As part of the recognition activities highlighting the week-long 109th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Army starting on March 20, Esperon handed the Army Command Plaque to Major Gen. G. Nobleza, Brig. Gen. Alfonso Bernate, Col. Arturo Ortiz, Col. Jorge Segovia, and Col. Eduardo Ano.

"These senior Army leaders were honored by acknowledging their efforts during the successful conduct of defense and security operations that preempted the activities of the rightist and leftist elements aimed to destabilize the government," Esperon said.

General Nobleza, commanding general of the 9th Infantry Division based in the Bicol region, played a key role in preventing some groups of disgruntled officers from proceeding to Metro Manila from their camps in the southern regions at the height of the stand-off at the Philippine Marines Headquarters that was triggered by Marine Col. Ariel Querubin last Feb. 26.

General Bernate, commanding general of the Army Headquarters Service Support Group, sealed the entry and exit points of Fort Bonifacio against members of the political opposition who marched to the area along with suspected leftist elements to provide support to Querubin.

Colonel Ortiz, a Medal of Valor awardee, with Colonel Segovia and Colonel Ano were instrumental in providing reliable intelligence information on the participation of leftist and rightist personalities in the street protests that prompted the Army command to take appropriate camp defense strategies during the critical period.

Segovia and Ano are the assistant chief of staff for intelligence (G-2) and chief of the Army Intelligence and Security Group (ISG), respectively.

"With their accurate assessment of the situation and timely deployment of troops, the escalation of political unrest and other unlawful acts purposely to overthrow the duly constituted government on February 23 and 24 was successfully contained by the proper authority," Esperon said.

Aside from the five Army officers, Esperon also honored the intelligence and counter-intelligence efforts of Pnilippine National Police (PNP) Director Reynaldo Varilla and Senior Supt. Rolando Anonuevo who coordinated with the Army operatives during those days.

"The information provided by these police officers contributed a lot in the neutralization of an alliance between the Communist Party of the Philippines and the ultra-rightist groups that provoked hostilities and plans to bring down the legally established governing bodies of the country," the Army chief added.

The awarding ceremonies for the military and police officials were held at the main function hall of the Army Officers Club House in Fort Bonifacio where top Army officials conducted a command briefing for the holding of the week-long founding anniversary celebration of the Philippine Army that will begin tomorrow with Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. as guest of honor and speaker.

Esperon urges trial  for soldiers linked to overthrow attempt

By ARIS R. ILAGAN

Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., chief of the Philippine Army, has recommended to Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Generoso Senga the filing of charges against at least 96 Army officers and enlisted personnel for violations of the Articles of War for their alleged involvement in a failed attempt to overthrow President Arroyo.

In a press conference at the Army Officers Clubhouse in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila, Esperon also said that Senga has released guidelines to all military personnel in an effort to insulate them from partisan political activities and attempts to recruit them for destabilization efforts against the government.

Among the 96 Army personnel who were recommended to be charged before a General Court Martial were 59 officers and 37 enlisted men.

Of the total number, 19 Army officers and 27 enlisted men were implicated in efforts to oust Arroyo from power that were supposed to coincide with the street protests during the commemoration of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution last February 23 and 24.

Also 40 other Army personnel and 10 rank-and-file staff were recommended to be charged with violations of Articles of War in connection with the escape of four Magdalo leaders from the Army custody last January 17.

The four escapees included Capt. Lawrence San Juan, Capt. Patricio Bumidang, 1Lt. Nathaniel Rabonza and 1Lt. Sonny Sarmiento.

San Juan was later arrested by military agents in Padre Garcia town in Batangas where he allegedly met with leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the rightist Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan for the establishment of an alliance between the two extremist groups to overthrow the Arroyo Administration.

Among those recommended to be charged was Brigadier General Danilo Lim who was relieved from his post as commander of the Army First Scout Ranger Regiment for allegedly attempting to recruit senior military officers to join protest actions and later withdraw their support for Mrs. Arroyo.

According to Esperon, findings of the investigations conducted by Army Inspector General Maj. Gen. Ferdinand Bocobo have been forwarded to Senga although the AFP Inspector General would still subject them for review prior to the approval of the AFP chief of staff.

"I have signed my recommendations to the chief of staff," Esperon said.

"My recommendations as well as the recommendations of other services, I understand, will now be studied by the Inspector General or the AFP chief, who in turn, will make further recommendations to the chief of staff," the Army chief added.

Other than Lim, Esperon refused to name other officers recommended to under go court martial proceedings since his recommendation is still subject for review and approval by higher authorities.

In the case of Lim, who is a graduate of the US West Point Military Academy, Esperon claimed that the investigating body has gathered sufficient evidence linking him to efforts to overthrow the government.

Lim, one of the founders of the rightist Young Officers Union (YOU) which was involved in the failed coup attempt against the Aquino government in December 1989, has been placed under restrictive custody by the AFP leadership in his officer’s quarters at Fort Bonifacio.

Esperon said the Army officers and enlisted personnel implicated in the effort to oust the government would likely to be charged with violations of Articles of War 67 (inciting to mutiny), Articles of War 68 (failure to report a mutiny) and Articles of War 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline).

Meanwhile, Esperon disclosed that Senga has issued a five-point guideline to the three major services of the AFP in order to insulate military personnel against partisan political activities and possible recruitment for destabilization activities.

Entitled "The Role of the AFP in These Trying Times," the five-point guidelines have been relayed to all military units, said Esperon.

These guidelines are:

1) Strict adherence to the supremacy of civilian authority over the military.

2) That the AFP’s constitutional mandate as protector of the people and the State is not a license to risk leadership of the government from public officials on the basis of perceived imperfections of governance.

3) As professional soldiers, we do not enjoy an unrestrained license to engage in partisan politics or publicly speak our minds against the government without having to face the serious accountability for our unauthorized actions.

4) The Supreme Court had set the distinct parameters when it ruled that certain liberties of persons in the military service - including the freedom of speech - maybe circumscribed by the rules of military discipline.

5). The military personnel are not regarded as a potent political force to be used by the politicians in the furtherance of their vested interest.

"As mandated we must remain apolitical," Esperon said.

Despite the investigations on the involvement of Army personnel in efforts to overthrow Mrs. Arroyo, Esperon said the Army command is now moving towards normalcy.

"I must say that we are over the hump. We have sealed the cracks and we have neutralized some probable plans (of destabilization) but we are not letting our guards down," he said.

Esperon pointed out that the main objective of punishing Army personnel involved in coup attempts is for every soldier to understand that they have violated Articles of War and the Revised Penal Code.