A month after, it was the turn of the Philippine Army.
Twenty-five killed in just one day in the fighting in Sulu, the highest casualty
in the recent history of the Philippine military. Two weeks after, it was again
the turn of the Marines. Last Saturday, 15 of them died in an uphill assault to
take over an Abu Sayyaf camp in Ungkawa Pukan in Basilan.
The 28 detained officers led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda of
the Philippine Marines and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim of the Philippine Army’s Scout
Rangers, offer this message:
"To our beloved comrades who went ahead of us…
"We, your brothers-in-arms (Marines and Rangers) who are
presently in a different battlefield, greatly feel the pain brought about by
your sacrifices. We salute you and are sincerely proud of all of you. We deeply
grieve because we know that it may have been different if we were together in
both battlefields – yours and ours.
"Your sacrifices gave us more strength and fervor to continue
the fight for truth and justice. Although words cannot express the sorrow of
your loss, please know that you are in our prayers.
"1 Corinthians 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory/ Where,
O death is your sting?
"To the loved ones they left behind…
"We share your sorrow. We pray that the Lord will comfort you
with his peace .surround you in his love and encourage you with his presence.
"Psalms 119:76 "may your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant."
"To our living brothers-in-arms…
"Do not be cowed by evil. Let us together press on the fight
for truth and justice, so that the sacrifices of those who went ahead of us will
not go to naught. Together we will overcome.
"Psalms 1:8 ‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and
will rescue you, declares the Lord.’"
The other officers include Colonels Ariel Querubin, Orlando
de Leon, Juanario Caringal, Armando Bañez, Custodio Parcon, Achilles Segumalian,
Nestor Flordeliza and Edmundo Malabanot.
More than 6,000 troops are in Basilan and Sulu and the order
from the fake commander-in-chief is to continue the war that the public does not
know what for. We join in the prayer that the list of the fallen would not grow
longer.
It is an indication of the isolation of Gloria Arroyo that
before her visit yesterday in Basilan, she had to be assured by her military
advisers that she would not be booed by the soldiers. During the security
cluster meeting in Malacañang last Tuesday, they discussed the widespread
demoralization in the military especially in the Marines. There were some who
expressed reservations about her visiting she troops she exiled to Basilan and
Sulu. But Esperon assured them that he will make sure that Arroyo would not be
embarrassed.
Esperon was able to put up a show for Arroyo for the day. But
has he addressed the deep resentment of those who witness daily under his watch
how those who are for honesty and integrity in the service are punished and
those who operate in the cheating, lying and stealing are promoted? As one
officer said, "Sonamagan, we are not stupid robots."
***
Yes, Esperon must think so low of the public that he didn’t
have qualms in lying about the "basement" in the residence of the AFP chief of
staff.
T/Sgt Vidal Doble, in a revival of the "Hello Garci" issue
presented by Sen. Ping Lacson last Tuesday at the Senate, disclosed that he was
fetched by Bishop Socrates Villegas from the San Carlos seminary, where he
sought refuge with former NBI agent Samuel Ong, and brought to the official
residence of then AFP Chief Efren Abu. There, he said, he saw his wife and
children at the basement of the chief of staff’s residence.
"I am now occupying the quarters of Gen. Abu… and I must tell
you that there is no basement in that quarters," Esperon said.
I have been to the CS residence and I remember a portion that
is lower than the main floor. I checked it out with a friend who had also been
there and she said, "Yes, they call it basement. It has low ceiling and dark so
you have to open the lights. That’s where the radio room is located. There’s
also an area for the living quarters of aides and some close security of the
chief of staff."
***
Blog: www.ellentordesillas.com
