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Sunday, October 09, 2005
Soldiers told: 'Stay away from politics'
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Army officials on Saturday renewed appeals for soldiers to stay away from politics and remain apolitical, as calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is accused of poll fraud, to resign mount.
Army chief of staff Major General Alexander Yano arrived here and spoke to hundreds of troops, appealing to them to remain loyal to the Constitution.
"I am here today to speak to you not as your commander, but (as) a brother. I appeal to everyone to stay focus in our duty as a soldier and defender of democracy.
"We will all remain apolitical and non-partisan and continue to uphold the law and stay loyal to the Constitution.
"We are strong and solid and united, so don't be misled by outsiders who continue to try to divide us for their own selfish motives," Yano told the soldiers.
He told troops to stay away from anti-Arroyo protests and respect their rights, but warned them to be vigilant against destabilizers and communist insurgents who threatened to grab power and put up a revolutionary government.
"Stay away from street demonstrations and protest, but stay vigilant and be strong to fight those who will try to grab powers and put up a revolutionary government.
"That is against the law and against the Constitution and we will defend our democracy against those who would try to take it away from us," he said.
An army commander, Major General Efren Orbon, of the 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay town, in Rizal province, north of Manila, warned coup plotter that they would be shot if they recruit soldiers to overthrow Arroyo.
But Yano said Orbon's statement was misquoted.
"What he meant was that we will arrest any individual who recruit soldiers to destabilize the government, and detain them, but we are ready to react to any violence. We will use our own calibrated response and proportionate force to thwart any attempt to bring down the government," Yano said.
In July 27, 2003, about 300 soldiers, mostly from the navy's elite units, staged a mutiny in the country's financial district of Makati, and demanded bureaucratic and policy reforms from the military and Arroyo's government. They surrendered after two days of tensed negotiations and charged with rebellion. (Sunnex)
(October 9, 2005 issue)
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