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Why did the honorable Marine officers shave their heads

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The main attraction in today’s court martial hearing in Camp Capinpin was the presence of seven Marine officers in the court room with their shaven heads in sympathy and sorrow with their fallen comrades in Basilan.

The bald officers were Colonels Ariel Querubin, Orlando de leon, Januario Caringal, Armando Bañez, Custodio Parcon, Achilles Segumallian and Major Francisco Domingo Fernandez.

The only Marine officers with unshaven heads were Lt. Gen. Renato Miranda (who is almost bald) and Lt. Belinda Ferrer.

Gen. Miranda issued the following message:

We mourn the loss of our comrades-in-arms. We sympathize and grieve with the loved ones they left behind.

We are full of sorrow because we cannot do anything to help. We would like to help but because of our predicament, we can’t do so.

We do not say that we are the solution. But we would like to be a part of the solution.

Even before, we were part of the solution. We were never been part of the problem.

But when we offered solutions, they perceived us as the problem.

And what have they done to us? They placed us behind bars.

We just hope that our fellow Marines have not died in vain. May they rest in peace.

The pawns pay for the price of incompetence and failure of their leaders. This is an indictment of the chain of command.

Click here for Inquirer’s Joel Guinto’s story.

Photo captions:

1. Col. Ariel Querubin
2. Col. Orlando de Leon
3. Col.Januario Caringal
4. Col. Armando Bañez
5. Col. Archie Segumalian
6. Maj. Francisco Domingo Fernandez
7. From left, Col. Querubin, Lt. Gen. Renato Miranda,Col. Bañez, and Col. Custodio Parcon
8. Brig.Gen. Danilo Lim and Col. Querubin. Behind them are Maj. Fernandez, Army Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Army Col. Edmundo Malabanjot,Col. Segumalian
9. Colones Bañez and Parcon
10. Army Lt. Homer Estolas of the elite Scout Rangers
11. Colonels Caringal and Bañez
12. Five Scout Rangers and a Marine: Capt. Frederick Sales, Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, Maj. Jason Aquino, Capt. Dante Langkit, Capt. Joey Fontiveros, and Lt. Belinda Ferrer

Update: Two Marines relieved over Basilan debacle.

Published inFeb '06Military

35 Comments

  1. chi chi

    “The pawns pay for the price of incompetence and failure of their leaders. This is an indictment of the chain of command.”

    The truth and nothing but the truth!

    If not for these brave and courageous “Men of Honor”, I would have totally abandon the thought that the country has still a bright tomorrow.

    Thanks, MEN…my heroes!

  2. chi chi

    “The only Marine officers with unshaven heads were Lt. Gen. Renato Miranda (who is almost bald)…”

    Maraming salamat, Ellen. Napatawa mo ako.

    Many, many thanks for the photos. You always give us hope thru your efforts.

  3. Miranda was already almost kalbo way back in 1998.

    Shaving of the heads of the marines is predominant in boot camp. That they shave their heads today is very telling.

    Btw, sayang Lt Ferrer didn’t shave her head – it would have caught real attention to their protest and would have reverberated the world over. Sayang!

  4. Mrivera Mrivera

    nagpakalbo sila dahil sa pakikidalamhati sa mga naulila ng kanilang dating mga kasamahan.

    upang maging patas naman, sina gloria, esperon, allaga, ermita, bunye, gonzalez at gonzalez at mga manhid at iba pang walang budhing kaalyado ay dapat putulin ang mga ulo bilang kabayaran sa kanilang mga pagwawalanghiya sa sambayanan!

  5. Ellen, paki-check kung hindi ninakaw ang mga laman-laman nila na ibinibenta sa mga dayuhan kasi iyan ang bagong negosyo noong unano. Donor kuno for pay!

  6. chi chi

    Mrivera,

    Agree! Dapat ay sila ang decapitated sa itaas at sa ibaba. Si trapolita ay dapat mutilated, in addition, dahil siya ang kaporal ng lahat ng kataksilan sa bansa! Ewwwww, gross but they give me the reason to wish for it!

  7. Tribune reports, “RP Marines beheaders may be charged under anti-terror law—Palace.” Why maybe? Wow, bobo talaga!

    Who are these crooks kidding? Any criminal can be charged for crimes committed on anybody, murder pa kaya! These Filipinos calling themselves MILF, Abus, etc. have committed a crime—a massacre in fact that merits the capital punishment in countries where the death penalty is still being given as in KSA, Japan, etc., and they have murdered of soldiers of the AFP, who are there on a tour of duty, and that should be “obstuction of official duties of those in authority” and such constitute a crime. So, these criminals have even committed not just murder but other crimes as well.

    So, what are the crooks in Malacanang saying that they “may be charged”? Why? Is there a possibility for these criminals to get clemency even before they can be convicted? And if they are convicted, is the Poohtah going to grant them clemency the way Bush granted clemency to Libby, a convicted felon? Or, is it because the MILF, etc. have been used to kill these marines who were under Col. Querubin, et al and must be suspected of starting to get uneasy, and to convict the MILF will mean a lot of spilling of the beans?

    Hey, Gloria Poohtah, what really is the score? Tell the people of the Philippines and the world the truth. Better still, please step down. We don’t want to see more Filipinos dying just so you can remain in your stolen position! Nakakasawa na, nakakasuka pa!

  8. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    The HSA took effect July 15, 5 days after the encounter. Is the HSA an ex-post facto law?

  9. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    Don’t get me wrong, whoever did the beheadings should be dealt with using the full force of the law. But if this is how they are going to implement the Anti-terrorism law, it fails the objective already in its first application. You craft a law and it becomes valid only for offenses after its effectivity.

    Hindi pwedeng binyagan ang hindi pa ipinapanganak!

    If this is a preview of its enforcement, so help us God.

    ——

    Also in Tribune, Querubin et al kicked Gen. Yano out of the proceedings. Yano was evicted on entry of a peremptory challenge by Gen. Miranda. Yano’s successor suffered the same fate, this time, it was Gen. Lim who entered the challenge.

    Ubusin na kaya nila ang military court hanggang si Esperon na lang ang maiwan?

  10. chi chi

    And after that, let’s kick Asspweron with all our might!

  11. luzviminda luzviminda

    The letter of Gen Miranda is so full of emotions. Naiyak din ako! Ito ang mga tunay na sundalo ng bayan. May pagmamahal hindi lang sa bayan higit sa lahat ay sa kanilang mga kasamahan. Daig pa sa kapatid ang turingan ng mga magigiting na sundalong ito. Hindi tulad ni Esperon na MANHID na sa tinatamasang sarap sa pabuyang pwesto kapalit ng pagtataksil sa bayan. Esperon does not deserve to be called their Chief of Staff. He is not in the brave and galant soldiers’ class of Gen Miranda, Gen Lim, Col Querubin, Parcon and others.

  12. Nine Nine

    Magulo talaga ang bansa natin kung fake ang namumuno. Syempre fake din ang AFP chief. So, how can we expect na magkaroon ng justice para sa mga kawawang sundalo na namatay sa Basilan kung parehong peke ang presidente at chief of staff? All they wanted is to stay on power. Assperon, Aliaga and the “most assholes” in the military didn’t really know how to handle the situation, more so how to react. Urong-sulong. The best officers of the marines who are tested to do things under extreme pressures are in prison in Tanay. Nakakalungkot.

    Col Querubin with the other detained marines extended their sympathy to their brave men, and disgust to the AFP assholes on handling the incident by shaving their heads – this would mean a lot sa mga sundalo sa field. Kahit nakakulong sila, at least they did something. Kaysa mga nasa labas na di alam kung anong gawin.

    Ngayon, kung ang mga magigiting na marines at scout rangers ay nasa kulungan, at ang mga “most assholes” sa military ay nasa labas, di magtagal sa kangkungan lahat tayo pulutin.

  13. Anakngtipaklong Anakngtipaklong

    I really sympathized with the families of the slain Marines in Basilan. My older brother is a Marines himself. I always have high respect to these soldiers. With all due respect to other branches of Military, I feel safer with the Marines.

    You will feel the sincerity of Col. Querubin with his letter to the bereaved families of the Marines. Unlike the Chief-of-Staff Esperon who never respect the death of his soldiers. Instead of giving justice to the death of his soldiers, he even suggested for a 3-year ceasefire, what a shame. I’m always puzzled why the government tolerate this act of terrorist in our country, in fact if they want to annihilate this MILF and Abu Sayyaf, they could. Why don’t they bring the full force of the Military, isama na rin jan ung mga pulis na tatamad para panangga sa bala ng ating mga sundalo.

    Dekada na ang binilang ng giyera sa Mindanao halos walang nangyayari. Dami na rin nagbuwis ng buhay dahil sa walang kwentang digmaan. Kung tutuusin laki sana ang natitipid ng Gobyerno kung noon pa man pinulbos na ang mga bandidong ito. Wala na sanang kagaya ni Garcia at Esperon na namuno sa hanay ng mga militar.

    I doubt if Esperon has been into the battle before, tingin ko baka cover lang ng cover ito nung nadestino sa Mindanao, oh di naman kaya laging naglalagay ng bawang sa tumbong para lagnatin palagi at makalibre sa operasyon.

    Sometimes, I want to believe that we don’t need to have Military in our country, eh nagiging sanhi lang ng corruption ito eh. But with the existence of Col. Querubin, Senator Trillanes and others brave soldiers, naniniwala pa rin ako na mababago ang lahat.

    I would like to extend this message to my Idol Col. Querubin and the rest of the detained Marines together with the Scout Rangers, don’t give up to the pressure of the Gloria and her puppet General, these people will not stay longer in power, because the nation needs a dedicated soldiers like you.

    Uwa! Uwa!

  14. chi chi

    Anakngtipaklong,

    Oy, I like your alias. I tend to believe na si Asspweron ay “… laging naglalagay ng bawang sa tumbong para lagnatin palagi at makalibre sa operasyon.”! Heheh. Oks na oks ito a!

  15. Anakngtipaklong Anakngtipaklong

    Hi Chi,

    Thanks, this alias is really meant to Gloria and Esperon, they are son of the grasshopper, hehehe! Pampakain sa ibon.

    Anyway, there is really a high probability that Esperon did practice this garlic magic, kasi kung isa syang magiting na sundalo, baka di na sya umabot sa ranggo nya ngaun.

    Kay Ma’m Ellen, baka pede maresearch kung ano mga awards nakuha ni Esperon sa Military. Papantay kaya sya kay Col. Querubin na nakakuha ng Medal for Valor? or baka medal for wounded soldier lang nakuha nya, dahil nagkaalmoranas na sa kalalagay ng bawang sa wetpaks.

  16. Esperon being the PSG Chief of Gloria and one of her Garci generals must have received ‘pins’ back to back when she appointed him her CS AFP and everytime she sees him, I have no doubt she gives him a pin like a safety pin.

    But as to military medals? Naah! Pretty sure his medals are fake.

  17. parasabayan parasabayan

    Spy and Black Knight may know what the awards are of the Cheat of Staff and that of Col Querubin. I know that Col Querubin had more than 6 or 7 Gold Crosses then the medal of Valor plus other medals. I wonder if this assperon even had one gold cross. Tingnan nga natin! Ellen, it would be interesting to get an input on this. I do not even believe that assperon had combat exposure as extensive as Gen Miranda, General Lim and Col Querubin. Baka ang mga medals niya ay yung pinitpit na lata! Heh,heh,heh… This is why the assperon do not know how to handle his warriors, kasi wala siyang alam sa mga ito kundi mag ass lick lamang, magpapogi-pogi. Boy, I am looking at his pictures and now he looks like my Chinese Sharpei- sobrang dami na ng kulobot sa mukha! Paano, I do not think he knows how to handle the numerous fragmented rebel groups! Pareho na lang sila ni tiyanak, hanggang kwak kwak kwak lang sila! For the meantime, these rebel groups may be re-grouping and while the incapable duo are snoozing, the rebel groups are going stronger and stronger. Hoy, gising na! Tama na yang fiction ninyong Enchanted Kingdom.

    I will buy a boxing bag ang gloves para sa araw ng SONA, para tuwing mag-salita si tiyanak, I will box the bag. This way I may lose 2000 calories that day!

  18. parasabayan parasabayan

    Ops, Tongue may be able to research the above for us!

  19. chi chi

    Next time that Asspweron is photographed in his ugliest form, sana ay ma-Ellenville para masampal-sampal sa screen ng computer!

  20. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    PSB, when I have that much time to waste, I will. Speaking of the upcoming SONA, 2000 calories is peanuts, watch out, you might dehydrate yourself. You may also break your wristbones.

    What she is expected to play up, aside from those mentioned by Ellen is the very strong Peso, which many of your co-expats here, and the 8 million plus OFWs, are getting unsettled with. The ten-peso difference (P55 minus P45) from two years ago is making it difficult for OPW families and beneficiaries, effectively cutting their “allowance” by 20%. The same shithole that exporters are in, too.

    With tax collections, again, short, how could she claim any achievement in that regard?

    To avoid dehydration, PSB, instead of SONA, try SODA. State Of Donation Address!

  21. parasabayan parasabayan

    The Asian countries who are more ahead of us economically want they money value even de-valued. China is one. Waht on earth is this tiny woman thinking about? She will simply kill our export and just flood our streets with imports from China. Economically speaking, she is killing our economy!

  22. PSB: The Asian countries who are more ahead of us economically want they money value even de-valued.

    *****

    Estupida nga iyan e. Economist daw kuno, kinopya lang ang thesis ng ama niya pero ang utak niyan bugok! Sinabi mo pa. Japan in fact has better economy and produces products that are sellable overseas—hindi tao—but the Bank of Japan has no plans to lower the rate of yen to the dollar. Nakakainis nga kasi apektado ang import business ko. Kaya nakikitingi na lang ako sa ibang importer. Golly, ngayon ang exchange rate more than 120 yen to a dollar!

    Buti na lang nga iyon business naman ng husband ko ang benefitted ng higher yen rate to a dollar. His company that his father established is celebrating its 75th year this year. Meron na rin kaming liaison office sa Indonesia.

    Kaya iyong ginagawa ni Poohtah, nakakasira iyan sa economy ng Pilipinas sa totoo lang. My suspicion is that she wants the peso rate lower than the dollar para mas malaki ang value noong peso sa dollar na nilalabas nila sa bansa at hino-hoard sa bangko sa ibang bansa. Dapat masilip ang money laundered sa US at Europe ng mga iyan sa totoo lang.

  23. parasabayan parasabayan

    This tiyanak is a first class hoarder talaga! She thinks that the Filipinos are so stupid to buy her idea that if the peso is strong, the economy is strong. Tonta! Para talagang hilong talelong! kawawa naman ang mga export business natin. Wala na ngang ma-export, papatayin pa niya yung kakaunting exporters. Then think about the OFW money too which eroded by 20% and then may Vat pa na over 10%. So, ang totoo, ang pera ng OFW ay 70% na lang ang maiiwan. Imagine mo yan? Kaya pala itinaas niya yung minimum wage ng OFW to $ 400. Yun pala kukunin niya yung 1/3 ng kita nila pala sa kanyang taxes at ng paglakas ng peso.

  24. Mrivera Mrivera

    parasabayan,

    ano pa nga ba?

    sa aking sinasahod na $400, napakalaki na ang nabawas mula nang lumakas ang piso kontra sa dolyar. mantakin mo ‘yung nawala na dapat sana ay pang-agdon din sa pangangailangan ng aking pamilya?

    ang dulot ng paglakas ng pisong pinag-uugatan ng magandang ekonomiya sa panaginip ni gloria ay ibayong pagdurusa at hindi ginhawa sa aming mga hanggang palad lamang ang kinikita!

    gumagandang ekonomiya?

    pwe!!!!

  25. Mrivera Mrivera

    sasabihin niyang itinaas niya ang sahod ng manggagawa dito sa ibayong dagat? bakit ano ba’ng meron siya at nagawa niyang bigyan ng increase ang mga OFW “itinapon ang sarili” mabigyan lamang ng maayos na buhay ang kanilang mga mahal?

    gilagid niyang may kupal!

  26. Mrivera Mrivera

    MILF won’t surrender its men behind Basilan carnage

    Mindanao Bureau
    Last updated 04:57pm (Mla time) 07/19/2007

    ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Thursday stood by its earlier statement it would not hand over to authorities those behind brutal attack on a convoy of Philippine Marines in Basilan, where 14 Marine soldiers were killed. …….

    ……”We are bent on continuing our plans for police actions against the perpetrators. We must be able to find out who perpetrated this. We ask the MILF for cooperation on this since they acknowledged that it was their own men who ambushed us. We ask them to turn over the perpetrators of the beheading,” Esperon said.

    http://www.newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=77621

    tangnamoka espweron, lakas ng loob mong manakot, hanggang ‘yan lang naman ang kaya mong gawin. pumunta kang mag-isa sa basilan at ipanakot mo ‘yang mga estrelya mo sa balikat! tangnaka, tingnan natin kung hindi para kang unggoy na kinapon kapag kinuyog ka ng mga katulad mong traydor na MILF na matapang lamang sa mga walang laban!

  27. Gago rin ano, Magno. Iyon increase ng salary ng mga overseas workers, walang pakialam ang Pilipinas. In fact, dito sa Japan, mataas ang rate ng mga foreign maids para ma-discourage iyong mga amo nilang dayuhan na kumuha ng katulong from outside. Kasi nga mas gugustuhin ng Japanese government na hapon ang gamitin ng mga foreigners para ang taxes ay bayad sa Japanese government. Hindi dahil kay Unano kaya mataas ang bayad ng mga foreign domestic helpers sa Japan. Iyon ay para kumunti nga sila. Gaga talaga ano? Puro yabang lang pero ang mga pinagsasabi ay daig pa iyong mga fish vendors’ wives. Iyan ang tunay na estupida!

  28. “tingnan natin kung hindi para kang unggoy na kinapon kapag kinuyog ka ng mga katulad mong traydor na MILF…”

    Kaya iwas siyang pumuta doon, baka nga naman makapon siya!

  29. parasabayan parasabayan

    The MILFs have more brain than this demented assperon! If they indeed decapitated and killed all the 14 marines, do you think they will surrender to the scalawag assperon?? He must be dreaming. He is just like his queen in the enchanted kingdom. The best way to really make these barbaric factions answerable for what they did is to have a fiery confrontation. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Kaya nga lang itong si assperon, wala ng mga parte ng katawan, yun na lang kanya siguro ang naiiwan, supot pa!!!!

  30. parasabayan parasabayan

    Akala siguro ni tiyanak at assperon, lahat ay napapaikot ng pera, not these barbaric factions. The only language they understand are those of guns and mortars. To these factions, decrees and implemented laws do not mean a thing. Itong si ermitanyo, kakasuhan daw ng “anti-terror” itong mga factions na ito. He must be kidding! Tignan nga natin kung paano niya huhulihin itong mga mangdirigma na ito! For all we know, itong mga Malaysian arbiters na tutulong, sila rin pala ang nasa likod ng mga patayan.

    Wala na ba tayong kakayahan na sumugpo ng ating mga katiwalian? Kung hindi ang mga Americano para sa pagsugpo ng katiwalian sa Mindanao, ang Malaysia naman ang tutulong pang isa. Tapos sa mga extra judicial killings naman, ang European Union naman. Gees, ano na lang pala ang rolyo ng tiyanak at assperon? Pa-decree decree na lang ba?

  31. parasabayan parasabayan

    Also, the officers who know the Mindanao problem like they know the palm of their hands are all incarcerated! Col Querubin’s and Col Parcon’s selfless fight to drive out the enemies look useless now. Assperon put all these two officers’ efforts and sacrifices and that of the other able marine officers’ in vain. It is about time all these incarcerated marine officers should be set free and should be sent to the troubled areas of Mindanao to avenge their dead comrades! Anong peace talk peace talk. Tell that to the marines! Gawain lang yan ng mga opisyales na walang bayag! Assperon is nothing but a paper pushing nutless cheat of staff who only knows one thing-ass licking his enchanted kingdom rotten to the core queen!

  32. chi chi

    Hindi pantay ang buhay ng tao sa ilalim ng pamumuno kuno ng nagkukunwaring pangulo!

    Imagine, nailusot/negotiated nila ng buhay si Bossi only a few days after the beheading of the marines! Onli in the Pilipins!

  33. parasabayan parasabayan

    Chi, ang mga namatay na marines ang kapalit ng “atatsi kis” at ng pogi picture ng malanding tiyanak para mayroon siyang maipapakitang achievement niya sa Anti-terror Law. Nice try tiyanak but the world know your rotten inerts!

  34. Mrivera Mrivera

    anna,

    hindi na nga pala kailangang pumunta espweron sa basilan upang ipanakot ‘yung sangkaterbang pekeng estrelya niya sa balikat dahil naidiliber na yung atatsi kis.

    sila sila pa ang magkakakutsaba. kasama si heneral nilaga.

  35. Mrivera Mrivera

    “hindi na nga pala kailangang pumunta NI espweron sa basilan upang ipanakot ‘yung sangkaterbang pekeng estrelya niya sa balikat dahil naidiliber na yung atatsi kis.

    sila sila PALA ang magkakakutsaba. kasama si heneral nilaga.”

    ay ano ga ire?

    nabulol na, ey!

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