AFP chief Alexander Yano breezed through the powerful and oftentimes irrational Commission on Appointments last Wednesday.
With his confirmation, Yano is now expected to sort out the mess that his predecessor, Hermogenes Esperon has burdened the armed forces with, especially the cases of the detained officers who did not steal any money from the government but simply made a stand to stop the degradation of the armed forces.
There are two main groups of detained patriotic officers. One is the Magdalo group who staged their protest over the various anomalies in the AFP at the Oakwood Hotel in Makati in July 2003. Some of them participated again November last year in another protest activity against Arroyo at the Manila Peninsula. From more than 300, they are only less then 20 of them left in detention.
Last week, 11 of the Magdalo officers pleaded guilty to the charge of Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman, the punishment of which is discharge from the service. If Yano acts on this without much delay, that would be 11 cases out of the way.
The other group is what the media has dubbed as the “Tanay Boys” because almost all of them (28) were once detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. They are now scattered in several detention centers. Some are still in Tanay, some are at the ISAFP compound in Camp Aguinaldo, two are in the Marine Brig in Fort Bonifacio, one is with the Magdalo officers in Camp Crame, another one is at the ISG compound in Fort Bonifacio, and the only female detainee, Lt. Belinda Ferrer, is in LogCom quarters.
The case against the “Tanay Boys” stemmed from allegations that they planned to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 following the expose of the “Hello Garci” tapes where she was heard talking with former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano about manipulating election results in her favor with the help of some military officials. In fact the charge against them is queer. It’s not mutiny but “attempting to create or begin, excite, cause or join a mutiny.”
The highest ranking officer among the “Tanay Boys” is former Marine commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda.
With Yano as their “new jailor,” Miranda said he would like the chief of staff to talk with them as professionals, as officers and gentlemen.
They have been detained for more than two years and as of last hearing two weeks ago, the prosecution was still insisting on arraigning them for minor offenses that were supposed to have been dropped three months ago.
Miranda said that to fast-track the resolution of their cases, Yano either “agree with the Pre-trial Investigation Report and do as allowed by law” or “Agree with Gen. Esperon and disregard the PTIR.”
If Yano agrees with the PTIR, that means the 28 officers can all go home because the PTIR recommended that the charge of attempting to create and begin mutiny be dismissed “for lack of factual and legal bases.”
Miranda said if Yano decides to uphold the decision of Esperon to disregard the PTIR, they would appreciate it if he informs them about his stand.
Miranda said among the nine Marine officers in detention, the chain of command stops with him. Among the 19 Army Rangers, the chain of command stops with Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. “The two of us can take the responsibility and cudgels for our men,” Miranda said.
The detained officers have laid their cards on the table. They are awaiting Yano’s move.
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Sen. Jamby Madrigal walked out of the plenary session of the Commission on Appointments last Wednesday over what she says was the refusal of the Senate president to correct what she called the illegal composition of the powerful body.
Following is Madrigal’s statement:
“Our constitution empowers the members of the Commission on Appointments, to serve as a check and balance on whimsical, impractical, scandalous, or unworthy executive appointments, designations, and promotions.
“Sadly, however the present Commission itself does not observe the constitution. What right do we have to raise issues on corruption, when this Commission is not observing the constitution? What right do we have to serve as serious checks and balance to the executive, when this Commission itself through its padrino and bata-bata system refuses to follow the proportional representation requirement in our Constitution?
“The CA spends P292 million a year. Is this the reason why members of congress refuse to give up their seats? This amount can feed 5.8 Million Filipino Families of (2) kilos of rice in (1) day; build · 1,500 classrooms for public schools nationwide at an average cost of P200, 000/classroom; send 17,200 students can be sent to a private school at an average tuition fee of P17, 000/ year; and benefit 97,000 public school students with P3, 000 worth of books and uniforms each for one year.
“I have written the Senate President several times and until now the issue remains unresolved by the Senate Committee on Rules. Unless and until this prejudicial question is resolved, there is a cloud of doubt on all actions being undertaken by this illegal and anomalous Commission.
“Clearly, the Commission under the leadership of Senate President Villar has gravely abused its discretion. I am left with no recourse but to file a complaint before the Supreme Court to nullify all actions made by this anomalous and illegal Commission.”
I admire this man, General Miranda, who has repeatedly volunteered to take all the brunt for all his men! Inspite of his wife’s condition, he is taking it all in strides. More power to you Sir! Kaya naman pala kayo ibang iba kay “ass” dahil may paninindigan kayo para sa inyong mga tao. Hindi katulad nung nagpakulong sa inyo na ang inisip lang niya ay ang sumipsip at makapwesto para pagtakpan ang mga kasalanan ng kanyang patron! You are indeed a rare breed! May bukas pa na nagaantay para sa mga katulad ninyong tunay na pinuno, Sir!
Jamby, no matter what others say, you are unique in your ways of fighting anomalies. More power to you too!
Beat me why the Chief of the AFP is allowed to mess in the court martial or whatever court hearing they conduct against these brave gentlemen of the Philippine military, including the Magdalos, both those who have raised their white flags and those still holding on tight to their dignity and pride.
With the likes of Esperon dictating on the judges, prosecutor, etc., the cases against them should have been dismissed, but apparently, the little woman who has nothing but camote to offer to the people she has made to be more hungry under her reign, needs some boosting to keep her hallucinations, etc. intact. Sign of mental illness? You bet! Kung walang pupuri, matutuluyan na is more like it! So, the pretense even of loyalty to their “Commander in Chief.” Pwe! Kundi pa bistado iyong bayong-bayong na dala ni Medy Perencia.
Lord, hanggang kailan pa po ba ang mga kahangalan nila?
Yano should lay his cards on the table, too, if he is a professional soldier.
It’s could be easy for Yano to make a positive decision on his own favoring the Tanay boys because he knows the circumstances of the case, but he has a commander-in-cheat who is paranoid and always has the final say. There lies the problem. Kaya ba ni Yano ang bruha?
Release all of them, walang maiiwan sa kulungan kahit isa!
I have no quarrel with the internees but let us analyze things. Yeah, they all came through prestigious portals. But it just so happened the organization they served is brutally anti-people. Their blood cant flow with the heinous current of corruption and all. I doubt if the firm would ever listen to anyone in the likes of General Miranda. So the internees will have to suffer forever more.
Ka chi depende iyan sa bosing ni Yano. Kung sasabihin ay go, go. Kung no, sasabihin naman ni general stay…
Wish na lang natin na mag-iba ang ihip ng hangin at sasabihin ng big boss kay general, palayain mo na sila para bumango naman ang aking name… Yes, in the name of good propaganda nang hindi na siya tawagin pang bruhinghing.
tanay boys is a misnommer, they should have been called the tanay men. wait and see if yano is a gentle man.
eggplant,
Iyan nga ang sinasabi ko. Ayos man kay Yano kung hindi ayos sa kanyang Milady, e paano yun? Would he resign to show his disgust over his comander-in-cheat? It will never happen. Ang tingin ko ay patatagalin lang iyan ni Yano at lalaruin na kunwari ay gumagawa siya ng tama. Basta, wala akong tiwala. Pray ko na lang muna sila.
Unang-una, hindi ko pa nalilimutan na binawi niya ang sariling order for Gen. Miranda to be at his wife’s side at least for the period that she really needed him. Hmmppp!!!
Puro Yano … Yano … dati Esperon … Esperon. Maghintay lang kayo maa-ayos din lahat. Bigyan niyo naman ng oras yong tao. Alam naman natin na mahirap ituwid ang mali.
Kung gusto niyo ang mabilis na pagbabago … e di pa-alisin niyo yong pamilya BugsBunny sa Malakanyang. Marami ng kasalanan ang mga yan. Makita mo lang ang pagmumukha nila inis ka na … di ba?????
So Etnad, ang ibig mong sabihin at tumanganga at maghintay hanggang kung kailan convenient kay Yano at Gloria, ganun ba? Kaya tayo meron Ellenville ay para sa expresyon ng opinion. Kung gusto mong hintayin lahat ng gagawin ni Yano ay OK lang, pero huwag mo kaming sabihang maghintay. Sobra na ang paghihintay ng mga Tanay men, kaya dapat ay mabilis rin ang firm aksyon ni Yano kung talagang professional soldier siya.
Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na kabayo?
At saka bakit kami lang ang magpapaalis kay Gloria. Ikaw?
Konting lamig lang I’gan. Sa akin lang ay wala naman akong nakita o nabasa man lang na kabulastugan yang Yano na yan. Hindi gaya ni Esperon na mula pa noong nabulgar yong Garci Tape na yan ay naka-ukit na ang pangalan sa mga pahayagan. Ang tanging kasalanan ni Yano ay siya ang pumalit sa buwakanang Esperon na yan. Hindi ko kilala yang tao na yan. Una ko lang narinig ang pangalan niya noong malapit ng magretiro yang t-nang Esperon.
Matanong ko nga sa inyo pag nag-retiro na ba ng isang opisyal otomatik na burado na ang kasalanan? Kung ganon after 2010 burado na din ang kasalanan ni Bugzbunny?
Chi, ala ako sa Pinas. Na ke Ankel Sam ako.
If there was no death penalty then, perhaps Jose Rizal would still be languishing in Tanay.
Kaya Valdemar, Was Rizal’s death worth it? We are still one of the most corrupt countries in the world! His death did not change anything. Our system is still rotten as it was during the Spanish regime. The sad part is now our yoke is our own kind!
I do not even see any merit in the Magdalos’ and the Tanay Boys’ sacrifices. Most of our people would rather rally behind Sabit Singson who is a known crook than these valiant men. Very sad indeed! We have a disease called “MANHIDISM” and a bad habit of patronizing those who have the money and power no matter how ill gotten the money and power may be.
Pareho lang tayo, Etnad. But I do everything I can to involve myself and my family in ousting Gloria.
Pareho lang tayo, Etnad. But I do everything I can to involve myself and my family in ousting Gloria.
Kaya ako dakdak ng dakdak sa Ellenville dahil alam ko na nagbabasa dito ang militar, kampi ko o hindi. At least, pag nabasa ni Yano or his sekyu na marami palang duda o nag-aantabay sa kanyang gagawin ay baka sakaling umiba siya ng dereksyon kay Ass.
Palayain lahat ang Tanay Men!
MANILA ARCHDIOCESE PAPER ADMITS MISTAKE IN OUSTING ERAP
Church to stay off street rallies to atone for Edsa 2
06/15/2008, http://www.tribune.net.ph
The Church will keep a hands-off policy on political movements and cannot be relied on anymore to lead another People Power revolt after restating its admission of mistake yesterday on leading Edsa II that installed President Arroyo.
The post-Sin era marked the end of the Philippine Catholic Church’s political activism and instead the concern of the Church now is the strengthening of the political structure, Manila Archdiocese vice chancellor Fr. Sid Marinay wrote in a paper the archdiocese released yesterday.
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Sus, itinapon nila sa atin si Gloria tapos ay bahala na tayo. Putragis! Pero mabuti na iyan na kumolekta na lang sila ng money bags from Gloria kesa sa makialam sila sa pulitika, palpak din lang sila!
Kaya nga, ang CBCP ang nagkamali sa pagluklok kay evil bitch ang mga Pilipino ngayon ang nagdurusa! What a tragedy indeed!
Chi, nagdurusa man ang kalooban kong nakikita ang mga “Tanay Boys” sa kulungan, I feel safer for them in there. Dahil sa napakaduming pamamaraan ni evil bitch at ng kanyang mga alipores sa pag-kidnap at pagpatay ng kanilang mga kalaban, malay natin kung ano pa ang kahihinatnan ng mga “men of honor” na ito kung nasa labas sila? Baka ibala pa sila sa kanyon o ipa-hostage sa mga rebelde o ipa-pugot yung kanilang ulo katulad ng mga 12 marines kamakailan. It is so morbid to think what would become of them. Mabuti na lang muna na mag-compose sila ng mga ballads sa loob ng kulungan, heh,heh,heh. Tsaka na lang sila lumabas kung nagbago na ang ihip ng hangin!