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Military dissenters waiting for political situation to ripen

BAGUIO CITY (Feb. 18) — “Courage, loyalty and integrity are values the Philippine Military Academy is tasked to instill in the minds of every cadet who enters its portals,” said retired Col. Gerry Cunanan of the Philippine Air Force during a Forum sponsored by various groups at the Bulwagang Juan Luna of the University of the Philippines Baguio on February 17.

He said , however, “Even senior leaders in the armed forces have admitted that restiveness aimed at toppling the president exists among our military officers and men.”

Cunanan mentioned, though, that as the PMA graduates climb the military hierarchy, they learn and play the art of compromise in a highly politicized government where only political leaders dispense the highest positions in the military organization.

As the PMA celebrates its 108th foundation day and alumni homecoming this year, word is spreading that among young officers with whom the spirit of patriotism is still at its height, massive restiveness reside.

“They’re only waiting for people to rise up. Pero may pagkakataong naiinip na sila,” Cunanan said.

Cunanan said the Filipino people should act before it is too late, referring to the timetable Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo set for the proposed constitutional amendments expected to be done before June this year. “Once the constitution has been changed and ratified by the people, it would be more difficult for us to change it again,” he said, adding that the majority of the Filipino masses should act quickly on GMA’s fate.

Cunanan estimated that the young officers may still be patriotic and may be supporting anti-GMA moves, but the higher-ranking among the more senior officers are divided. Asked of percentages, he said, more are against but those supporting the president are more decisive in government.

A member of the PMA Class 66, Cunanan retired in 1983. He was the chief executive officer of the Manila International Airport (now Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in 1995. From 2001 to 2002, he was still with the airport. Cunanan joined the Unity for Truth and Justice, one of the solidarity groups urging GMA’s removal from Malacañang.

Congress Representative Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna partylist, meanwhile, clarified that people are apprehensive of the form of government that will replace the Arroyo administration. He said that while this is a dampening factor in the movement for the immediate ouster of Arroyo, it should send a message that the people want real change in the political system and not just in the form of government or in the ruling political clique now in government as proposed in the bids for charter change (cha-cha).

Casiño, who also talked in the same forum at UPB, clarified that the cha-cha is not the solution to the present political and economic crises. He revealed that it is one way to bribe people to support GMA’s continued stay in power. The “no elections” that GMA is dangling puts all incumbent elected officials in a similarly questionable legitimacy, according to Casiño.

Casiño, one of three Bayan Muna party list representatives in the lower house, confirms that talks among various opposition groups are now underway for the formation of a transitory caretaker government. The only remaining obstacles are the leadership criteria and the formula with which the personalities would be chosen, according to Casiño.

Cunanan said that what is important now is that several groups have united on the issues and programs for the transition council. He enumerated such common issues as social justice, judiciary fixing up and a total constitutional change after a constitutional convention has been chosen to draft it. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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