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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Military won't release Mayuga Report
MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Monday said it will not make public the controversial Mayuga Report that cleared four generals implicated in alleged fraud in the May 2004 presidential elections.
In a press briefing, AFP spokesman Jose Angel Honrado, dared people who are dissatisfied with the findings of the inquiry conducted by a board led by former AFP inspector general now Navy chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga to come up with evidence so that the military would have basis to re-evaluate the report.
In justifying the military's decision not to release the full report in public, Honrado said the document, the contents of which were made public by Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor last Wednesday, has been marked as "classified."
Honrado said it might be dangerous for the military to make public copy of the report saying, "We will be breaking our confidentiality. We are guided by some confidentiality (rules) on how to release restricted and confidential documents. In fact, that report was initially filed as secret."
Honrado also noted that Malacañang's only instruction to the military was to "inform" the public of the report prepared by Mayuga.
But Defensor said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had given the go-signal for the release of the report
"I think that the word is to inform the public of the result of the board's recommendations. So what is the better way for Admiral Mayuga than face the nation by television, which should be more encompassing and should be reaching more people," said Honrado.
Over the government-ran television NBN 4, Mayuga read the summary of the report. Among others, he said not a single witness testified against the so-called "Hello Garci" generals -- Army chief Hermogenes Esperon, Southern Command (Southcom) chief Gabriel Habacon, former Southcom chief retired general Roy Kyamko and former First Marine Brigade chief Francisco Gudani.
It was implied in the "Hello Garci tape" that Esperon, Habacon and Kyamko allegedly helped rig the 2004 elections to ensure Arroyo's victory while Gudani supposedly supported an opponent of the President.
On whether copies of the Mayuga Report would be distributed, AFP public information office chief Tristan Kison said in a text message to reporters: "Admiral Mayuga will determine whether or not the report will be distributed."
On the demand of some sectors to name the witnesses or resource persons invited by the military during the inquiry, Honrado said, the military would be keeping their identities and their statements confidential.
"These are information we cannot give because most of their statements were given in confidence in the same manner that we respect also the media's prerogative not to mention their sources of information," he said.
A number of senators and congressmen, including Senator Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, had been requesting copy of the report so they could evaluate it on their own.
Asked if the AFP would be giving the Senate a copy of the report, Honrado said, the report has been already submitted to the office of the President.
"The report is with them. The instruction really was to inform the public of the results of the investigation," he said.
Meanwhile, Honrado challenged critics of the report to present evidence proving that the four senior military officers were indeed involved in electoral fraud but maintained that Mayuga already did his job.
"Many are saying it's lacking. They say it did not actually represent what really happened. Are we looking for blood? Are we looking for conviction? Maybe that is what they want to happen," he said.
"If we feel that something is missing or something is wrong with the report, then we should exert all efforts to look for the truth, look for evidence. If they find evidence, then kindly submit them to us so that we can re-evaluate the report based on new evidence," Honrado added.
When told that it is the military's responsibility to find witnesses and evidence against the four officers, Honrado said: "Precisely, that's our responsibility and we did our job. That's why we sought resource persons, we interviewed 70 or more."
Honrado said the board went as far as Mindanao just to interview resource persons. He also said it took the board six months to complete the report but no one came out to testify against the four senior officers.
The military spokesman lashed at those who have "pre-determined perception and conclusions "even as he stressed Mayuga's findings that "there is no evidence linking the senior officers to any wrongdoing or misconduct during the 2004 elections."
Meanwhile, Malacañang distanced itself from the decision of the military to withhold the release of the Mayuga Report.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the AFP has its own procedures and Malacañang would not meddle with their affairs.
Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman, said Congress is also free to investigate the Mayuga Report if they want, adding that they are not concerned that allegations of whitewash would be revived if Congressional inquiries are conducted.
He also vouched for the integrity of those who composed the board. "They have staked their reputation and the members of the board are men of proven competence and integrity and if we have preconditioned conclusion then there is nothing much we can do."
The members of the board led by Mayuga includes former AFP deputy chief of staff for operations Raul Relano, AFP Judge Advocate General Caridad Aguilar, AFP assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel Commodore Emilio Marayag, and AFP deputy chief of staff for plans and programs Romeo Alamillo. (VFR/JMR/Sunnex)
(April 18, 2006 issue)
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