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Sunday, February 19, 2006
Coup attempts hound PMA homecoming
By Jane Cadalig
BAGUIO -- The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni homecoming in Baguio City was not spared from the threat of rumored destabilization plans initiated by fugitive members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Senator Rodolfo Biazon surmised that the minimal number of alumni who were present in Friday's affair was due to the declarations of red alert in some parts of the country, mainly as a consequence of the reported destabilization plan, reportedly being initiated by the Magdalo Group.
Biazon, a member of PMA class 1961, said he already expected such situation, adding this was because of information that key officers were advised not to attend the affair.
"I am surprised of the thinness of the long gray line this time, although I expected it already yesterday because I received information that the key commanders were advised not to come (attend the homecoming). But I have to check on this information. And if this is true, probably the reason is the current political instability, which the government has to address," Biazon told reporters.
The senator added the government should institute measures to solve the problem, which is premised on the "erosion of the institution's credibility."
"There is a continued erosion of the credibility of our institution and the institutional process. If this erosion is allowed, I am afraid that extra-constitutional means could become the only option remaining to save this republic. I hope we do not go to that," he said.
Baguio is one of the areas in the country that was put on heightened alert. Added security measures were put in place because of rumors that this year's PMA alumni homecoming will be the staging ground for a coup plot.
Meanwhile, Civil Service Commission Chair Carina David, addressing some 1,339 alumni, challenged them to restore professionalism in the Armed Forces by not allowing its members to be used by politicians.
"The challenge for us now is to create a strong and legitimate political system that makes military intervention unnecessary. That (would) allow the military to simply become a professional corps," she said.
David's challenge for the restoration of professionalism in the Armed Forces is premised on her contention that corruption
A total of 324 cadets of the PMA Mandala Class of 2006 will graduate on March 25 from the premier military institution.
The class will distinguish itself as the biggest class ever to graduate from the 108 year-old-institution. It also boasts of having the most female members at 37. Some 179 will join the Philippine Army, 79 the Navy and 66 the Air Force.
PMA Bantay Laya Class of 1994 currently holds the record with 273 graduates. Pre-war classes of the Philippine Constabulary Academy, which is what PMA was called then, were rather small, with the PCA Class of 1909 having only four members.
Historically, the average entrant-to-graduate ratio between those who finished in four years and those who were originally appointed, is a low 31.48 percent. This means that the total attrition for four years is about 68 percent or an average of 17 percent.
Comparatively, United States service academies have ratios of 70 percent to 80 percent.
Considering the high cost of training and education, the PMA Administration has seized a number of initiatives, embodied in the PMA Road Map 2015 or the Academy's 10-year strategic plan.
All but one of the initiatives implemented in 2005 addressed the improvement the academic performance. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
(February 19, 2006 issue)
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