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Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Disgruntled Marine officer relieved
MANILA -- Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, a commander of the First Marine Brigade who led last Sunday's protest at the Philippine Marine Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City over the relief of their commandant, was himself ousted from his post on Tuesday.
Major Melquiades Ordiales, Marines spokesperson, said Querubin will be temporarily replaced by his deputy, Lieutenant Colonel Luisito Marcelino.
Querubin will remain under the custody of newly installed Marine commander Nestor Allaga, who took over the post from Major General Renato Miranda last Sunday, pending investigation of his alleged involvement in a coup attempt against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last Friday.
The military earlier said Miranda had asked for his relief for "personal" reasons.
But Miranda said he gave up his post because he feels that the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) does not trust him anymore following reports of his alleged participation in the aborted coup last Friday.
He said the Marine leadership would be hampered "if I continue to perform my job as Marine commander while my superiors do not trust me. I could not get the support of my men if that would be the situation so I applied for personal action."
Querubin earlier questioned the relief of Miranda, which led to a five-hour standoff at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.
He rallied some Marine officers in protest of Miranda's relief and called on the people to go to the Marine office to protect them from "aggression."
Querubin said their act did not mean a withdrawal of support from the chain of command but an expression of dismay over the removal of Miranda as their commander.
However, Allaga was able to convince the griping Marine soldiers to return to barracks Sunday night.
He assured that the Marine officers would still abide by the 1987 Constitution and support the military's chain of command. (JFF/Sunnex)
(March 1, 2006 issue)
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