BY VICTOR REYES

ARMED Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday said the country is already "over the hump" insofar as threats of destabilization are concerned.

Esperon made the declaration less than two weeks after Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, quoting intelligence information, said a new plot to oust government would be launched between January 17 and 22 by groups that would take advantage of the mass actions scheduled for the 21st anniversary yesterday of the "Mendiola massacre."

The Mendiola rally participated by some 3,000 farmers and members of militant groups ended peacefully with the protesters dispersing before 5 p.m.

Esperon said those planning to oust the Arroyo government "cannot really succeed."

"Whatever they are planning, I don’t think they will figure prominently or they are cause for much concern. Insofar as destabilization is concerned, we have already overcome that …What they are doing is exercise in futility and if they have yet to realize it, it (destabilization) is not doing the country any good," he said.

The Arroyo government has faced three major destabilization moves, the last of which was the November 29 standoff at the Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City, which was led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Trillanes and his Magdalo group staged the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003, the first move against the Arroyo government.

In February 2006, President Arroyo declared a state of national emergency based on what she said was a plot to overthrow her government by Leftists, some members of the political opposition, and military "adventurists."

Esperon said the military is too busy going after communist rebels to engage in any form of adventurism.

NO NEW FACES

Esperon said anti-government forces could plot destabilization moves but would not get support from the public as shown by the Peninsula incident. Trillanes and his group, while holed out at the hotel, called for Arroyo’s ouster. But no crowd materialized in the hotel area.

"There are no new faces. Even the civilian supporters, their civilian supporters who joined the march are already `low bat (low battery),’" he said.

Civilian leaders who holed out at the hotel with Trillanes included former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, former UP president Francisco Nemenzo and Bishop Julio Labayen.

"Bakit ko sinabing `low bat’? Ang ibig sabihin ay lumang luma… wala namang isyung sinasabi tapos they are talking…Ang sinasabi ko sa kanila, mas marami tayong dapat gawin para umusad ang bansang ito," he said, adding he did not mean to be irreverent towards the elderly.

PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. said the threat "is not that serious," adding the police have adequate personnel to support efforts to quash any destabilization move.

FAELDON TAGGED

Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, chief of the AFP National Capital Region Command, tagged Magdalo leader Capt. Nicanor Faeldon as among those recruiting fellow soldiers for a destabilization move.

Faeldon again escaped during the Peninsula standoff. He first escaped from military custody in December 2005.

Mesa said they learned of Faeldon’s recruitment activities after a few officers that Faeldon talked to over the phone reported his attempts.

Esperon said the military and the PNP are exerting "great efforts" to capture Faeldon. But he said the efforts are being hampered by many "variables, density of population, traffic mobility."

On whether Faeldon is still in Metro Manila, Esperon said: "Maybe but don’t be so worried about that. Even if we cannot get Faeldon, they cannot destabilize us." – With Jocelyn Montemayor