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Tuesday, July 29, 2003
3 mutineers back to Centcom units
THREE Central Command (Centcom) soldiers who were initially believed to have joined their classmates in last weekend's rebellion returned to their posts in Cebu Sunday night.
They went back to their posts after Major Gen. Jacinto Ligot, Centcom commanding general, issued an ultimatum that the soldiers would be considered absent without official leave (Awol) if they would not be back before noon Monday.
But for the junior officers, including 10 Cebuanos, who joined the mutiny, not even the prospects of life in jail softened their stand.
They said they have no regrets and are willing to go to prison if that would deliver their message even more clearly.
"We might not have evidence of our allegations against the government but some things have to change. They should not categorically deny everything. They have to realize and ask themselves why would 70 officers risk their lives for something they would not benefit from directly?" one of the Cebuano officers told Sun.Star Monday.
Sun.Star tried to contact the other Cebuano officers, but they declined to issue statements or have their names published now that they are facing investigation.
"We're still hopeful that something good will come out of it. I hope the people will understand that we didn't mean to hurt anybody. The only persons we're willing to hurt were us," the Cebuano officer said.
Criticisms
The mutiny drew criticisms from various sectors in Cebu.
The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) yesterday passed a resolution condemning it.
The resolution carried in mass motion during Monday's session also expressed "solidarity" with President Arroyo's administration.
Last Sunday, Gov. Pablo Garcia, Vice Gov. John Gregory Osmeña and PB Members Josefina Asirit and Judy Durano attended the press conference local officials called to express their support for Arroyo while negotiations with the soldiers were going on.
However, the Cebuano officers said no one was forced to join the activity. There would have been more, but other soldiers who were supposed to join didn't arrive.
One of the officers denied reports that 1Lt. Aristotle Maglasang, also a Cebuano, joined the activity.
Back to units
Centcom spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruby Bongabong told Sun.Star that Capt. Nerelito Pascual and Lt. Senior Grades Anchises Diola and Ronald Allan Uy have reported back to their units.
Diola is detailed in Centcom's Military Intelligence Group; Pascual in the 53rd Engineering Brigade; and Uy in the Naval Forces Central.
She said the three did not join their Philippine Military School classmates and close to 300 other soldiers in laying siege of Oakwood Hotel in Makati.
Bongabong said not reporting to work was the three soldiers' way of expressing support for their classmates.
"That's why they didn't ask permission. They just left," she said.
Sun.Star tried talking to Uy, but he said they were given instructions not to entertain questions from the media.
Bongabong said Ligot had already instructed the commanding officers of the three men to investigate and send recommendations to Centcom.
Firm, decisive
At the Capitol, Governor Garcia said in his news conference that he hopes Arroyo's handling of the crisis will convince her to run for president next year.
"She dealt with the problem decisively. A new president may not feel as secure to deal with a similar problem with firmness and decisiveness," the governor noted.
Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama, for his part, said that if the officers decided to take the "illegal means," they should be ready to face the consequences.
Local cause-oriented groups, however, identified with the soldiers in their demands for government reforms.
Bayan Muna and Sanlakas Cebu demanded that Arroyo address the legitimate demands raised by the soldiers and other sectors.
Shortly before her Sona yesterday, Bayan Muna and Sanlakas leaders asked Arroyo to step down. They said Arroyo failed to fulfill the reforms the people asked for at Edsa 2.
"Those who gathered during the People Power 2 were the same people who put her to power but sadly, President Arroyo failed us. There is still no genuine land reform, low salaries for our workers, which is basically the same with the demands of our soldiers," Paul Rodriguez of Bayan Muna said.
Several militant and cause-oriented groups gathered during a rally at Colon St. shortly before Arroyo made annual speech before Congress. RHM/CYR/KMF/LCR of Sun.Star Cebu
(July 29, 2003 issue)
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