by Victor Reyes
Military officers detained for a supposed power grab attempt in February last year have called Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. a “liar” for saying they kept secret a video tape recording in which they announced withdrawal of support from President Arroyo.
Esperon raised the issue of the videotape Friday in response to the officers’ challenge for him to tell the truth on allegations that he and other military officers helped rig the 2004 elections to ensure President Arroyo’s victory.
Returning the challenge, Esperon said it was the group that should be telling the military court “the truth” on how it planned to withdraw support from the President. He said the officers did not admit having the videotape “until we had the tape recording.”
“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),” he also said.
The group is led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, former Marines commandant, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former Scout Ranger commander, and two Medal of Valor awardees – Marine Colonels Ariel Querubin and Marine Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon.
In a statement Saturday, the officers who are facing court martial and detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, said: “Very clearly Esperon is again caught lying when he said that the accused did not admit having a videotape …` until we had the tape.’ He is indeed a liar.”
They said the “truth” is that on Feb. 23, 2006, the eve of the supposed power grab, Lim and Querubin sought a meeting with then Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga and informed him of the existence of the videotape.
“We talked about that tape. Senga’s instructions were to withdraw (the plan) and don’t air the tape. He ordered Lim and Miranda to try their best and talk to their men. All of Senga’s orders were obeyed. So there is no mutiny,” the officers said.
“It is only Esperon who is making a big issue out of it. He makes it appear that they discovered the tape when in fact that on the evening of Feb. 23, they knew this already because Lim and Querubin volunteered the information,” they said.
They said Esperon, then Army chief, was present at that meeting.
Other officers present in the meeting, like Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, then AFP deputy chief of staff for intelligence and now Northern Luzon Command chief, and the other major service commanders, can “confirm” the discussions about the tape, they said.
“Esperon knows that his name stinks as far as idealistic AFP officers are concerned. He’s a cheat, a liar. He used the non-events of February 2006 to sell himself,” they said.
The Navy and the Air Force chiefs during that supposed power grab try were Vice Adm. Mateo Mayuga and Lt. Gen. Jose Reyes.
The detained officers supposedly planned to lead their men to a march to the Edsa Shrine on February 24 last year and joint anti-government mass actions on the commemoration of the Edsa people power revolt, then announce the withdrawal of support.
The 28 officers are facing charges of mutiny and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, among others. They have yet to be arraigned and the court members have yet to take their oath.
At least 40 enlisted personnel are also detained in Camp Capinpin in connection with the alleged February plot but they have not been charged.
We have to start with 2004 elections to understand what brought about the February 2006 incident.
You, first, Gen. Esperon.
i just knew it deep in my heart that mr esperon will pay his life off for the lives of these noble soldiers he used for power grab!!!!! seeing the lives of the families…..especially the little ones, wow i could not barely imagine how god will ask mr esperon to repay for everything he did!!!!!
at least i have peace of mind, i cant wait to see mr esperon bend his knees and ask for forgiveness…. i will make it sure i’ll get his face off in my toes for that!!!!! God knows when and how…. i just knew it deep in my heart!!!!! he will pay not of material things( i cant imagine in what way), but he will pay for every tears the wives and mothers shed, he will pay mr esperon will pay for every questions our kids asked about thier fathers, he will pay for every absence of these military men when they are suppose to be beside thier loved ones in hospital or in funeral( for the information of everybody, mr esperon frequently denies so many request of these incsrcerated soldiers, very inhumane right?)
Ang dapat ilagay sa epitaph niya pag siya ay namatay- ay in bold letters capitalized–here lies esperon who lies still.
hindi ko hiniling na parusahan ang mga anak niya (kaliwa o kanan, kung mayroon man) pero ang tanong ko lang sa inyo-magulang niya, mga kapatid niya at mga anak niya. Are you proud to be related to him? ang sabi nga- we can choose our friends but we can not choose our kins…ang lahat na bagay ay may kapayaran…
thats true rose, i remember one of the detained officer corrected me when i litterally cursed mr esperon and his little tot with his madam doktora, the officer said please dont include the little one in your curse. innocent as the child is, having mr esperon as the father? thats a curse enough for the child to bare all through out his life!!!!
see? the officer is indeed one of the few good men…. kinulong na nga ng mahigit dalawang taon, tapos he still have the reservation to respect the innocence of the little esperon!!!!! so proud of you sir!!!
Military wife,
One thing that we can do is pray that the children of this Esperon will not be like their father even when the Bible says that the sins of the father are visited his children from up to the 4th generation!!!
For all the people that they have killed, oppressed, etc., surely there will be fair punishment from the Lord above.
Tatlong K,s para sa Pilipinas ang hinihiling ko at ulit ulitin kong hihilingin sa Panginoon:
Kapayapaan (Peace)
Katarungan (Justice)
Kaunlaran (Progress)
Ito ang isusulat ko sa papel at iiwan ko sa Wall sa Jerusalem when I get there Nov. 1-15. Didn’t Jesus tell us to persevere?
Matanong ko lang..ang asawa ba ni Esperon ay Doctor of Medicine? Hindi ba niyang puedeng pa examin ang utak ng kanyang asawa? Bakit ganyan? Or is she a veterinarian (doctor of animals)? Bakit hindi rin niya ma pa examin ang kanyang asawa? Ay nakalimutan ko..may nagsabi pala na hindi animal si Esperon..halimaw!
The nominees for best Cow Award …….
October 13,2007 Saturday noon time show
* Eat Bulagaan Repablik
Joey De Leon: Sino ang kilala mong Joseph?
Contestant: Joseph Estrada?
* Cowwawawilli Repablik games para sa mga ubing
Tanong(nasa screen ng TV): “Nasa 200 peso bill ba ang PAGMUMUKHA ni Gloria Macapagal Arroyo?
binasa ulit ni Willy: “Nasa 200 peso bill ba si PRESIDENTE Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?
YES or NO
* * *
magaling talaga ang mga batabatuta, alam kasi nila na ang presidente ay naluluklok sa pamamagitan ng popularity at hindi sa pandaraya.
“Plotters say, its Esperon who’s a liar.”
Hindi na kailangang i-memorize yan. Bisyo na iyan eh!
Golberg Says: “Plotters say, its Esperon who’s a liar.”
Hindi na kailangang i-memorize yan. Bisyo na iyan eh!
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nakatahi na sa buto at laman ang kanyang kasinungalingan at kawalanghiyaan!