|
Monday, July 28, 2003
Kintanar: A modified Sona?
By JUNE KINTANAR
True to what we earlier predicted the unusual troops movement that at first were not taken seriously by the government turned out to be what they were meant to be: a prelude to a military rebellion or a coup, whatever they wish to call it. It would be superfluous for us to bring you a blow-by-blow account of what’s going on now particularly in the Makati area as I suppose you had your ears and eyes glued to the TV and radio coverage in Manila.
At this writing, President Gloria Arroyo just issued an ultimatum to the young officers to surrender at 5 p.m. (July 27, Sunday). Otherwise, she has already authorized the chief of staff of the Armed Forces to use “reasonable force” against them. The young “idealistic” officers were quick to answer: They will have to kill us all because we will never surrender.
But what really drove these young Philippine Military Academy graduates to commit an act that may destroy their chosen military career? Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes said in an interview that it’s not true that they are complaining about the lack of housing for soldiers and no increase in pay. He said these reasons are too trivial for them to arrive at such a crucial decision.
He mentioned, instead, some other reasons that almost made me fall off my seat. He accused his military superiors of selling arms and ammunition to their enemies in Mindanao—an act that borders on treason. He also accused his superiors of masterminding the bombings at the airport and seaport of Davao City, as well as the bombings of Muslim mosques in Mindanao.
If true, these charges are, indeed, serious. And because they are this serious one cannot blame these young officers for deciding to call the attention of the government and the President. Their means, though, of doing so is debatable, specially on the basis that the end does not justify the means.
But I was really disturbed when Trillanes mentioned Edsa Dos and said that at that moment the participants had to twist the Constitution just to accommodate then vice president Arroyo to take over the presidency. I was worried because this is the same argument that former president Joseph Estrada used in defending his claim to the presidency. Does Estrada have anything to with this ongoing military adventure?
Not a few Filipinos suspect that politics has a role in this military caper. For one thing, an important national election is forthcoming. For another, some politicians are getting desperate and are even claiming that they cannot obtain justice in this government and that even the judiciary has lately been promulgating decisions that, to the opposition, look like a demolition job against them.
These, to observers, appear to be more plausible than what these young officers are saying. They find politics as the force that moved these young military officers to mount this apparent coup.
Today, President Arroyo is scheduled to deliver her State of the Nation Address before Congress. I’m sure it will be a little different from the original draft as it is sure to be modified to conform with the recent act committed by the 1994, 1995 and 1997 graduates. How it will turn out, we will just have to listen to Arroyo today. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
