Honasan says of coup past: I’m a good boy now

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) vice president bet Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan said he can assure his president that he is now a “good boy” who won’t lead a coup plot against government.

During the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, the senator said he does not regret leading a series of coup attempts against the Cory Aquino administration.

READ: Did you know: Honasan-led coup try vs Cory Aquino
“Lahat ng ginawa ko sa buhay ay pinagbayaran ko na. No regrets, but always a lesson learned,” Honasan said.

He clarified that he has never apologized to Cory Aquino, the mother of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, for leading the coup attempts against her administration.

But Honasan said he was able to talk with the former president during the proclamation of her son as senator after the 2007 elections.

“Hindi na ako nag-apologize. During the proclamation of the President (as senator in 2007), nilapitan ko si Cory. We cleared the air. Sabi ko, ‘Ma’am, congratulations on the election of your son.’ Ang sagot sa akin, thank you,” Honasan said.

“Hindi ko naman inaasahan na pinapatawad na niya ako. But it’s time to move forward, for the sake of the country,” he added.

Honasan said approaching the former president was the least he could do for fears that Cory might still be harboring ill feelings toward him.

“That’s the least I could do. Baka galit pa saken si President Cory. Baka mabigat pa rin ang kalooban. Pero pinuntahan ko pa rin. Ganun ang ugali nating Pilipino eh. Mapagkumbaba, mapagpatawad. She said thank you; big deal na sa akin ‘yun,” Honasan said.

Honasan assured his president should he win as vice president that he would not be cooking up any coup attempts against the next administration.

‘Reformed’

Honasan said he had been reformed after 18 years of service as senator.

“Tinatanong ako paglagi, nagbago na ba kayo? Sabi ko, 18 years na akong nirerehabilitate. Pinadala na ako dun sa permanent rehab center na ang tawag ay Senado. So good boy na ako,” Honasan said.

He said his president can sleep peacefully with Honasan securing him or her from any threat.

“Makakatulog ba siya ng mahimbing? Definitely. Babantayan ko, bubugawin ko ang langaw at lamok para makatulog siya ng mahimbing,” Honasan said.

“I’m past that already,” he added of his coup plotter past.

During the 1986 revolt, Honasan was the founder of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, which broke away from the martial rule that time. Honasan then served as the chief security of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, then Ferdinand Marcos’ defense minister who led the military in turning its back against Marcos.

Besides his role in the peaceful 1986 Edsa revolt, Honasan also led a series of failed coup attempts against the administration of then President Cory Aquino. Honasan is also said to have planned the deadliest coup attempt in Dec. 1989 when soldiers tried to attack Malacañang.

In 2006, Honasan went into hiding after he was charged for rebellion for being the alleged ringleader in the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny, as well as for his involvement in the foiled coup attempt against the Arroyo administration in Feb. 2006 which prompted Arroyo to declare a national state of emergency.

His coup d’état charges have been dismissed in 2007, just a few months after he won as senator in the May midterm elections.

Honasan first became a senator in 1995, and was reelected in 2001 and in 2007.

Honasan is the running mate of the opposition presidential bet Jejomar Binay, who led the voters’ preference polls despite facing graft indictment before the Ombudsman. JE