Monday, September 22, 2008 Confession of an ex-Magdalo officer
A FORMER Magdalo rebel leader who was convicted and pardoned for his involvement in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny has admitted his grave mistake, saying military intervention will not bring forth reform in a democratic society.
Captain Milo Maestrecampo, in his first interview after being released from detention, said he realized during his incarceration that the methodology used by Magdalo soldiers to mount a mutiny against the government was wrong.
Maestrecampo said there were two elements he considered when he went to Oakwood on that fateful day of July 27, 2003.
"My intention when I went to Oakwood, God knows and you cannot lie. For me, whatever my intentions are -- good and could contribute to the betterment of our community -- will always remain," the former Magdalo officer said.
"The second element -- the methodology of transmitting my reform agenda -- what I did was wrong. It was a mistake because right now I stand against military intervention. That is one definite thing that I have realized. The intention was good but I don't the methodology used could bring reforms," he added.
Maestecampro said he has learned to understand that people must work within the bounds of our democratic processes. "It's hard for me to learn those things but inside detention I think I was able to get the idea."
One group could not dictate for all Filipinos especially on how to carry out reforms, he added.
During his almost five years in detention, Maestrecampo said he found God in his heart. "I have realized that only God can resolve these seemingly insurmountable problems."
"It was virtually a spiritual reawakening for me," Maestrecampo confessed.
Peace Process Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. meanwhile gave Maestrecampo a break to become the action officer of the Social Integration Program (SIP), which oversees the reintegration of rebel returnees to the mainstream of society in Western Visayas.
Esperon has also tapped the services of three other former Magdalo leaders as SIP action officers. They are Arbee Talastas, Florentino Somero Jr., and Charleston Tan.
Together with Maestrecampo, they were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Makati Regional Trial Court on May 16, 2008. All were discharged from military service. They were pardoned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as part of her government's reconciliation program. (Press release)
