Arroyo-allied retired general denies involvement in destabilization plot

MANILA, Philippines—Retired General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Thursday denied allegations that he was among former military officials supposedly plotting a destabilization campaign against the Aquino administration.
“Why will I destabilize the Philippines? Bakit ko naman gagawin ’yon (Why would I do that)?” Esperon told reporters in a chance interview after the 115th anniversary of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio.

The statement came on the heels of reports that Esperon was among the retired generals earlier mentioned by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who were plotting a coup against President Aquino. Esperon is believed to be an ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after serving as the Armed Forces chief of staff and defense secretary under the lady president’s term. After retiring from the AFP, Arroyo appointed Esperon as the presidential adviser on peace process.
“’Wag natin namang sirain ’yong (Let’s not destroy the) Armed Forces by way of besmirching the retirees,” Esperon said. “Ang mahirap kasi dito, parang sinasabi natin na ’yong armed forces masama kasi coup plotters lahat ’yan. (The danger is that, it’s tantamount to saying that the armed forces is bad because all its members are coup plotters). Let us aim for an armed forces that is strong and credible kasi meron tayong mission para sa (because we have a mission for the) armed forces,” he added.

When asked if the people making these allegations are using retired military officials as convenient scapegoats to cover up the errors in the current administration, Esperon said: “I do not want to think about that but merong mga sanay kasing magsalita d’yan na wala namang basehan (there are people who are used to talking without basis).”
“Ewan ko, baka sila guilty sa mga plots nila noon kaya ngayon binabaling sa amin (I don’t know, maybe they are the ones who are guilty of such plots before, that is why they are attributing similar plots to us),” Esperon added.
Esperon furthered that regardless of who is president, the Armed Forces must follow the chain of command, which he said is what he did during his years in the military.
“Kung sino man ’yong presidente, paglilingkuran ko ’yon (I will serve whoever is the president) because she is the commander-in-chief. It’s not the person, it’s the position (that matters),” Esperon said.
“The armed forces must not go out of its mission; the more that some people in the armed forces go into political matters, lalong humihina ang ating (the more it weakens our) democracy,” Esperon added. He furthered that the military must focus on protecting the democratic way of life and ensuring territorial integrity.
When asked to comment on his views regarding the current administration, Esperon begged off. “Ayaw kong mag-comment sa politics (I don’t want to comment on politics). That is very well outside my competence. Meron akong sariling (I have my own) observations, meron akong sariling (I have my own) ideas tungkol dyan (on it) but I prefer not to comment on that,” Esperon told reporters.
He added that the military should not be used “to solve the country’s problems.”
“Bakit kasi tinitingnan natin ang armed forces na mag-solve ng problema ng bayan (Why do we look to the armed forces to solve national problems)? There are rules. There is the rule of law. We have procedures,” Esperon said, adding that an avenue for the people is the impeachment trial, similar to what is being conducted in the Senate against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Let us preserve that setup. Dapat sa democratice way of life tayo. Huwag ninyong hilahin ’yong armed forces, kayo mag-solve (Let’s pursue the democratic way of life. Don’t let the armed forces solve your problems. You should),” Esperon said.
Earlier, Trillanes claimed that he had received information that retired military generals were recruiting soldiers in active service to destabilize the Aquino administration but refused to divulge any name. Trillanes was jailed for his participation in two coup attempts against President Arroyo.

President Aquino confirmed Trillanes’ statement days later, issuing a statement that he also had received reports of coup plots against him.