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Thursday, January 19, 2006
Military camps up alert against 'destabilizers'
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- New southern Philippines military commander Major General Gabriel Habacon ordered tightened security in all military camps and posted photographs of a fugitive coup leader who is accused of trying to overthrow the Arroyo government.
"We have to be very careful. We don't want government destabilizers going around camps. I have ordered tight security in all military camps and the arrest of those trying to overthrow the democratic government," Habacon said Wednesday.
Photographs of escaped coup leader Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon were posted in different areas of the Southern Command headquarters, the largest military installation outside Manila, and in army camps across Mindanao.
Faeldon, one of the leaders in the failed Oakwood mutiny in Manila's financial district of Makati, escaped on December 14 after a postponed rebellion hearing. Days later, he sent video clips to media organizations that showed him inside the Western Command.
Habacon's order came after Faeldon last week released a set of photographs and a video clip showing he was inside the Southern Command. Just this week, Faeldon again released a new video and pictures showing him inside the national police headquarters Camp Crame in Manila.
Four other coup leaders--lieutenants Lawrence San Juan, Nathaniel Rabonza, Sonny Sarmiento, and Patricio Bumindang--also escaped late Tuesday from a military prison in Manila and triggered a massive government manhunt in the country.
The five helped lead a failed rebellion against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003.
San Juan was commander of the US-trained anti-terror Light Reaction Company, who helped crush Abu Sayyaf forces in Basilan and Jolo islands in 2002, while the three were members of the Army's infantry, ranger, and armor brigade.
The ring leaders accused senior military officials of corruption and Arroyo of abetting it and called on her to resign so a junta could be established. The coup leaders and their followers eventually surrendered and were jailed. They later apologized, saying their actions were sparked by an honest desire for change.
Habacon said the posting of Faeldon's photographs in military camps was to allow troops to properly identify the fugitive coup leader. "With Faeldon's photos all over the camps, soldiers can now identify him properly and take the necessary actions if they see him the next time," he said.
A local television report said a soldier saw Faeldon on January 8 inside the Southern Command, but did not report the matter to his superiors thinking the man was a look-alike.
Philippine Army chief Hermogenes Esperon earlier ordered an investigation into Faeldon's claims that he sneaked inside the Southern Command.
"He cannot hide all the time, and eventually we will arrest him. Faeldon should not let himself be used by groups with vested and destructive interests. You must not allow yourself be used by persons who are not accountable to the people," Esperon said.
The military previously said the clip was digitally manipulated. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(January 19, 2006 issue)
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