Retired generals don’t have enough clout for coup plots, say former soldiers

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Photo by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – A group of lawmakers with background in the military and police services admitted concern about reports of a destabilization plot by retired generals identified with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

But the newly formed “Saturday group” of congressmen from different political parties, all graduates of the Philippine Military Academy, said they did not believe the rumored plot against President Benigno Aquino III would prosper, as the retired generals no longer had much influence over active-duty servicemen.

At a forum in the House of Representatives, the group said it was now up to the intelligence and security agencies to verify the information first revealed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

“This is a signal to the intelligence agencies to do their job,” said Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, a retired police general.

He said for the most part, retired generals did not have much influence in the Armed Forces, noting that his own clout “has diminished considerably” among the ranks.

Acop also noted that the uniformed services under the Aquino government were in “a wholly different situation” from the previous administration, now enjoying better pay and privileges, and a much bigger capital outlay for modernization efforts.

Magdalo Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo, who was part of the group of disgruntled junior military officers in the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny with Trillanes, said he had also come across information about the destabilization plot.

“But our difficulty there is how to ascertain the source of the information. But nonetheless, this does not detract from the gravity of the issue if indeed there are such plans,” he told the forum.

“So to that extent, we view this with concern… but I don’t think at this point this will prosper,” Acedillo said.

“At this point, we are very forthright with our limited information, I leave it to the senator to substantiate this…. This is not a matter to be trifled with. To the extent, the story is not yet complete. This is a developing issue,” he said.

Asked if Arroyo, now under hospital arrest, could still muster support from her allies among the retired generals, Acedillo said: “You are correct in your assessment of the state of her health, but as to the status of the health of her allies and their attention, that’s another matter.”

Another representative of the Magdalo partylist, Gary Alejano, said he agreed with Trillanes “in the sense that we cannot stop some elements from the retired generals to come together and discuss things and vent against the President and this administration.”

“All we can say is that’s where plans [of destabilization] might start,” he said.

Alejano said he was monitoring the ranks of the military, especially on the issue of whether the Armed Forces was being neglected. “But we have seen how our President has focused on modernization for the welfare of our Armed Forces,” he said. “We don’t believe this will bear fruit or succeed. And if ever, we believe the President… we will support the President.”

Two other members of the group, Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, and ACT-CIS Rep. Samuel Pagdilao, both former spokespersons of the Philippine National Police, shared the sentiment, saying they did not see any chance of success for any destabilization plot.

“Our ranks in the police and military are united, especially since the administration is addressing the needs of the institution, as we have seen. We think all these rumors are far-fetched,” Bataoil said.

Pagdilao noted that since those supposedly responsible for hatching such a plot were already retired, “they have no forces, and there are no troops under their command.”

The five members of the “Saturday Group” said they decided to band together to advance the interests of the uniformed sector in Congress.

Their name is derived from the PMA cadets’ “Plebe Song,” the first few lines of which talk about the weekly struggles of a freshman cadet — or plebe — culminating in the dreaded Saturday inspection and full-gala parade.

RELATED STORIES

Magdalo solons back Trillanes’ expose of alleged plot vs Aquino

No destabilization plot in military, says AFP public affairs chief

No loyalty check; coup plot unlikely – Palace