Saturday, February 23, 2008 Editorial: Military intervention
Considering the polarization sparked by the national broadband network (NBN) controversy, statements issued by top military officials can be viewed in various ways.
Like this plea by Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon and Army Chief Alexander Yano for government critics not to ask the military to intervene in the conflict.
Civil society groups, the main objects of the plea, may downplay Esperon and Yano’s statements because both owe the posts they are now holding to President Arroyo.
Malacañang, meanwhile, may feel relieved that at least Esperon, who will retire in May, and Yano, his replacement, did not want to be sucked into the current power play.
But there is sense in the views of Esperon and Yano.
Vicious cycle
“It is improper for some groups to call for the military to intervene,” Esperon said. “There will be a vicious cycle. We can’t interfere every time there is a political problem.”
It’s a variation of the toothpaste pushed out of the tube analogy, and this has been proven in countries like Thailand, where military coups have become a part of life.
In this sense, the Philippines can be considered fortunate in that even if previous People Power uprisings had military components, purely military adventurisms failed.
Already in place
But it is precisely because of the feeling that the military played a major role in the success of People Power that some Armed Forces officials acquired a messianic bent.
The coups that bedeviled the Cory Aquino government after People Power 1 and the Arroyo administration after People Power 2 were thus by-products of the uprising.
Meaning, the vicious cycle that Esperon mentioned may already be in place.
Creating monsters
The political opposition, civil society group and militants eager to topple the Arroyo administration through extra-constitutional means should therefore pay attention.
They could be creating monsters and destroy the foundation of civilian rule if they insist on courting military support just to be able to topple the President from her perch.
