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A Marine officer speaks his heart out

It looks like the rumblings in the Marines, which we were able to have a glimpse at last February 26, have not been effectively quelled.

The following excerpt from the resignation letter of Col. Orlando de Leon, Philippine Navy/Marines (PMA Class 1982), from his position as Chief of staff, Philippine Marine Corps, was distributed during the forum on the launching of the second impeachment complaint against Gloria Arroyo last night at the Manila Polo Club sponsored by Concerned Citizens.

The speech was delivered by Col. De Leon during the turn over ceremony at the Marine Headquarters before the officers and men of the Philippine Marines on June 15, 2006.

For purposes of identification, “I” is Col. De Leon; “Commandantship” is Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga, who replaced Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda whose resignation last Feb. 26 sparked a standoff at Camp Bonifacio; and “Flag-Officer-in Command” is Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, of the Mayuga report that whitewashed the culpability of military officials who participated in rigging the 2004 elections as heard in the Hello Garci tapes.

Excerpts from Col. De Leon’s resignation:

It is with deep regret that I have to tender a resignation rather than to sign a Relinquishment Order as Chief of Staff, Philippine Marine Corps effective this date. I deemed it more befitting to resign in a situation when truth is buried under a blurred and vague interpretation of the significant events in the history of our beloved Marine Corps.

I am very much honored to have served the Corps under your Commandantship. Thank you for all the trust and confidence you bestowed upon me but I know that the political pressure have now become more unbearable for the Corps and your leadership. Every Marine knows that we always have to prioritize the Corps’ interest and welfare above our own – above mine.

Technicalities and politics dominate and cloud the real goals, objectives and missions of the AFP. Hearsays and unfounded allegations now dominate over the established processes of the moral laws. Survival and threats reign over principles and honor of many officers who rather suppress the truth just to push some personal agenda.

Courage, Integrity, Loyalty are time tested values and virtues demonstrated by great military leaders, especially marines, of the past. The same virtues no longer exist in the vocabulary of many officials in this armed organization. The phrase “an officer and a gentleman” has lost its true meaning in the hearts and minds of many cavaliers. Survival, according to the most respected Officer-In-Command, is now the rule that governs the behavior of almost everybody in the AFP. I’m sorry, Sir, but please don’t count me in.

Similar plague shall always befall this country if many will continue to ignore God’s will which is a clear manifestation of lack of faith. In resigning this post, I am now entrusting the fate of this humble servant in the hands of the Almighty.

Thank you, Sir, and God bless the Philippine Marine Corps!
ORLANDO E DE LEON
COL PN(m) GSC

Published inGeneral

77 Comments

  1. ystakei ystakei

    Ellen:

    Ilan na lang kaya ang natitirang magigiting at may pitagan sa sarili at sa kapwa na sundalong katulad ng sundalong ito na hindi sundalong kanin!

    Mabuhay siya! I am pretty sure God will preserve him for it is essential and necessary even for the return of sanity, propriety, decency, and yes, faith in God!

  2. Ellen,

    One good Marine gone…

    Poor de Leon! Gloria will train her guns at him now.

    De Leon is a direct lowerclass man of Boycee Pangilinan, Chief, AFP Counter-Intelligence Service – he’s gotta watch out coz Boycee will be at his heels.

    Hope he doesn’t go to Iraq and offers his services to Gloria’s phone pal.

  3. Btw, Ellen,

    I just saw the editorial cartoon and the pic on front page of Inquirer which reminded me that there’d be lots of money in the making by Gloria’s kampons when PNP starts procuring guns.

    Here’s what I think:

    I am almost absolutely certain that one of the guys who’s gonna make a lot of dagdag in his profit, which he will share eventually with a cousin, thus increasing his company’s financial turnover is Gloria’s first degree cousin in law named Butch Tuason (ex-husband of Julio Iglesias’ first wife’s sister, Isabel Preysler), and the owner through dummies of ARMSCOR & SQUIB BINGHAM on Edsa.

    Carlos ‘Butch’ Tuason produces and the last few years, has managed to sell guns WHOLESALE (without real bidding) to the PNP.

    A few months after Arroyo toppled Estrada, Butch was sureptitiously awarded a huge contract to provide the PNP (I think to the PNP under Lastimoso then) with guns to a tune of several tens of millions of pesos after he had lost in similar bids before the arrival of first degree cousin Mike Jose Pidal Tuason Arroyo in Malacanang.

    Now, when the media speak of all out corruption in the making for the all out war of Gloria, the guns that the PNP will be procuring, without real bidding, one becomes highly suspicious – what with gun supplier cousin Butch around…

    I am prepared to eat my slippers if it can be proven that cousin Mike has no say in sudden turn of company fortune of cousin Butch’s.

  4. I hope the rest of the Marine Corps will not have a misguided interpretation as protectors of the state and constitution. This “chain of command” has been bastardized by the very generals who have been “touched” by GMA. With de Leon’s resignation goes another principled man, disillusioned with the system which he had sworn to protect. Unfortunately, he is one of the few remaining true officer and a gentleman in the Marine Corps.

  5. Anna,Schumey, you know Col. De Leon? What more do you know about him?

  6. pandawan pandawan

    De Leon’s resignation speech breaks ones heart. Is he saying that the Marimes cannot redeem itself now because of what it is? Kung hindi mo mabago mag-resign ka na lang? What de Leon said will be forgotten and ignored. Is it an exercise in futility?

  7. Ellen,

    I don’t know him but judging by the way he conducted himself, he is one very “principled and distinguished” soldier. If memory serves me right, he sided with Querubin during the stand-off. Unfortunately, they were compelled by the other colonels to follow the chain of command. They had the support of 2 other commanders but were still outvoted. As we all know, they had to stand down after reaching a consensus.

  8. ystakei ystakei

    Shocking! A few days ago I posted in the groups I moderate the article on the members of our military in Japan who were involved in some bidding that was unauthorized. Two of the 8 involved officials have been duly sacked, and the rest demoted and salaries reduced.

    Now, you say, Anna, that there was no public bidding done regarding procurement of military supplies being authorized by the criminally inclined sitting at the throne at the palace by the murky river who is now the Law but deals were given to the cousin of the Fat Guy. My God, how can they do that?! Or rather, why are Filipinos tolerating this?

    Now we know that this must be also the kind of deals being cooked up regarding Philippine patrimonies in Japan! Everything in fact is being done in the Philippines, including biddings that do not even exist with announcement deliberately posted in Japanese newspapers later than after everything is stamped as a done deal, and they kind of just wait and see if the coast is clear!

    Fortunately, the Reparations Treaty provides for Filipinos and Japanese nationals to protest any shady deals and transactions regarding these properties on Japanese soil even in Japanese courts, and the Philippines does not own sole decision and right to revise the said treaty and delete such provision without Japan’s consent.

    Hopefully, we can rally Japanese legal experts here and the media to join us in our fight to preserve these properties in Japan as provided for by this provision of the Reparations Treaty. Thank heaven for those Japanese negotiators of this treaty who insisted on having such clause included in the treaty for they must have known of the corruption prevalent in Philippine politics even in the 50’s so that they were wise to include such provision about litigations being filed even in Japanese courts by any citizen of the Philippines and Japan against any transaction and deal detrimental to the welfare and interests of the peoples of both Japan and the Philippines especially regarding these properties in Japan that were bequeathed to the Philippines.

    Just to show the difference between the greedy Bansot and Marcos, the latter never tried to sell the properties in Japan. He actually sacked a former trade attache who was trying to do that without his consent.

    Congresswoman Marcos should take up this cause of preserving Philippine patrimonies in Japan as a form of amends for all those shenaniganisms attributed to her father as a matter of fact!

    FYI, Aquino tried to get rid of them on dictate of the crooks around her, and FVR hoodwinked the Filipinos regarding the negotiations on the Roppongi property.

    What is dismal and disgusting is that the Philippine Consulate is crammed in what should have been the garage of the building erected in the Roppongi property, and Filipinos are pushed to go through to the backdoor for consular services they need and pay with exorbitant fees!

    I have never heard of nationals of other countries being treated so lowly by their own government but Filipinos, who take such dismal treatment tantamount to some insult and disdain as acceptable norm and standard so that they do not complain! Worse is when they allow paid mercenaries to persuade them not to!

    I am finding this really unbelievable, Ellen. That’s why I give De Leon a five for standing for his right to refuse serving a corrupt regime as a soldier bound to protect it.

    God protect this man for his convictions and principles!

  9. Yuko,

    Yes, Anna is right. According to the PNP, these are “negotiated procurements”. The PNP and DILG defended this yesterday during a presscon. They averred that the PNP stands to save millions by taking this route. More bang for the buck my ass. As if we didn’t know that somebody’s on his way to the bank to collect “his” millions.

    Anna,

    Come to think of it, Fatso Pidal is the cousin of Greggy Araneta, Irene Marcos’ husband. Its no wonder the PCGG’s kin on a “negotiated” compromise with Imelda. This ass-kissing, butt-licking Com. Abcede sure knows how to play his cards right.

  10. ystakei ystakei

    I would like to add that I pray De Leon will set the example to continue to fight for his principles and convictions in a court of law that the group he is now affiliating himself with is determined to do and achieve even with the dismal state of justice in the Philippines with those cronies and friends of the Fat Guy and the Bansot dominating the Justice Department and the Supreme Court.

    I don’t think he is joining the mercenaries to Iraq. He is just too proper and a gentleman to do that. Besides, he cannot fight for Philippine causes there!

  11. ystakei ystakei

    Schumey:

    I wonder what Greggy Araneta’s relationship is with the Fat Guy for I can be a cousin to a crook but it does not mean I am in cahoot with him.

    Having met Greggy in some advocacy, I am apt to give him credit for some propriety left in him to be as garapal as to insist on such kinship to get some fat deals other than perhaps the Imelda jewels being coveted by everybody, including the wife of Peping Cojuangco. Remember those things she was said to have tried to make as her own during the early part of the Aquino regime?

  12. Yuko,

    They’re cousins but I’m not quite sure which side. And Greggy has been low-key and not visible at all. He’s not like the Fatso who’s greed is insatiable. I myself, according to my relatives is somehow related to the Cojuangcos. Which of course I hope I’m not, as my principles dictate is not something to be proud of.

  13. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Hat’s off for Col. De Leon! His resignation letter and valecdictory address is a slap in the face in the leadership of the Marine Corps. That’s if the leaders will read between the lines!

    He is in the league of Gen. Gudani who knows the wisdom between what is right and what is wrong.

    Mabuhay ka Col. De Leon!

  14. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    oopps it should be:

    His resignation letter and valedictory address is a slap in the face in the leadership of the Marine Corps.

  15. ystakei ystakei

    Schumey,

    I know Greggy and the Fatso are cousins on the Tuason side, but what I meant was the personal deals, etc.

    I have met Greggy in SFO, and have a good impression of him. Hindi mayabang at down to earth!

    As I have said, I can be related to a crook but it does not mean I am a crook, too. Iba naman iyong handed down genes ng mga magulang sa anak!

  16. I have been asking around the background of Col de leon’s resignation and one marine officer texted me back: “He resigned due to political pressure.”

  17. jinxies6719 jinxies6719

    20 June 2006

    At least some officer/s of the marine corps still follow their motto, but to most active members of the corps, i dont know if they still follow the marine’s motto. The marine corps’ motto died in the 2004 election, which was was followed in the february 24, 2006 stand-off at the marine hq in ft bonifacio. I tip my hat off to col de leon, he is one officer who still follows the honor code of the marine corps, funny thing is, he has to resign from his post, maybe because he cannot stomach it anymore, if that is the case, will some more follows???? the marine corps is not like the senate of lower house, take the sample of nograles, he already spilled the bean/s, meaning these TONGressmen are only after their personal interest, imagine, even boasting and telling the media that, if the 2nd impeachment on the leprecahun progresses, it means their jobs/positions in the lower house is at stake. If the impeachment progresses, the great yoda will not be the speaker and nog-nograles will not be the majority leader anymore, that is why they are starting to lick the ass of the leprechaun, tsk, tsk, tsk…. that’s how LOW their thinking are (got it,kaya nga LOWER house sila e), hehehehehe………

    Isn’t it butch tuason was the head of the PSA???during eraps presidency??? no wonder he (butch tuason)was able to get the contract from the PNP, no wonder????

    what happen to col. querubin, is he on the freezer???? As I said before, I think it is better to have a snap election NOW NA!!!! rahter than talk about the cha-cha.

    jinx

  18. alitaptap alitaptap

    HILLBLOGGER says: “I am prepared to eat my slippers if it can be proven that …” At another forum I remember you saying that you ‘go about barefoot …’ which earned you the title of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA.Is wearing slippers going up the ladder of royalty? (grin)
    Seriously, the ongoing arms procurement maybe labeled as collateral largesse among those involved who are conspicuously related to Bansot in one way or another. In the final analysis Bansot is adroitly weaving the web to capture the minds of the military and police and thus make them beholden to her. In other words, she is fortifying her hold on the police and military with the end of perpetuating herself as reyna-balyena. The irony of it all is that all these largesse are at the expense of the pinoy people. In the meantime children are languishing in jail for stealing fish and bread – driven by hunger.

    Mga paslit man ay nais lumipad
    Kulungin mo ay umiiyak
    Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
    Ang di magnasang makaalpas.

    Pilipinas kong minumutya
    Pugad ng luha ko’t dalita
    Aking adhika
    Dalhin si Bansot sa bartolina.

  19. goldenlion goldenlion

    I salute you Col. Orlando De Leon!!! I am calling the officers and staff of Philippine Marine Corps- once and for all don’t let your organization be tainted by gloria’s dirty plays. Enough of generals being used by gloria’s survival. I was a loyal supporter of the Marines, being the most respected and trusted men in uniform back in their heydays. What is happening to them now is the handiwork of the black magic woman. Bring back marines’ honor& dignity. Ilaglag nyo na si Gloria habang may natitira pa kaming respeto sa inyong hanay.

    Mag-isip isip sana ang iba pang mga generals na patuloy na ginagago ni gloria alyas reyna ng engkantasya. Ang mga pera po na ibinabayad sa inyo ay hindi rin pakikinabangan ng inyong mga anak, baka iyan pa ang maging hibla ng inyong mga buhay. Sapagkat nasusulat, ang perang nakuha sa kasamaan ay magdadala sa kapahamakan. God, please help our men in uniform. Bless them with your guidance, love and protection.!!!

  20. pringemilyn pringemilyn

    sa akin po lamang palagay ay nasa tatlong hanay lamang nahahati ang sandatahang lakas ng pilipinas, mga sakim, mga magigiting at mga bading …

  21. Yuko,

    Don’t worry, you are in no way tainted as purity comes from the heart and not by blood. You have a different set of parents and upbringing.

  22. Hi Ellen,

    Yes, I’ve met Col de Leon when he was a juior officer but I cannot say I know him.

    If you want to meet him, I suggest you contact Admiral Domingo who was chief Philippine Fleet and if I’m not mistaken, de Leon served on his staff…

    You can call the Navy hqs direct to ask for Domingo’s number.

  23. For info, Ellen,

    The PMA batches of 1980 and up to 84 have a good reputation within the AFP.

    There will always be one or two who will stand out badly but on the whole, these kids ain’t bad at all.

    The NAVY SEALS officer who shot it out with and killed Commander Gandang of Abbu Sayyaf fame in the South some 3 years ago was of the later batch (can’t remember exactly) but his batch has an excellent reputation too.

  24. For a Marine Corps CS to resign and at that rank and level is extremely serious Ellen.

    I mean it, he must have agonized greatly but in the end, he did what he felt was morally right to do.

    The Marines are a different breed; when a senior officer resigns (Colonel is considered senior), the guys at the bottom will feel it. You don’t throw away your rank after 28 years of service (4 years in PMA included) just like that. De Leon would have been up for star-rank in the next couple of years!

  25. Why didn’t he just ask for a leave or go to NDCP for a year to do his MNSA?

    I don’t know if de Leon would consent to an interview at this point – he’s got to straighten out personal matters yet like his pension, etc. which could be frozen if he goes public.

  26. Ellen,

    Is it true that Tom Alcantara will be RP ambassador to US?

    If it’s true – WOWIE! He’s really going places huh! From a small gravel and sand shop in Galas, Quezon City, he’s gone up in the world…. hmmmm.

  27. ystakei ystakei

    You bet, Schumey. I am actually having difficulty understanding the mentality for example of those who want to risk their lives working in Iraq that is still at war for the love of money! For me, it is indeed unbelievable!!! Or should I say a debasement of the spirit and the soul!!!

    My mother, who has travelled to the Philippines only once or twice since she left for the US 3 or 4 decades ago, is shocked when I tell her about the Filipinos I meet in my line of work as interpreter for the police, court and prison in Japan (all part-time and semi-volunteer). She laments the fact that there are less decent Filipinos now especially when I tell her that there are not so many people now who want to “dildil ng asin”!

    I have met a lot of these people in Japan who take the risk of losing their purity, honor and dignity, and they reason out poverty and deprivation as what have induced them to grab these risky jobs that we call in Japan as the 3K (kitsui, kitanai, kiken or in English, difficult, dirty and dangerous although just lying on bed and enjoying it may not be too difficult after the first time!). And these are children below 18 who drop out of school (many of them do not even get to finish high school) and are corrupted in their youth.

    I feel sorry for them for they would not even love their own names as majority of them have to travel on fake passports and identities with their ages raised up because of the restriction against hiring children below 18 in places where they serve liquor in accordance with Japan’s Child Welfare Law.

    I felt like puking in fact when Sto. Tomas boasted of the 40,000 jobs waiting for Filipinos in Japan when the Midget took over the reins of government from Erap, because I knew she meant the special quota given to Cory by the Japanese government as aid to Philippine economic recovery after Marcos. My friends and I in the advocacy to stop the deployment of Japayukis (Japayuki is a derogatory word used only for Filipino bar and club hostesses cum prostitutes) were really furious that we could not help but call Sto. Tomas and her boss, “Bugaw” because the truth is these kids were being pushed to engage in prostitution on the side with all those required daytime pairing called “dohan.”

    Ang panakot ay hindi na sila makakabalik sa Japan kung hindi sila papayag na makipag-date sa mga customer nila kasama na ang lahat ng mga kamunduhan! Worse is when they are lured to run away and overstay in Japan, and feel shameless to have themselves impregnated by Japanese nationals so they can stay in Japan because it has become some kind of a fad!

    There was even a time when a Philippine Embassy official told me that they were getting 100 births a month of these illegitimate children that she feared the Philippines would someday be a nation of bastards!!!

    It’s pathetic! Kaya please, patalsikin na iyan, ngayon na! Tangna, dinadaya pa ang mga statistics para makabola ng mga mangmang! Tarantado talaga!

  28. ystakei ystakei

    Basta ako saludo sa mga sundalong tunay, hindi katulad noong mga sundalong kanin na nagpapahikayat doon sa private company na magtrabaho sila sa Iraq at Afghanistan bilang mercenary na iba naman yata doon sa French Foreign Legion na mas may legal na status at bayad!!!

    Mabuhay si De Leon at si Gudani, et al na magigiting at hindi bading at higit sa lahat, hindi sinungaling!!!

  29. Ellen,

    THIS IS ILLEGAL!

    “Negotiated PNP deals defended
    First posted 02:36am (Mla time) June 20, 2006
    By Luige A. del Puerto
    Inquirer

    “THE PHILIPPINE National Police top brass yesterday defended the decision to dispense with a public bidding in the acquisition of some P322 million worth of patrol cars, handguns and motorcycles, saying it was advantageous to the government.

    “The police even saved roughly P56 million from these purchases, top PNP officials said.

    “Also coming to the PNP’s defense, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said that among the reasons officials opted for a “negotiated procurement” or “direct contracting” was standardization.”

    Sonny Razon knows full well, it’s illegal…

  30. ystakei ystakei

    It’s sure is illegal, Anna.

    Anong sinasabi ng bobo na expensive kung may public bidding? May bayad ang pagbi-bid, paano sila malulugi doon! Ang sabihin mo sila-sila ang tumataga sa kausap nila na binibigyan nila ng pabor! It should be stopped lalo na alam natin ngayon kung sino ang kausap nila—iyong pinsan ni Fatso na malamang na kasabwat ang mga Pidal kung hindi sila ang mga pinuno ng anomalyang ito gaya ng papel ni Iggy sa mga kurakoy nila!

    Baka ganyan ang ginagawa doon sa pagdidispatsa ng mga patrimonies sa Japan a. Kailangan itong ma-expose.

    Tangnang garapalan na pati sa AFP ha!

  31. saint saint

    In our darkest days and moments in our ountry there will emerge a brave heroe to save us from oppresion and tyranny…. that will lead us to freedom from opression and tyranny..

    THE ONLY SAFE DEPOSITORIES OF GOVERNMENT ARE THE PILIPINO PEOPLE THEMSELVES. DOMINATION BY A CHOSEN FEW (RICH/POWERFUL/EDUCATED/ELITE) MUST NEVER BE ALLOWED. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY PAVE THE WAY FOR A REBIRTH OF OUR NATION A TRUE AND CORRECT IDENTITY AND A PHYLOSOPHY OF HUMAN FREEDOM. OUR NATION MUST REST, NOT UPON PARTICULAR GRIEVANCES, BUT UPON A BROAD BASIS OF INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY. THE SPIRIT OF OUR NEW CONSTITUTION IS THE AWAKENING CONSCIOUSNESS OF PILIPINOS THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXIST FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

    THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE AFRAID OF ITS PEOPLE NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.IT IS THE FUNCTION AND PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT TO HELP ITS PEOPLE -TO PROTECT THEM IN THEIR LIFE, THEIR LIBERTY, AND THEIR PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS -NOT TO OPPRESS THEM OR MISUSE THEM. THE REVOLUTION FOR TRUE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR COUNTRY AND ITS IDEAS MUST INSPIRE MASS FERVOR FOR THE PILIPINO CAUSE, FOR IT WILL INSTILL AMONG ORDINARY PILIPINO A SENSE OF THEIR OWN IMPORTANCE, INSPIRING THEM TO STRUGGLE FOR PERSONAL FREEDOM, SELF-GOVERNMENT, AND A DIGNIFIED PLACE IN SOCIETY. BUT OF COURSE THE RICH, ELITE AND THE POWERFUL WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT WITH OUR LIVES SO THAT OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL BE FREE FROM BONDAGE OF OPPRESSION. “THE TREE OF LIBERTY MUST BE REFRESHED FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS AND TYRANTS.” AS AN OLD AMERICAN SAYING GOES.

    THE SO-CALLED PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTIONS DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING BECAUSE WE FAILED TO TARGET THE RESPONSIBLE PERSONALITIES WHICH TODAY ARE STILL HERE AND ALIVE NO TYRANT HAS BEEN JAILED. THERE WERE NO TRYRANT BLOOD ONLY BLOOD OF PATRIOTS. BY CENTERING OUR ATTENTION ON AN INDICTMENT OF A CORRUPT OR TYRANT INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP IN GOVERNMENT OR SOCIETY, WE WILL MAKE THE UPRISING A CONFLICT OF PERSONAL CONTEST -NOT A PROTEST AGAINST LIFELESS STATUTES AND AN ABSTRACT GOVERNMENT, BUT A STRUGGLE AGAINST AN IMMEDIATE ENEMY OF FLESH AND BLOOD. BY GIVING TO THE COMMON PILIPINO A PERSONAL CAUSE AND A PERSONAL ENEMY, THE IDEAS OF INDEPENDENCE BROUGHT WILL BRING THE UPRISING WITHIN RANGE OF POPULAR ASPIRATION AND STRENGTHENED IT WITH THE FORCE OF POPULAR EMOTION.

    WE MUST LEARN FROM THE HISTORY OF GREAT NATIONS TO MAKE OUR NATION GREAT. ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL; THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY OUR GOD WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS; THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS, GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED; THAT, WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PILIPINO PEOPLE TO ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT, AND TO INSTITUTE A NEW GOVERNMENT, LAYING ITS FOUNDATION ON SUCH PRINCIPLES, AND ORGANIZING ITS POWERS IN SUCH FORM, AS TO THEM SHALL SEEM MOST LIKELY TO EFFECT THEIR SAFETY AND HAPPINESS.

    IF WE ALL DREAM OF MAKING OUR COUNTRY A HAVEN OF HAPINESS FOR PILIPINOS AND COUNTRIES WILL LEARN TO RESPECT OUR IDENTY IN THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS THEN FEAR IS NOT AN OPTION. WHAT WE NEED IS COURAGE LETS TAKE THAT FIRST STEP TO MAKE OUR NATION GREAT WE MUST PLACE OUR ASPIRATIONS ABOVE OUR FEARS. REMEMBER MY COUNTRYMEN FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD AND A NATION’S GREATNESS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED BY TIMIDITY. LETS NOT TO THIS FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR OUR LOVED ONES AND WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS GOD IS WITH US WHO SHALL WE FEAR. WE MUST CONQUER OUR FEARS AND WE SHALL CONQUER OPRESSION.

  32. Hi Ellen, Friends, People and Everyone,

    Hear ye, hear ye….

    Will be away from my office for 2 weeks starting on Wednesday for a brief respite from the mad, mad world.

    Will check up on various blogsites when I have the time and see what’s cookin’, and perhaps post a thing or two but am not promising anything.

    Oh yeah, might look in on my blog from time to time but I doubt I will be able to post anything ‘newsy’.

    So, to one and all, see you again soon!

    A great aloha to all and happy holidays… A bientôt! Arrividerci! Hasta la vista!

    Yours always,

    AdB

  33. ystakei ystakei

    Anna:

    What’s your blog’s http addy?

  34. From one military source re Col. de leon’s resignation:Thousands of idealistic soldiers are still monitoring the actuations of their senior officers if they can lead them through the narrow path of duty, honor, country and reject the chain of command of corruption. corrupion and corruption.

  35. I talked with Sen. Rodolfo Biazon who is in Vancouver now. He said Col. de leon was scheduled to go on “schooling” in Virginia but it was cancelled because he is under investigation for his involvement in coup attempts.

    The senator said it’s connected with the Feb. 24 and 26 incidents.

    Another military source said the AFP is preparing to court martial officers in the marines and De Leon is included among them. They will be charged with conspiracy to commit rebellion.

    This is a violation of their agreement that ended the Feb. 26 standoff that no charges would be filed against them. But what do you expect from the administration of a president who has no palabra de honor?

  36. Malaya’s website has not been updated. Something’s wrong. I know they have an update on Col de leon but I can’t access it yet.

    Same thing with my column. I can’t access it so I can’t post it here. I did it in the office yesterday so I don’t have a copy of it.

    I’ll check it later in the day.

  37. ystakei ystakei

    Thanks, Karl.

    Ellen, let me access your column at Malaya. At least, I know I cannot be hacked because I am on monitoring for the Ministry of Communication in some kind of an experiment with my provider, and therefore, amply protected plus the multiple softwares I have installed in my home and office computers and laptop to ward off viruses, bugs and worms being distributed by the Midget’s Internet Brigade and palakpak teams.

    I’ll let you know of the result later.

  38. ystakei ystakei

    I see that Ellen has finally accessed Malaya Online, which is easier to access in fact than Tribune Online that is no doubt getting doubt efforts from members of the Bansot’s Internet Brigade with professional IT skills to be taken out of the web, because in fact, Tribune and Malaya have become some sort of Oasis of untainted (non-propaganda) news for a lot many of us with Philippine connections living overseas, and even perhaps to Filipinos in the Philippines, who are being forced to accept trash paid with their blood money.

    Thank God for this blog likewise! The experience of getting involved is worth the risk, although as far as I am concerned I am safe and untouchable, not at all vulnerable to harassment and intimidation that I see Filipinos in Japan are subjected to by members of their own diplomatic mission, and why I can valiantly post in my own passport name unlike a lot many sharers here who are forced to hide in some exotic pen names. I can understand though why they have to do that!

  39. ystakei ystakei

    This should read: I see that Ellen has finally accessed Malaya Online, which is easier to access in fact than Tribune Online that is no doubt getting DOUBLE efforts from members of the Bansot’s Internet Brigade with professional IT skills to be taken out of the web!

  40. Bentong Bentong

    My hats off to a fine Marine Officer. It’s sad to say that another pillar of the AFP has succumbed to politics. When you are in the military and everyone else know the fact that you loose some of your rights compared to civilians. You are bound to follow and respect your chain of command. In the event you can no longer support the upper leadership then it’s time to ship out. I am only saying this because I’m also in the military bound by UCMJ.
    WE CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE IF WE HELP EACH OTHER AND NOT DESTROY EACH OTHER. God bless my Kabayan! You’ll always be Oragon.

  41. hi ellen,

    bentong is either/will e facing a court martial or is/going to be a member of the court martial jury

    bentong, which service are you a member of?

  42. ystakei ystakei

    Please note that De Leon is also asking for protection of his life from Up Above. I have no doubt that God will preserve and protect him, especially when he proves his usefulness to some Heavenly Plan and Purpose.

    De Leon, hopefully, will serve his purpose to this Divine Purpose and Plan. What his resignation for example has done is help bring back the trust and confidence of majority of Filipinos to the remaining few like him as real defenders of the nation even against oppressors and abusers in and outside of their ranks no matter what this kind of action may entail.

    What we see in him is a man of honor and dignity, valiant and rearing to fight for what is right compared to a lot many of his fellow marines now who are being compelled, detered and threatened to do things contrary to what they have taken an oath to fulfill and do for their country and people as when this government refuses to pay pensions and other fringe benefits they are entitled to when they defy the Bansot’s order for them not to answer summons by the Senate for instance to answer some pertinent questions especially regarding anomalies involving her and her minions.

    Over here, this kind of sensational news will even stop all programs on Japanese TV and will merit full-time scrutiny by all with media people getting sleepless nights digging for more facts and evidences of corruption to share with the public and even with the police, which, not being beholden to any politician or bureaucrat, will have its own investigation, not against the media and other sources of information, but to help establish the truth no matter who gets hurt in the process.

    I’m glad that Ellen is there to bring stories like this to the fore, and her newspaper, Malaya, is a willing partner to take the risk in giving importance to this piece of news that other newspapers on the payroll of the criminally inclined would label as crap and try to bury and hide from the public.

    Hopefully, this is an eye opener, something that will finally move the whole nation to action against these oppressors, who should not be allowed to make “collateral damages” of Filipinos to protect and secure the Bansot.

  43. pandawan pandawan

    Matapang siya pero sa palagay ko po ay hindi dapat nag-quit si De Leon. Nasa loob ng marines ang laban pero ngayon nasa labas na siya at wala nang magagawa. Sayang, sana binasa niya si SIMOUN ni Rizal sa El Filibusterismo.

  44. Col. de leon is still with the Marines. He just quit from his position as Marines chief of staff. With what he did, he is now on floating status.

  45. Dominique Dominique

    I salute you, Col. de leon. In my book, he is in the same league as Gen. Gudani, Gen. Danny Lim, Col Balutan, and Col. Ariel Querubin.

    With you people there carrying on the fight, despite pressures from the powers that be, I have high hopes that truth and justice will prevail in the end.

    Sana lang huwag masyadong matagal.

  46. ystakei ystakei

    Kaya pala tinatakot siya ngayon ng mga appointee ni Bantot sa AFP ng court-marital kuno!

    O, Mrs. Aquino, Dinky, Enteng, et al, handa ninyo na ang mga tao ninyong pupunta ulit doon sa kampo para bantayan at tulungan si De Leon at iyong mga matatapang ng sundalong katulad niya!

  47. Ronnie Mabini Ronnie Mabini

    Yes!!! Eto na ang tamang panahon, matira ang matibay para matahimik na ang bayan natin. Kung kinakailangan maramaming buhay ang mabuwis okey lang, basta ang importante mapatalsik si bansot!

    Dapat ang mga sundalong sinanay sa Mindanao na tulad ni col. Querubin ang papuntahin dun, yun hindi magdadalawang isip kumalabit ng gatilyo, patay kung patay! Wag na lang muna samahan ng drama, magtatagal lang kasi kung papasukan ng kadramahan dapat aksyon agad! Takutan lang ng naman yan, tulad ng sabi ni Mike Defensor fight fire with fire, ganyan din ang gawin ng sundalong pupunta dun.

    Yun mga sibilyan na meron personal na armas magpunta rin dapat dun para dagdag puwersa. Pasensyahan na lang kung sakali maraming buhay ang mabuwis, ganun talaga kailangan meron magsakripisyo dahil ang kapalit naman – tatahimik na ang bayan natin! Mawawala na yun mga kontra-kontra kung hindi man tuluyan mawala at higit sa lahat magkakaisa na tayo dahil sigurado tayo-tayo rin pinoy ang magbabangon ng Pilipinas!

  48. Ronnie Mabini Ronnie Mabini

    Sa lahat ng mga sinabi ni Ate Yoko, dito ako lang ako bumilib sa kanya. Kailangan talaga magtapatan na ng lakas at tapang ng matigil na yun takutan. Maraming matatapang at tapat na sundalo si De Leon at Col. Querubin, yun ang ipangtapat sa mga kalaban.

  49. Dominique Dominique

    Did you see Gen. Allaga being interviewed on TV by Ricky Carandang about the resignation of Col de Leon. Nagkakandabuhol ang sagot. He couldn’t explain why De Leon’s “schooling” which had already been approved was cancelled. He said it had nothing to do with the Feb. incident. Halatang he is lying.

    This Allaga was part of Arroyo’s cheating machine in the military in the 2004 elections.

  50. paperdoll_60 paperdoll_60

    COLONEL ORLANDO DE LEON IS A MAN OF PRINCIPLES…….. THUMBS UP TO THIS GENTLEMAN….. KEEP UP THE GOODWORK JOJO.,,,,,,WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE IS JUST AND RIGHT,,, GO FOR IT…..

  51. For adhering to what he believed is right, instead of compromising his principles, Col. Orlando de Leon’s name will always be remembered with respect and admiration.

  52. Ref: Omeng / (02) 5526731
    http://www.nenepimentel.org

    STATEMENT OF SENATOR AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR., ON THE
    RESIGNATION OF LT. COL. ORLANDO DE LEON, CHIEF OF
    STAFF OF MARINE CORPS

    De Leon’s lament bespeaks the sad state of the way the
    armed forces, in general, have been politicized and
    misused for the attainment of the personal ends of the
    powerful.

    His resignation is a terrible indictment of the
    commander-in-chief’s mismanagement of the AFP and the
    corruption of some of its generals that have, in his
    words, led to “loss of values” that had characterized
    the conduct of the military officials and men in the
    past.

    His charges are validated by the continuing abuse of
    power, plunder of the economy and disrespect for the
    Constitution by the administration of President Gloria
    Macapagal-Arroyo.

  53. Ellen,

    Kahit naman saan sila dalhin ni Bansot, kung gusto nilang labanan siya, labanan na nila. Sa palagay ko naman mas marami sila kesa doon sa mga kurakot na sipsip na may rangko.

    Ikinuwento ko sa kaibigan kong sundalo sa Japan Self Defense Force iyong litraro ng isang may mataas na rangko sa AFP na nagpa-piggy back sa isang sundalong mababa ang rangko dahil ayaw niyang marumihan ng putik at mabasa, at wala siyang pakialam kung makuba ang nag-piggy back sa kaniya, napanganga ang sundalo.

    Dito iyong mga mababang rangko kahit sa pulis nagsisilbi ng tsaa sa mga nakakataas sa kanila bilang parang training ng pakikisama, pero iyong tratuhin silang parang mga tsimoy ay hindi iyan ginagawa dito.

    May nakita akong litrato naman ng mga sundalong pilipino na pinagbubuhat ng mga sundalong kano ng mga abubot nila, toiletries at iba pa, kumulo ang dugo ko lalo na nang malaman kong pumayag ang mga sundalong pinoy dahil sa tip sa dolyar na iaabot sa kanila ng mga mas malalaking mga Amerikano. Tapos ang mga pilipino sa kainan, kanin at isda lang na nilutong para silang nagka-camping, samantalang iyong mga kano, steak na nakapack na katulad ng mga kinakain sa mga business class sa mga eroplano. Nagdugo ang puso ko sa kanila na ginagawa silang mistulang busabos at aba. Panahon na ito ni Bansot. Sa totoo lang sa Malaya ko nakita ang litrato na iyong noong Balikatan sa Zamboanga.

    Kaya ayon, nag-a-apply ang marami sa kanila sa Iraq. Still, hindi ako komporme na sumama sila sa pagsakop ng bansang hindi naman nila kaaway!

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