Coup d ‘etat

IT LOOKS like Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is really fond of staging a coup d ‘etat. After taking center stage in the foiled Oakwood Mutiny in 2003 which made him popular, he is now into another level of ousting who is on top of him, whatever means.

On July 27, 2003, 321 fully armed soldiers took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makati City so that their grievances against the government of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo would gain attention.

The neophyte senator was a Lieutenant Senior Grade of the Philippine Navy, a rank equivalent to an Army Captain when he led the renegade group of junior military officers and enlisted men called Bagong Katipuneros. The group became popularly known as “Magdalo” due to the insignia they adopted and worn on their upper arms.

He gained fame for his physical stance and the apparent firmness of their acts that what others perceived as ridiculous.

Demanding the resignation of President Macapagal-Arroyo, they expressed their grievances and exposed matters including alleged corruption in the military. The acts of rebellion resulted from the restiveness and movement within the military.

In 2007, Trillanes IV ran and won a seat in the Senate while his trial was ongoing at the Military Court Martial, and he was in jail. Many of the Magdalo Group members were either discharged or incarcerated.

In 2010, he was granted amnesty by President Benigno Aquino III. It was Trillanes’ first time to attend sessions at the Senate.

Recently, another coup – supposed to have been staged by the young Senator, this time aimed at ousting the Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, was discovered.

The rookie legislator stated the lack of confidence to the Senate presidency and leadership as the reason for his call. It was during the caucus meeting to discuss a bill dividing Camarines Sur that the word war between the rookie and the veteran legislator started.

Senator Enrile took a swipe and made a revelation that the younger Senator had sold the country’s sovereignty to China through a “backdoor negotiation” made by Trillanes IV to Chinese officials. He cited some notes from Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady on the alleged statements of Trillanes that are detrimental to the country.

This led Trillanes IV to bolt out of the majority bloc. A walkout also ensued that prompted the Senate President to call him a coward and a fraud.

Enrile gained fame and strong political support during the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona. He further gained recognition with the way he handled the trial. He is a veteran lawyer and a national figure.

Trillanes IV was a coup plotter who after being seen with his rebellious character is now a Senator of the Republic. It’s easy to believe that he is selling the country to the Chinese because like then, he is not satisfied with the Philippine government with the way it is handling national policies and state affairs. Now that he is a Senator of the Republic, he should act as such.

He is duty bound to protect and defend our sovereignty and not stage coup d‘etats which is his forte.

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