Retired General Esperon sees no basis on coup plot

Former AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—A retired military officer finally speaks up.

With the ongoing fracas on a possible destabilization plot that Senator Antonio Trillanes uncovered, General Hermogenes Esperon (ret.), former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, sees no basis why the military should overthrow the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Esperon said the “professional” Armed Forces are fully committed to their task of defending the nation and the constitution.

“Inside the AFP, they are very professional, they have a responsibility that they need, and want, to accomplish,” Esperon said. “They’re the protectors of the people and of the constitution.”

Trillanes said that retired generals are the ones plotting the coup d’ etat against Aquino.

Esperon was the AFP Chief of Staff of then president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I think that Trillanes’ allegations are wrong, especially that he thinks that retired generals are on the helm of it,” Esperon said.

He also lashed out at Trillanes, saying why the senator doesn’t approach him to confirm the allegations.

Esperon likened Trillanes to the boy who cried wolf and even recounted the time when Trillanes led a siege in Makati.

“I would like to call them whiners,” Esperon said.

AFP’s former top brass has full confidence in the active military that they would do their duties to the country.

“They will protect the constitution, they will protect the people, they will be very professional,” Esperon said. “I don’t believe in those people who have been very unprofessional, don’t say that to the Armed Forces.”

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