frontline first” policy, wherein troops on the battlefield would be the first to receive administrative and logistics support.
“The individual Marine is the most important resource that makes up or units. We will make sure that he is properly trained and equipped to enhance his effectiveness and survivability in battle,” he said.
Dolorfino said he would serve as Marine Commandant and chief of the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) until September 12, when Major General Fernando Mesa succeeds him at the NCRCom.
Before the turnover ceremonies, Dolorfino inspected troops from the Marine Combat Support Brigade at the Bonifacio Naval Station, and NCRCom troops, including armored personnel carriers and two helicopters, in Camp Aguinaldo.
Dolorfino said troops have been readied for any eventuality, including possible unrest should Estrada be convicted.
“We are preparing for all contingencies including destabilization, mass actions or civil disturbances and calamities and disasters that might happen in our area of responsibility,” he told reporters.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
