Archive for May 13th, 2008
AFP chief won’t meddle in trial of 2006 ‘plotters’
Accused officers welcome Yano assumption
MANILA, Philippines –Armed Forces chief of staff Lieutenant General Alexander Yano said he would not meddle in the court martial trial of 28 Marine and Army Scout Ranger officers charged with mutiny for an alleged plot to mount a coup in February 2006.
The accused officers, in turn, welcomed Yano’s assumption as military chief, replacing their nemesis, General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who retired on Monday.
“Let me assure that as the new chief of staff, I will respect and recognize the independence of the court…It is not apt for me to intervene with the results and proceedings,” Yano told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.
The 28 officers have accused Esperon of meddling in their case after he approved the recommendations to have them brought before a court martial.
As chief of staff, the verdict of the court martial will be subject to Yano’s approval.
The most senior accused, ex-Marines commandant Major General Renato Miranda, said Yano’s assumption as military chief and convening authority of the court martial was a “very positive” development.
Miranda said he has not heard of Yano’s involvement in any controversy, unlike Esperon, who was linked to alleged cheating operations in the 2004 elections that supposedly propelled President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to a fresh six-year term.
The charges against the 28 officers stemmed from their alleged plan to lead soldiers in a withdrawal of support from Arroyo over the vote-rigging controversy.
“General Yano doesn’t have baggage. He comes clean, unlike the other,” another accused, Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, said, referring to Esperon.
Brigadier General Danilo Lim, the former regiment commander of the Scout Rangers, also welcomed Yano’s assumption as chief of staff, saying: “Compared to the former chief of staff, most definitely.”
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Accused Marine colonel says Esperon fit for Comelec chief
MANILA, Philippines — For a Marine colonel being tried for alleged mutiny, retired former Armed Forces chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. would be perfect as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“General Esperon should go to Comelec,” Lieutenant Colonel Achilles Segumalian told reporters in jest, on the sidelines of the court martial hearing of the 28 officers linked to an alleged plot to mount a coup in February 2006.
Asked why, Segumalian said: “Kailangan pa bang itanong yan? Dun siya magaling e [Do you have to ask that? That’s his forte].”
Esperon has not returned a text message seeking comment.
The controversial general retired on Monday, after serving as military chief under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for nearly 22 months.
Hinting of a new government post for the former military chief, Arroyo asked Esperon to “hurry back” after his vacation so that he could “serve the people again.”
Esperon was among four generals mentioned in purported wiretapped phone conversations of Arroyo and ex-elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, in which they allegedly discussed plans to rig the 2004 elections in her favor.
A military fact-finding board cleared Esperon and the military establishment of wrongdoing during the elections, but its report was never made public in full.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Accused Marine colonel says Esperon fit for Comelec chief
MANILA, Philippines — For a Marine colonel being tried for alleghe mutiny, retired former Armed Forces chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. would be perfect as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“General Esperon should go to Comelec,” Lieutenant Colonel Achilles Segumalian told reporters in jest, on the sidelines of the court martial hearing of the 28 officers linked to an alleged plot to mount a coup in February 2006.
Asked why, Segumalian said: “Kailangan pa bang itanong yan? Dun siya magaling e [Do you have to ask that? That’s his forte].”
Esperon has not returned a text message seeking comment.
The controversial general retired on Monday, after serving as military chief under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for nearly 22 months.
Hinting of a new government post for the former military chief, Arroyo asked Esperon to “hurry back” after his vacation so that he could “serve the people again.”
Esperon was among four generals mentioned in purported wiretapped phone conversations of Arroyo and ex-elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, in which they allegedly discussed plans to rig the 2004 elections in her favor.
A military fact-finding board cleared Esperon and the military establishment of wrongdoing during the elections, but its report was never made public in full.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
New AFP chief orders stepped up campaign vs threat groups
MANILA, Philippines — The new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) directed military commanders on Tuesday to “accelerate and step up” military operations against threat groups.
At the same time, Lieutenant General Alexander Yano vowed stricter implementation of physical fitness tests (PFT) as a prerequisite to promotions and new assignments.
Yano presided over his first command conference in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday, a day after he took over from retired general Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
“I will issue the guidance, the directives to them [commanders] to accelerate, even step up, our operations particularly in the priority areas,” Yano told reporters before the closed-door conference.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has given security forces until 2010 to “defeat” the communist New People’s Army, “destroy” Al Qaeda-linked extremist groups, and “contain” the Moro secessionist rebellion.
“We will continue with our internal security operations. The implementing plans, the operational directives, and guidance of the former chief of staff will be pursued,” Yano said.
“At this point, we are on track and the accomplishments are good. I don’t see any reason to change at this time,” he said.
Esperon retired with the AFP in the thick of Oplan Bantay Laya (Freedom Watch) 2, the second phase of the military’s internal security operations blueprint, which combines combat and humanitarian efforts.
At the end of the first quarter of this year, the strength of the NPA was estimated at 5,470, while the Abu Sayyaf group was estimated at 360.
Before the command conference, Yano presided over turnover ceremonies for the new deputy chief of staff, Lieutenant General Rodrigo Maclang, and the new deputy chief of staff for Operations or J3, Brigadier Reneral Romeo Lustestica.
“What is certain is we will vigorously push fore the conduct of the physical fitness test, not only in GHQ [general headquarters] but AFP-wide,” Yano said.
“I hope that should be clear to all of us, as a prerequisite for designation to key positions, promotions, any rank, any major service regardless…it has been a requirement for everybody to…be generally fit for the military service,” he said.
View article as posted on INQUIRER.net
Deadline all the time 