Rene died of a heart attack at the young age of 40 in Jakarta, where he was an executive of a multinational corporation. A graduate of the United States Military Academy (Class 1986), Rene served the country with courage and honor as a member of the elite Scout Rangers of the Philippine Army.
A reformist at heart and in deed, Rene left military service in frustration. He wrote, “ As a young officer, I used the power of the pen to question things that were not right in the Armed Forces of the Philippines–incompetence, corruption, lack of strategic direction, and unprofessionalism. My writings were a voice in the wilderness, but the criticisms earned me a reputation as a rebel officer–too honest and too frank for my own good. I really thought reforms could be achieved through intellectual honesty and awareness. “
Rene further said, “I realized that the prevailing environment in the AFP was no longer acceptable to my sense of duty and honor, that there was more to life than being a soldier in serving the country and people. To fulfill that, I needed to live outside of the uniform.”
He is the son of Gen (ret) Raymundo Jarque, known for having joined the New People’s Army, when justice was perverted against him. The elder Jarque has long left the underground movement and is now working with a government corporation.
A month before his death, when the government of Gloria Arroyo was being shaken by the exposure of the “Hello Garci” tapes which revealed how she used the military to tamper with the result of the 2004 elections in her favor, Rene wrote a letter to the Corps of Cadets, Philippine Military Academy because he said, “with your youthful idealism and genuine desire to serve the country, it is you who, I believe, can appreciate and understand the message which no longer seems to hold the ears of the generals anymore, many of whom are Peemayers.”
Rene reminded the cadets about the Honor Code: “’A cadet shall not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate those who do’. Those words form the essence of your character, as a cadet and later on, as an officer. Honor is truth and the moral resolve to speak it. It is choosing and defending the ‘harder right’ and denouncing and opposing the ‘easier wrong’. Honor is the humility to accept mistakes, to take responsibility and seek accountability. It is what being an officer and a gentleman is all about. Honor is the heart and soul of military professionalism.”
“By the strength of the Honor Code, there should be no corruption in the Armed Forces. But by ‘conversion, construction, commission’, the generals stole from and cheated the people. By covering up conversion for many years and denying it in the very halls of the Senate, they lied to the people. By keeping silent, they have tolerated one another. Truly, they have made a mockery of the Honor Code. The laxity of the Officer Corps has created a culture that goes against what the Honor Code stands for. It pains me to tell you, Sirs, that the Honor Code is moribund, if not yet dead, in the Armed Forces. “All right” no longer works in the Officer Corps. As such, the AFP has become a dishonorable organization without a conscience, without a soul. The generals know it but they are in self-denial. These corrupt generals should be locked up to listen through endless Honor lectures until their ears bleed. “
Rene cited the case of Gen. Carlos Garcia, class of 1971, as an example of the violation of the Honor Code.
Rene also spoke about Courage, Integrity, Loyalty.
He said, “More than physical courage to face the enemy in battle, you must have the moral courage to fight wrong and stand for right. Integrity is the wholeness of self, what you think or believe, is what you say and do. It involves the conscious discernment if a decision or act is right or wrong and to speak and act accordingly. Loyalty should not be blind, holding on to your superior, right or wrong. On the contrary, the minute he stands for wrong, honor demands that you denounce him. Your loyalty should be to the institution that reflects what you believe in as to what is right and honest and for the common good. “
Rene said he was no saint and his participation in some of those irregular acts in order to survive in the service haunted him. Despite knowing how deep the corruption of the military system was, Rene said “I believe in the capability of the Officer Corps to heal itself.”
He pinned his hope on the Cadet Corps who “can help awaken the generals who have been oblivious to the calls for honor and honest conduct.” He talked of creating a “Community of Conscience” together with other upright members of the military.
Rene did not live to see the exit of Gloria Arroyo and the victory Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on the wings of the people’s desire for change.
Rene’s words are as relevant today as the day he wrote them five years ago.
Full text of Rene’s letter to the cadets:
To The Corps of Cadets Armed Forces of the Philippines
Another article by Rene:
Nobody can fault him by “running” away from a situation, at best he exemplified the old adage that if you can not stand the heat, get out. Unlike the others na kapit-tuko sa pwesto.
And he had some reasons for doing so. He didn’t want to get “burned” or be longer a part of a corrupt system and “unreformable” group.
The temptations were always there and before it gets under his skin, better get out from hell.
Why do good people die young?
He got out of the military service and saved his soul.
The right thing to do is the highest form of morality.
sayang, we should have more soldiers like Capt Rene Jarque, may his soul rest in peace, he was a good son of the Philippines
“More than physical courage to face the enemy in battle, you must have the moral courage to fight wrong and stand for right. Integrity is the wholeness of self,…….”
great words from a great man, CAPT RENE JARQUE
Ang sabi nga…”only the good die young…kaya hindi ako magtataka kung matatagal ang buhay ni putot at ni tabbaboy..
Eternal rest grtant unto Rene Oh Lord!
Rene Jarque was a lost opportunity for the country to really see reforms in the military…Honasan and Biazon are silent, Lacson is on the run…the only one with the position and people’s mandate to really initiate reform and hopefully uncoopted is Trillanes…why can’t he be treated like any other political prisoner who were released in the past? There is not better way of honoring the sacrifices of men like Jarque than allowing their voices to be heard through the living – set Trillanes free!
Full text of Rene’s letter to the Cadets.
To The Corps of Cadets Armed Forces of the Philippines rene jarque
Another article by Rene:
Why I Left the Military
Jarque died in a freak accident while working abroad. I think. He was placed in a very difficult situation when his father joined the enemies leaving was the only honorable thing to do. Few could tread the same path.
*************************
While waiting for Ellen’s post on the current hostage situation, I am reminded of a similar incident which happened 3 years ago, in almost the very same vicinity. The case was the hostage-taking by a failed politician-cum-philanthropist, Ducat, that looked very much “staged” by characters from the then administration senatorial slate Team Unity (TU).
Refresh your memories here: http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=1036
Tongue, Rene died of a heart attack.
#9 jug. Dalawa tayo dyan!
Set Trillanes free, now na! Bwisit na judge Pimentel yan….!
Thanks, Tongue….tandang-tanda ko pa ng magpabida si Sabit Swingson.
Chi, let’s pray for Judge Pimentel. Anong malay mo, he will be enlightened while undergoing his regular dialysis.
Capt Rene Jarque was a member of the Young Officers Union (YOU), that staged the most serious coup against the government of President Aquino in 1989.
He was one of the rebel officers who were granted amnesty during the Ramos administration.
Capt Rene Jarque I salute you. Rest in Peace!
Capt. Rene you are always remembered. Others took the easy way out. You died fighting for REFORM and corruption sa AFP. Namatay sa sama ng loob, dahil sa bulok na sistema. I am not from the military, Rene was a classmate at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, a true friend! he visited me before his untimely death and confided again ang mga problema sa corruption sa AFP.Masama ang loob ni “LT”. Ngayon na nagkakagulo na sa imbestigasyon,ako ay masaya. Buhay ang pinaglalaban ni Rene. Sa pamilya ni Rene, i share sa paghihinayang, ngunit tayo ay magsaya, buhay ang pinaglalaban ni Rene. Snappy Salute to a good friend. you are missed, till we see each other kaibigan.