‘Marines’present maturity
rules out coups’

MORE than two years after its commandant supposedly joined an attempt to overthrow the government, the Philippine Marines yesterday said it has already reached the maturity level that guarantees that no one among its officers and men will ever join another such move.

Marines spokesman Capt. Neil Estrella made the fearless forecast two days after the celebration of the 58th founding anniversary of the Marine corps, whose officers and men have been involved in coups as early as in the 80s.

"We’ve learned a lot after that. In terms of maturity, we’ve matured a few years back after that, after what happened," said Estrella, referring to the February 2006 alleged power grab attempt that involved then Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda.

Miranda and 27 other Marine and Army officers are still detained and are being tried for mutiny. They supposedly planned to march to the Edsa Shrine, join anti-government protesters there, and publicly withdraw their support from President Arroyo.

Aside from Miranda, the other prominent Marine officers involved in that incident were Col. Ariel Querubin and Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon, both recipients of the Medal of Valor, the highest combat medal in the military.

Marines who figured as core leaders in the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 were Captains Gary Alejano and Nicanor Faeldon. Both were also involved in so-called Manila Peninsula standoff in Makati City on Nov. 29, 2007 where they holed up for hours with Sen. Antonio Trillanes inside the hotel calling for Arroyo’s ouster. Faeldon escaped after government forces were able to quell what officials said was another attempt to grab power.

"The maturity of the troops and the organization has increased a lot. We’ve been saying that we should be responsive, transparent, and in transparency, you have to admit your mistakes and find solutions for them," said Estrella.

He noted that among the thrusts of the current Marines leadership is to be institutionally strong, organizationally capable and people-oriented. He said such reforms should be pursued by the junior officers as they go up to the ladder of leadership to avoid "ugly" developments.