by Victor Reyes
Officers accused of involvement in last year’s supposed attempt to grab power yesterday accepted a counter-challenge of Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. for them to tell the truth about a videotape showing their withdrawal of support from President Arroyo.
But they also asked Esperon to tell the truth on allegations that he and other military generals helped rig the May 2004 elections to ensure President Arroyo’s victory.
“We accept that challenge, Mr. Esperon. Do you?” the officers who are detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal said in a statement given to reporters covering the resumption of court martial proceedings against them.
The 28 officers are accused of mutiny and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, among other offenses. They are led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, former Marines commandant, and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former Scout Rangers commander.
Miranda and Lim were allegedly planning to lead their men on a march to Edsa on February 24 last year to join anti-Arroyo mass actions and announce their withdrawal of support for the President.
In the videotape, a copy of which was aired later by a TV network, Lim, flanked by several officers, announced the withdrawal of support and called Arroyo a “bogus president.”
Esperon has said the accused did not admit having a videotape announcing a withdrawal of support from the President “until we had the tape recording.”
The officers have said Lim and co-accused Col. Ariel Querubin sought a meeting with then AFP chief Gen. Generoso Senga to inform the military leadership of the existence of the videotape.
Esperon was in the meeting as then Army commander. They said Lim and Querubin obeyed Senga’s order not to air the tape.
Esperon’s alleged participation in the 2004 electoral fraud was indicated in the “Hello Garci” illegally wiretapped conversations between President Arroyo and former elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, alleged cheating operator.
“Warriors do not hide behind alibis. When the very integrity of your person and the organization you represent is being questioned for participation in the most heinous crime of electoral fraud, for lying, for cheating and for stealing, warriors demand, in any forum here and now, that his honor be redeemed,” the officers said.
TO-DO LIST
The officers said the real challenge for them and Esperon “is to heed the clamor of 85 million Filipinos, whom we owe allegiance to, for the truth.”
“To make it easier for you Mr. Esperon, the following is a list that would minimize, if not eliminate, any and all forms of restriction for the truth regarding the Garci tapes and the withdrawal (of support) tape to come out,” they said.
The list contains the following:
* Doing away with lawyers. “As warriors, we commit to defend ourselves,” they said.
* For the videotape to be played in public “via all medium.” The officers said they will ask the Supreme Court to remove all legal impediments to the playing of the tape.
* For the public to be allowed to ask questions. “While responding, we all agree that lie detectors be attached to us.”
* Publication of all documents relating to the controversy.
* Allowing all witnesses to come forward,
* No invoking of Executive Order 464, “state secret and other similar cowardly alibis.” (EO 464 prohibits officials from appearing before congressional inquiries without permission from President Arroyo.)
* All proceedings will be televised.
* “Let us accept the verdict of our masters…the Filipino people.”
* “More importantly, no crying please in front of the cameras.”
The officers told Esperon: “We, the warriors from Tanay, submit ourselves to all and any other conditions that you may wish to add. Your acceptance of the challenge, Mr. Esperon, binds us all to these conditions. Please don’t keep the nation waiting.”
Related story: Politics not our concern: Army Chief Yano
Ms. Ellen, I have always wondered about that so-called videotape “..a copy of which was aired later by a TV network, Lim, flanked by several officers, announced the withdrawal of support and called Arroyo a “bogus president.””
How did the network get that tape & air it ? Was that videotape given to them by the soldiers ?
Hang tough, stay proud, Warriors !
Ellen,
Maganda itong statement mga FEW GOOD MEN IN UNIFORM (kaso nakakulong nga lang).
Itong statement na gusto ko ay:
* For the public to be allowed to ask questions. “While responding, we all agree that lie detectors be attached to us.”
Tignan natin kung lalaban si ASSPERON at sana isama si Gloria dito. Tignan natin kung ano ang sasabihin nila.
Huwag si Bunyeta dahil failed na agad ang laban niya.
Cheers! Sa wakas this challenge is so direct to the point, ito ang tunay na challenge unlike Gloria’s pervious special commissions. Let us, the citizen, be the judge and not your special personal commissions from Ombudsman to the Supreme Court.
Bagong battlecry, ” SIMPLE LANG”
vonjovi2, “spinners” would not agree to take the Lie Detector Test, or wear one under questioning or you need hundreds of the equipment as they will be going bonker everytime the spinners open their mouths. And that would be another source of Kickbacks, the purchase of more Lie Detectors…
A take from the “Few Good Men” Whose line will it be?
Jessep: You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives…You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty…we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use ’em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!
Ay naku! Checkmate si Mr. Esperon. Assperon should not hide behind Gloria’s gag order. He cannot stand a minute on congressional grilling for his crimes against the Filipino people and the State. BTW, Mr. Esperon your bogus President Gloria Arroyo is not the State.
Take that Mr. Esperon! Ano? Lalaban ka ba sa hamon nila? I doubt it, you don’t have honor, integrity and honesty. The only thing that’s making you a man is your uniform. Other than that, you’re one pathetic general!
Bulls eye warriors. Now let,s wait and see if the thief of staff will take the challenge. but i guess this would be futile since he is a coward hiding behind his ill-gotten stars.
That’s classic pnoyrs! Very well put statement…
10/20/07
Wala nang losot si Gloria at si Assperon kaya binombahan na lang ang Glorietta. Bakit hindi tinama-an ang Palascio kong terrorist ang nag bomba. Military ni Gloria, halata na ang lahat mong kababuyan. Dapat mag hara-kiri ka na. You’ll only die once.
tama yan kabayang dandaw, kaso, masamang damo;matagal mamatay…
Duwag yan si ASSPERON, walang bayag yan di siya kakasa sa hamon ng mga HONORABLE MEN. Magtatago yan sa saya ni PANDAK, na kesyo kung ano ano rason nanaman, ugaling duwag. Kita nyo Iyakin na duwag pa. Sa mga HONORABLE MEN, we salute you sirs/gentlemen for being so brave when the truth is on your side. Kayo ang dapat tularan at dapat hangaan ng taong bayan. With anyone of you on the forefront of any peaceful initiation or action, the majority will join you.
On your warriors honor, tell the truth Esperon. See yourself as you really are. Listen to what none of your corrupt commander-in-chief dares tell you: You are an Armed Forces chief-of-staff. Understand the meaning of your military position,you are the Cabesa.
Have the courage to look at your men in uniform! You are afraid to look at yourself, you are afraid of criticism, just as you are afraid of the power they promise you. You would not know how to use this power. You dare not think that you ever might experience your self differently: free instead of cowed; open instead of tactical; loving openly instead of like a thief in the night. You despise yourself. You let your bogus master in to assume power. But you yourself remain silent. You cheated to inpower your impotent master with evil intentions the power to represent the people. Only too late do you realize that again and again you are being defrauded…
Your Master someday will dumped you when your no longer active in military power.You are heir to a dreadful past.Your heritage is a burning diamond in your hand.
Ellen,
I don’t for one instance believe that Esperon will accept the challenge.
The challenge posed by the 28 officers are challenge calling on honour or Esperon has NOT AN IOTA of honour…
The gallant soldiers now called themselves WARRIORS! Palaban na talaga! Ganyan nga mga magigiting na sundalo ng bayan. Asahan ninyo ang aming suporta. Tingnan natin kung talagang may bayag nga si Esperon para sumagot sa hamon! Kung wala siyang ginawang kasalanan sa taong bayan at kung talagang hindi siya BAKLA ay haharapin niya ang hamon at ipakita na he is worthy of the salute of the soldiers.
Mabuhay ang sundalo!
To the 28 Officers..mabuhay kayong lahat! Kayo ang pag-asa ng bayan..mahirap asahan ang simbahan catolico. mahirap asahan ang mga pari at obispo. sa inyo at inyong mga sundalo ang nakikita namin pag-asa. Lead us on..Mabuhay and may your tribe increase..stout hearted men..who will fight for the rights they adore.
Si Esperon? tatago sa ilalim ng falda ni Gloria…
sana pumunta ang mga tao sa Capinpin at mag rally..magdala ng red scarves..oo nga pala ang El Shaddai members ay may panyong pula hindi ba? Puede bang gamitin ninyo at iharap sa mukha ni Gloria?
I don’t see or hear any defense of Assperon coming from the AFP rank and file – just deafening silence because they see Arseperon as being pathetic, down to the last trooper.
Ang isang taong duwag ay maingay, putak ng putak. Pero pag may Warriors na kumasa, tumatahimik na umiiyak pa.
Ngayon, Mister Esperon, ano ka na? Lumaban ka! Wag kang magtago sa pipi mong hikbi. Wag kang supot na duwag!
Wala ka ng masisilungan–Kapag hindi ka lumaban, patay kang bata ka. ‘pag lumaban ka naman, patay ka ring bata ka. Kung talagang isa kang dugong Esperon, mabuti na rin ‘yung mamatay na lumalaban, diba? Ikaw eh, inumpisahan mo kasi. No other choice, tapusin mo!!!
Mister Esperon, there’s no place to hide for cowards like you kapag hindi ka lumaban. Alalahanin mo, ikaw pa naman ang CSAFP, lahat ng kasundaluhan nakatutok sa ‘yo.
‘wag kang tatakbo sa laban dahil kahit sinong idealistikong sundalong wala pang combat pay ay puwedeng bumaril sa ‘yo. Subukan mo!!!
* “Let us accept the verdict of our masters…the Filipino people.”
Oh, I’m so touched!
* “More importantly, no crying please in front of the cameras.”
Ha!Ha!Ha! Baka mag-alburuto pa at magpapapadyak si Asspweron sa harap ng camera. Alam pala nila lahat na IYAKIN si Asspweron!
Yes, Mister Asspweron, the “the warriors from Tanay” have spoken. If you are not that coward, you will accept the challenge of our Tanay heroes.
Don’t keep us waiting or malilintikan ka na talaga sa amin!
Ellen, init na init na ako!
It’s Autumn in Japan, and it’s really getting cold now. Puede nang maglagay ng scarf sa leeg. I’ll join the great and valiant soldiers by having a red scarf around my neck as a show of support.
In Winter, I’ll knit a red muffler to wear, too.
Chi:
Yes, Mister Asspweron, the “the warriors from Tanay” have spoken. If you are not that coward, you will accept the challenge of our Tanay heroes.
Esperon is a coward man.Real soldiers can smell a coward and Esperon stinks like a dead, rotting carcass – yellow through-and-through, a muchacho general who can suck his master executive order ass sending disloyal foot soldiers to their deaths in Basilan but one who didn’t have the courage to stand up and fight for his soldiers rights.
Last lang ako nakakita ng “withdrawal of support” kasi nga yung nakaupo “peke na, gago pa.” Withdrawal of support kasi peke yung pangulo; Mutinty na daw? Tinanggal mo lang yung suporta, wala namang aggression; mutiny?
Maganda yung challenge. We like that!
Grabe!.. When your integrity, sincerity and honesty are being questioned and challenged by no less than the people who are your subordinates, the least you can do is adhere while in the contrary, the worse you can do is to keep quite and “dream” that people who are listening will not believe them…
If I am someone who is close and influential to Esperon, I would definitely beg for him to adhere to the challenge to save himself and his family’s name from criticisms.
Esperon, ang laki mong tao, ang lapad ng kaha mo pero…
WALA KANG B4Y4G!….
I hope my natitira pang respeto syo mga anak mo…..
ano pang HIYA ang inaasahang natitira kay es-PWE-ron, eh kita naman sa mukha ang kawalang kahihiyan.
tangnang’yan, kundi ba naman ubod ng kapal ng mukha ay naipagbabanduhan pa ang mga medalyang hindi naman legal at tunay kung saan niya nakuha gayundin ang mga badges na buong yabang na idinidispley?
dapat sa hayup na ‘yan ay ginigiling ng buhay at ipakain sa piranha o kaya’y sa buwaya!
addressing a mister to this es-PWE-ron is still a sign of respect to that SHIT-of-staff who deserves nothing but his own shit!
Kaso, di naman talaga warrior ito.
Lalo ng walang honor.
“On your warrior’s honor, tell the truth, Esperon dared.”
sampot,
si es-PWE-ron, warrior ‘yan. kaya lang baliktad. warrior na matapang lamang sa walang laban at doon sa mga ginoong may isinasaalang-alang na dangal at ayaw siyang patulan.
katwiran kasi, mabuti pang pumatol ka na sa pusakal na kriminal huwag lamang sa taong SUPOT at walang kahihiyan.
ni hindi nga nakaranas matulog sa gubat ng pulpol na ‘yan!
Ganoon din ang tingin ko dito kay Hugasan.
Ni hindi ko narinig na nasabak sa giyera sa Mindanao ang kumag na ‘to. Sa opisina ‘ata ni Defense Secretary Enrile ito lumaki.
Pinalaki lang ni Hugasan ang kanyang birdie sa opisina ni Enrile. Heh, ipinagbili ang puri kay Gloria!
Re:
“On your warrior’s honor,tell truth, Esperon dared”
Warrior? Who Esperon? My dead doberman probably saw more battle than Esperon ever did! Warrior? Gotta be kidding.
Warrior’s honour? Good grief, surely, the writer wasn’t alluding to Esperon!
does your doberman had bayags. according to his own men this guy has none.
Yes, Norpil… he certainly had (my Doberman did); he was a member of my Dad’s private army that saw battle against the NPAs in Isabela and also against the Muslims who wanted to overrun our farm in Lanao del Sur!
My mom told me si Enrile daw ang may pakana ng “Kidnap me” before during Marcos days, is it true? bata pa kasi ako noon, kaya I have no idea.
Shiva,
Re: “My mom told me si Enrile daw ang may pakana ng “Kidnap me” before during Marcos days,”
Your Mom is right! Enrile even did a mea culpa right in front of the cameras…
Rose:
Sama tayo sa Red Scarves Movement. I am thinking of organizing one over here. Nagtatanong na nga ako ng murang red scarves to distribute to those who will join us. Iyon palang T-shirt ng binebenta ng mga pamilya ng gallant soldiers, gotta order, too.
Ellen, paki-email naman ang contact no. ng contact for the T-shirt.
Sayang si Enrile as a matter of fact. Malaki ang potential sana niya to be a great stateman, kaya lang ligaw yata ng landas. Ang lakas talaga ng temptation ng corruption sa Pilipinas!!!
Matagal ng naligaw ng landas si Enrile. He should retire. He’s done enough harm.
AdeBrux, Enrile has not done enough harm. He believes he needs to do more harm. In all the years that I’ve been following the political events in the country, Enrile, Miriam, Angara and now Honasan truly disappointed me. I used to admire them…their guts. Ngayon, duduraan ko sila sa mukha kung makita ko sila.
mr HERmogenes ASSperon, now is time time for you to prove that you are worth being called a soldier like the “FEW GOOD MEN” the “HONORABLE 28 OFFICERS” to accept their challenge to you.
ellen, please email me how i can contact those who are selling the t-shirts of the “FEW GOOD MEN” cuz marami sa amin dito sa california ang gustong bumili at gamitin sa pagpasok sa trabaho. thanks i appreciate it and more power to you
Anna said October 20th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Matagal ng naligaw ng landas si Enrile. He should retire. He’s done enough harm.
Definition of Statesman:
respected impartial senior male politician: a senior male politician who is widely respected for his integrity and impartial concern for the public good
He’s long past his sell by date.
WWNL,
Right you are…
According to your description, there is no way that Enrile would have been accorded that supreme title.
Enrile, a senior male politician who is widely respected for his integrity and impartial concern for the public good???? NO WAY!
He never even reached statesmanhood not even by an inch from the time he started his career in politics! NO WAY. The man became worse and became more despicable as he got older.
Enrile need to retire,the more he get older the more he is suffering mental disorder.
At least there are still few good men in uniform..na pwedeng pagkatiwalaan…like what happen to me on my last vacation..I was robbed by 10 gunmen believed to be militaries..army..scalawags..lahat ng tao iyon ang speculation..they armed with long highly caliber guns na sila lamang ang may kakayahan noon dahil panahon ng eleksyon wala na akong magawa bilang isang mamamayang mahina na pinabayaan na lang samsamin nila ang perang pinaghirapan ko sa SAUDI ng 1 taon na at itali akong parang hayup habang sinasaktan..salamat na lang at iniwan nila akong buhay..kawawa sana ang mga umaasa sakin..pambili sana ng lupa para sa aking mga anak ang perang kinulimbat nila. Ang kawawang OFW heto nagsisikap muli at umaasa na sana sa pagbalik ko ay patay na ang mga kawawang MILITAR na mahirap pa sa daga na bumibiktima ng masikap na mamamayan..anong aasahan mo mandarambong ang pinuno at nakatanikala ang matitino. HARASSMENT ang motibo kaso may malaking perang involve kaya tumakas ang mga kriminal. Plano pa akong isabit sa pagkahuli ni AYERAS sa palaisdaan ko sa QUEZON ang bomber daw sa FEB. 14 na iprinisinta kamakailan..anong alam ko dun di ko nga nakita ang brother dahil pinatuloy lang siya ng Bantay ko sa Palaisdaan habang ako ay nasa Saudi…may maasahan ka pa kaya ..ganunpaman still there are few good men in uniform courtesy ko yan dahil ex-miltary ang tatay ko at napalaki kami sa tamang paraan at disiplina at hindi sa pinagnakawan saksi ang mabuting kalagayan naming apat na magkakapatid na nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa..iyan ang biyaya ng Diyos…dahil aanihin din naman ng tiwali sa kanyang lahi ang pagiging tiwali at magnanakaw..tyak yan!!!!
isa lang ang tanong jan. sino ang talaga nagsasabi ng katotohanan. siguro ang katotohanan para sa isang tao eh ung pinapanigan nya. alam nyo ba talaga ang nangyari o umaasa lang kayo sa mga sinasabi ng diyaryo, tv, mga artista/pulitiko. ano pa bang silbi ng justice system natin kung lagi nyo na lang kinoconvict ang isang tao bago pa man magkaroon ng imbestigasyon.