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Sunday, July 23, 2006
2 Marine officers quit
TWO ranking officials from the Philippine Marines have resigned from their post following the military leadership’s order for them and 38 other officers to face a pre-trial, preparatory to court martial, in connection with the failed plot to overthrow the Arroyo government last February 23.
A military source said the two, Lieutenant Colonels Custodio Parcon and Armando Bañez, stepped down from their respective post as deputy Marine commandant for operations and Marine chief of staff, to pave the way for the investigation.
"They resigned out of delicadeza (propriety)," he said of Parcon, a recipient of the highest military decoration Medal for Valor, and Bañez who assumed his current post following the resignation of Colonel Orlando de Leon in June.
Navy Chief Mateo Mayuga refused to confirm or deny the resignations. "I don't know yet. The papers are not with me yet," Mayuga told reporters in an ambush interview at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.
Mayuga also downplayed supposed restiveness in the Marine Corps, stressing that the morale of the officers and men are “always high”.
A fact-finding board has recommended the conduct of a pre-trial investigation against 25 Army officers and 15 Marine officers in connection with their plan to join anti-government protest last February 24 and subsequently withdraw their support.
Former Armed Forces chief Generoso Senga approved the recommendation last week, days before he retired. He also approved a recommendation by the board for all the officers and 125 enlisted personnel to face dismissal proceedings.
The board has so far identified sacked First Scout Ranger Regiment commander Danilo Lim, former Marine commandant Renato Miranda and bemedalled Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin as among the 40 officers.
A draft report that got into the hands of the media said the officers also include Parcon, Bañez, and de Leon, who resigned as Marine chief of staff last June in protest of the politicization of the military establishment.
When asked how the Marines were taking the findings of the fact-finding board that looked into the botched coup d'etat in late February, Mayuga said: "To be honest with you, I have not talked to General Allaga about that." (VR/Sunnex)
(July 23, 2006 issue)
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