Deputy Customs Commissioner for Intelligence Danilo Lim. INQUIRER file photo
A piece of advice from a former putschist to restive soldiers: Do not be “seduced” by coup plots.
Deputy Customs Commissioner for Intelligence Danilo Lim on Monday appealed to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ignore calls for a coup d’etat after the killing of 19 soldiers in Basilan province.
In a statement, the retired brigadier general and former Scout Rangers regiment commander, urged soldiers to focus on bringing to justice the culprits behind the killings instead of plotting to destabilize the government.
“As I join the military in mourning the 19 soldiers killed in Basilan, I urge our soldiers not to be seduced by unwarranted calls for a coup d’etat or any form of rebellion against the current dispensation,” Lim said.
“The main resolve of the military must be devoted to the pursuit of justice for the 19 soldiers killed in Mindanao. Amid an ongoing peace negotiation between the government and the (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), the military must judiciously implement the law to apprehend the perpetrators of this unfortunate incident.”
Corruption campaign
Lim, who joined military uprisings against the first Aquino administration in the 1980s and again during the previous Arroyo administration, reminded troops that the “Aquino administration is different from its predecessor.”
“We are not under a despotic regime. We must always remember this important political context. To mount an uncalled-for rebellion against the current government will only be injurious to the uniformed service,” Lim said.
“Worse, it will only serve the purpose of those who want to undermine the administration’s effort to curb corruption using the hostilities in Mindanao as a ruse,” he said.
Nevertheless, Lim urged the President to listen to the sentiments of the military and keep them “close to his heart.”
“I trust that even as President Aquino provides able leadership to the military being their Commander in Chief, he should also keep close to his heart the sentiments of our soldiers. Soldiers are not automatons. He should intently listen to their voices, stories and if ever, grievances,” Lim said.
All-out justice
“There is a time for war as there is a time for genuine revolt. The compelling contexts for such actions do not exist. Hence, our soldiers must not fall for this trap. To do so would only cause more injustice to our martyred soldiers,” he said.
Lim supported Mr. Aquino’s decision not to suspend the peace process with the MILF.
The bemedaled soldier called for sobriety as legitimate bodies such as the Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities investigate the clashes in Basilan.
“What we need is all-out justice not all-out war. What Mindanao needs is all-out peace not more hostilities. Obviously, there are groups that are trying to derail the peace process by agitating the public to war,” Lim said.
“War frenzy must not get the better of us. While the event is understandably emotionally charged, political clarity is necessary to find the underlying cause/s of the incident,” he said.
Originally posted: 3:39 pm | Monday, October 24th, 2011