MANILA, Philippines?Retired military generals ?who are in touch with the still idealistic elements of the Armed Forces? expressed apprehension on Tuesday that the military under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit ?will again be used to frustrate the people's will.?

In a statement, retired Maj. Gen. Ramon Montano said that in the 2004 elections, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ?skillfully used her cabal of blindly loyal military officers and political running dogs to destroy the political opposition.?

?We pray that this desperate plot of this administration to cling to power shall be stopped by the might of the Filipino people and the idealistic, honorable members of the AFP,? Montano said.

Montano was referring to the "Hello Garci" tapes, supposedly wiretapped conversations between Arroyo and then Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano on the role of some generals in cheating and ensuring Arroyo's victory over her rival, movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., in the 2004 presidential election.

The tapes were traced to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces, which was then headed by Adm. Tirso Danga. Bangit himself became Isafp chief after his term as PSG commander.

The attempt of the Senate to look into the Hello Garci tapes, however, was blocked by Malacañang when Arroyo ordered the military officials not to attend the Senate hearings.