by Victor Reyes
Malaya
Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has made a counter-dare to 28 officers who have challenged him to “tell the truth” on allegations that the military participated in the rigging of the 2004 elections to ensure President Arroyo’s victory.
“Why don’t they tell the truth in court?” Esperon said, referring to the officers’ plan to withdraw support from President Arroyo in February 2006, for which the officers are now facing court martial for mutiny and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, among other charges.
The officers, led by former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and former Scout Ranger commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, are detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.
In a statement last week, the officers said Esperon should do the nation and his family a service by telling the truth on the “Hello Garci” wiretapped recordings in which Esperon was named by former elections Virgilio Garcillano, who allegedly spearheaded cheating in the May 2004 elections, in one of his conversations with President Arroyo. Esperon has denied involvement in the alleged electoral fraud.
Esperon said the accused did not admit having a videotape announcing a withdrawal of support from the President “until we had the tape recording.”
He was referring to the taped video aired by a TV outfit after the supposed power grab attempt. The tape showed Lim, flanked by several offices, announcing a withdrawal of support from Arroyo, whom Lim called a “bogus president.”
“And what do they say now, ‘I did not authorize that to be played’? But what I’m saying is that they had the plans to withdraw support. That’s tantamount to (mutiny), that is of course going into mutiny,” Esperon said.
“So let the court decide it now. Let the court arraign them and convene instead of coming up with these dilatory tactics. It’s more than a year so let’s go to trial and let the truth come out,” Esperon also said.
The proceedings started in December but the accused have yet to be arraigned and the court members have not taken their oath.
Asked if he was returning the challenge to Miranda’s group, Esperon said: “Oh yes, oh yes. So let the truth come out and I stand by my decision to try them for mutiny.”
Esperon formed the military tribunal in November last year.
At least 40 other Army soldiers implicated in the supposed February plot have been in detention for almost two years but have not been formally charged.
Esperon yesterday said they could be tried by a court martial at the Army level.
The Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Office is still conducting a pre-trial investigation to determine if there is prima facie case against the soldiers, who are mostly Scout Rangers.
‘TIMING’
Esperon said he did not elevate the cases of the 40 enlisted personnel to General Headquarters when he was still Army chief “because the Army can take action on that.”
Esperon became AFP in July last year.
He said no charges have been filed because “it’s just that we have to jibe things.”
“We have to look at the timing because we do want to punish, it will not look good to be punishing the enlisted personnel when the officers, their commanders have not been even arraigned,” Esperon also said referring to Miranda’s group.
“Their commanders have not yet been arraigned because as you may note, they have many dilatory tactics, actions, that’s why the arraignment is delayed,” he added.
Of the 28 accused officers, six have yet to exercise their peremptory challenge, which comes before the taking of the oath of the court members. The arraignment will come after the members of the courts have taken their oath.
Esperon said the filing of the charges against the 40 soldiers have to wait until their superior officers are arraigned “because these enlisted personnel merely followed the orders of their platoon leader or battalion commander, so we are acting first on the officers.”
Will somebody tell the Ass to talk to the hand ?!
I challenge Mr. Esperon on a dialogue with the prisoners in Tanay with the media present. Allow the prisoners to talk so they can say the truth. Ang yabang mo Esperon. Did you tell the truth already? Cover up lang ang alam mo gawin.
For your information Mr. Esperon, are you not punishing already the 40 enlisted personnel? Gago ka talaga. Yung pagkulong sa high detention cell are for convicted criminals only not for suspects or for people with no cases or charges. So even before you investigate you already punish.
Esperon,Hindi natutulog ang Diyos!
Ano ba ang ginawa nila? May pumunta ba sa rally? May nag marcha ba sa EDSA? Gen Lim and Col Querubin followed the chain of command. They obeyed Gen Senga, that is why no officer or soldier went to the streets.
Ikaw, ano ang ginawa mo? You monitored closely the cheating operations in Mindanao. You sent your men assigned in J3 to do the special ops in Basilan, Tawitawi, Marawi etc… You closely monitored the commanders on the ground.. You were partisan. Your job was to ensure an Honest Orderly and Peaceful Elections but what did you do? You cheated. It was planned long before the elections of 2004. You are a disgrace to the Armed Forces of the Phil.
and Mr. Esperon… you can still afford to say that you are clean? Tell that to the Marines!
Esperon, I dare you once more, go to Tanay and have a dialogue with the prisoners…
Kung hindi ka takot, pumunta ka.
Only men of honor will dare confront his accusers. Does Esperon belong to that league?
Esperon will not dare to confront his accusers. He can’t because he’s a coward. He can’t look straight to the eyes of a prisoner even a lowly private much more the marines because he cannot hide his guilt. Ganyan ang duwag,mahahalata sa body language.
I dare Mister Asspweron to make public the Mayuga Report!
Huwag s’yang magputak-putak, ilabas ang Mayuga report at papuntahin sa Hello Garci Senate hearing ang mga militar na sangkot sa dayaan 2004, kasali na na siya.
Re: You (Mister Asspweron) are a disgrace to the Armed Forces of the Phil.
Repeat: Mr. Asspweron is a disgrace to the Armed Forces of the Philippines!
# army ranger Says:
October 13th, 2007 at 1:47 am
Esperon, I dare you once more, go to Tanay and have a dialogue with the prisoners…
Kung hindi ka takot, pumunta ka.
***
Baka maihi sa pundya ‘yan sa takot! Matapang lang ang Ass na ‘yan dahil wala sa harap niya ang mga ‘honorable officers and gentlemen’!
Yes, kung talagang matapang ka, Asspweron, maki-pagdialogue ka sa mga “prisoners” mo sa Tanay! Prove to them that you’re a real soldier or else mababansagan kang DUWAG…DUWAG!…DUWAG!
Ang tanong sa ‘yo Asspweron ay: DUWAG KA BANG TALAGA?
Tell the truth supot Assperon. You cheated in 2004 presidential election all the way in favor of your bogus President Gloria Arroyo. Mister Coward Esperon you have zero credibility and your shithead stinks. What coup you are talking about? It’s just a pigment of your fantasy. Pakana lang ninyomg mag-amo. Aber, paano mag-power grab ang 28 officers at 40 enlisted men? Sal-it! Tarantado ka!
Mister Esperon:
first, there was no coup and/or no rebellion happened last Feb 2006. the supreme court had decided that already which effectively exonerated rep beltran et al. so there’s no need to challenge the accused officers about the alleged coup.
second, there was national elections last May 2004. There was massive cheating and you, mister esperon was implicated. so, it is YOU who should start telling the truth.
If you are really physically and morally courageous, accept the challenge. You have more to explain than to challenge.
army_ranger:
mahirap makipag argumento sa mga taong ipinanganak na sinungaling at duwag gaya ni esperon. bakit kaya ganyan ang Army? he he he
DKG,
kumita sila esperon sa ko-coup kwento na yan. 2 weeks ago, he announced that he will file coup charges against FOUR unnamed officers! imagine FOUR officers mga coup?! napakamalas naman nagkaroon ng duwag, tarantado, mandaraya at iyaking CS ang afp at bansang pilipinas.
Re: Imagine FOUR officers mga coup?
Bugok at pulpol na politico AFP Chief of Staff. Sobrang ambisyoso siya. Paano siya nakalusot sa Commission On Appointments? Siguro naglagay o nag-sipsip.
Re: Mister Asspweron will file coup charges against FOUR unnamed officers!
Malamang na ang apat na officers na ‘yan ay mga detenado pa!
Isip-surot ang supot!
Truth is bad word for GMA, Esperon, etc. the word is deleted in their dictionary kaya hindi nila alam ang meaning. It will be difficult to know the truth…malungkot!
esPWEron,
with all your bogus credentials, you are not EVEN worth a stripe an enlisted man wears.
hayup ka, samantalang kami ay kumakain ng lupa sa pagsubsob habang nakikipagpatintero sa kamatayan sa pakikipaglaban sa ilang, ikaw na demonyo ka ay kaylakas ng loob na ipagbanduhan ang mga peke mong dekorasyon at promosyon.
tangnamoka, daming namamatay na mga kawal sa pagtupad sa tungkulin, ikaw na hindot ka tulo laway sa pagkakamot ng buni sa bayag!
kung meron kang kahihiyan (meron pa nga ba?) ora mismo ay magbibitiw ka na sa pagiging SHIT of staff mo matapos mabulgar at ibulgar dito ang mga PEKE mong achievements!
pareho kayong HUWAD ng timang mong sugar mommy!
“bakit kaya ganyan ang Army?”
oooooppppps!
tabi lamang po. nakakasagasa. hindi lahat. alalahanin po ninyo sa bunton ng pinagsamasamang prutas ay hindi nawawalan ng mga akala mo’y masarap ang pagkahinog paero sobrang pakla at lasang asupre kapag iyong tinikman.
Mrivera,
Padala natin kay Asspweron yung poste mo. Hahahahahh! Kung nakakamatay lang ang mga salita, yun na!
“Imagine FOUR officers mag coup?!” Junior officers pa raw!
I think Esperon is also fishing for what will constitute the defense of the men in Tanay. He himself doesnt have a case against them. Its all hearsay and in some instances, there is no evidence at all.
He is also using these men to establish a reason to declare martial law and allow his boss to extend her term. But he’s doing so badly at it.
Are graduates of PMA, educated and trained to be “men of honor?” Yon ang pagkaintindi ko years ago..but it seems that a few openly come out to be, kaya lang ikinukulong. I am pretty sure marami ang nag graduate na ngayon ay retired…ano ang say nila sa nangyayari ngayon sa army? Keep quiet na lang ba? Where is Renato de Villa? Fidel Ramos sa West Point pa nag graduate..tahimik siya. Mum is the word na lang…Ang sabi nga “evil triumphs when good men don’t do anything.” wala atang good men. We need leaders not politicians. Wala rin atang leaders sa atin..ang kung mayroon mang potential ikinukulong..”ibon man may layang lumipad, kulungin mo at umiiyak”.. It is sad to say that we are slaves of poverty, corruption,cheats, etc. Where have all the leaders gone? Long time passing? When will they ever come? Are the answers blowing in the wind? Pakingan natin!
Ang lakas ng loob mo esperon, para magsalita ng “Magsabi ng totoo! samantalang ikaw mismo at ang iyong commander in chief ang napakasinungaling! Mauna kang magsabi ng totoo at siguradong lahat ay malapit sa katotohanan. Kung sino pa ang nagsasabi ng totoo ay yun ang kinukulong! sa ngayon wala nang halaga ang dignidad ng tulad ni esperon at ni gloria, kaya ang ngangingibabaw ay ang ang kawalanghiyaan nilang dalawa.
HERmogenes Assperon: tell the truth. maj gen miranda et al ay matagal ng nagsabi ng totoo. hoy ikaw HERmogenes kailan ka magsasabi ng totoo lalo na ‘yong papel mo sa garci scandal?
diego k guerrero, ngayon ko lang alam na supot pala si Hermogenes Asspweron. ngayon alam ko na kong nasaan ang kanyang utak……………………………
elvira sahara, 100% sure hindi makapagdialogue si Hermogenes sa grupo ni maj gen miranda infront of the media kasi poor English si kumag. tignan mo lang kong iniinterview siya lalo na kong ambush interview nangangapa siya kong ano ang sasabihin niya lalo na sa english. not unless may interpreter siya na sasabihin niya sa tagalog at itranslate ng interpreter sa english. saan mundo ka ba nakakita ng 4 star gen na carabao english kong hindi dito lang sa pilipinas ang thanks to tiyanak Arrooooooooyo. baka sabihin pa ni Hermogenes in english “The mountain climb the carabao” di lalong mapapahiya ang bayan natin.
I really hate to see generals in the Brig, especially a Marine General. I hope that the detained Patriots’ Brig is their “Last Castle”. Do they have he luxury of watching the news or read newspapers? Nakakaawa namn sila sa katayuan nila ngayon sana mabuksan na ang isipan ng Reyna ng Redhouse!
They area ble to read newspapers when their relatives visit them.
Esperon should first tell the truth about the cheating in the 2004 elections. Then he will understand why any attempt to topple an illegitimate president is a patriotic act.
Mr. Esperon is the most liar and evil general in the history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Can Gen Senga please remind Gen Esperon that it was Gen Lim and Col Querubin who told them that a tape exist? So Gen Lim and Col Querubin informed Gen Senga, then Gen Senga told them to recall it and that it should not be shown.. they followed Gen Senga. They followed every order of Gen Senga to the letter. So no coup no mutiny… This can be confirmed by the then Chief of Staff Gen Senga…
So Mr. Esperon pls dont tell that you did not know about the tape. As early as Feb 23, 2006, you knew. You LIAR.
What Esperon is doing is conditioning the minds of those who are not well versed in this case to accept a guilty verdict. This is precisely the reason why parties to a criminal proceeding are prevented from commenting on it because it is sub judice. But of course, the military court martial cannot and will not castigate the CS.
Agree with Shaman. We can’t start with Feb. 2006. We should start with 2004 elections.
damag46
“diego k guerrero, ngayon ko lang alam na supot pala si Hermogenes Asspweron. ngayon alam ko na kong nasaan ang kanyang utak……………………………”
******
Pag ang isang tao ay tinawag na supot, ang ibig sabihin, siya ay takot magpa-tuli. Duwag baga!
Pero pag ang isang tao ay binansagang duwag na supot, ibang klase na ito. Itong taong ito ay napakatindi na at napakalala na ang pagka dugong duwag nito. Sa totoo lang, hereditary po ito.
Kaya para sa akin: Hooooy, Mister Hermogenes Esperon, duwag na supot ka!!!
esPWEron,
how did you get your stars?
how many battles have you fought?
how many mountains have climbed in finding the enemies?
how many rivers have you crossed in searching for enemies’ lair?
how many times have you dipped your face in the dust and mud (even in an animal’s shit when the enemies unleashed their deadly volleys of fire?
or you were just SCRATCHING your balls inside your airconditioned office the whole of your military service?