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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines on alert over fugitive coup leader |
| 2006-01-19 |
| 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. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 This whole series of events is an ongoing tragedy. LT San Juan commanded one of the US trained LRC, Light Reaction Companies. In that training he was exposed to discipline, honor, integrity, and putting ones unit and nation above ones self. He was equipped with the best equipment money could buy, trained by the best soldiers in the world, 1st SFG, and shown how a well trained unit can win in combat and sustain minimal casualties. The US trained the LRCâs on the US model, officer led, NCO driven. What was not trained to the LRC was how to deal with being the only honorable unit in a corrupt and undisciplined military. They were exposed to what âRightâ looks like and they were victorious in battle. The hopes of training units like this is that when the officers and NCOâs move on they will take this training and integrity with them to their new units and instill it across the AFP, Armed Forces of the Philippines. LT San Juan looked at his leaders, the generals, and found institutionalized corruption, graft, and conspiracy with the enemy. They went to their leader, the president, and asked her to investigate the corruption and they were met with a promise in the dark. Out of frustration they took matters into their own hands and took the Makati district of Manila. They had planned this carefully as to not incur civilian casualties and took care not to use the US equipment given to them, in an effort not to put the FMS programs at risk. They released all the hotel guests and insured their safety on departure. Their demands were simple. They wanted the boots that were promised to the soldiers by the president. The money for the boots were taken by generals and put into private off shore accounts. They wanted the AFP intelligence chief removed from position. He was a former NPA commander and they believed, and had evidence of his continued involvement with the NPA. They wanted the AFP G4 arrested and the millions he filtered into the US returned. They also had a list of, I believe seven other corrupt generals they wanted investigated. Basically they wanted reform in the military there. Last they wanted amnesty for all the enlisted soldiers taking part in the coupe. They felt they were doing the right thing for their country, they knew they would not succeed, and they knew they would probably die for their acts. But they felt without action, their country would never get better, and they never wanted to take the country over. Fifteen minutes before the assault by the police and other troops, the mutineers asked to surrender. They had got their point to the world and wanted no violence. They were arrested and thrown in prison. Months later the enlisted were released to their units. Officers that were not key leaders were released also. The AFP intelligence chief was investigated and place under house arrest. The G4 had all his assets seized and is on trial at this time, his son was caught smuggling hundreds of thousands of dollars into the US. Other officers on the list quickly retired and were also investigated. The actions of LT San Juan did not clean up the AFP, but it did end one generation of corruption. From a civilized perspective, what they did was wrong. Their intentions were honorable, their execution was criminal. To some they are heroâs, to others villains. This story is not over. The question is: In a corrupt government and military is this act justifiable? |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-01-19 20:34 |
| #1 You must not allow yourself be used by persons who are not accountable to the people," one of the "corrupt" generals said this! Ameture hour once again in the Philippines... |
| Posted by: bk 2006-01-19 10:04 |