by Ramon J. Farolan
Inquirer
At the recent AFP command conference in Camp Aguinaldo presided over by the Commander in Chief, President Macapagal-Arroyo, the Armed Forces reported that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), remain the main threat to national security. At the same time, the AFP reported its gains against the insurgency saying that communist strength has fallen to its lowest levels in 20 years with only 5,760 active guerrillas operating throughout the country.
The AFP spokesperson Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters that NPA influence has been neutralized in 202 villages while 13 “guerrilla fronts” were dismantled, reducing the number of such fronts—whose shadow governments are administered by the rebels—to 87.
In the case of the Abu Sayyaf, the AFP announced that its strength was reduced to 383 at the end of last year, a reduction of 69 from its registered strength of 452 at the beginning of 2007.
Let me make a few comments starting first with the Abu Sayyaf threat.
The pinpoint accuracy of body counts is truly amazing. We are talking of very specific numbers and I am wondering just how this was arrived at. We are not even rounding up the figures. Have we been able to identify the Abu Sayyaf elements with such precision and certainty? And the number 69—which could mean dead or captured individuals—is definitely a figure of much fascination for many of us.
As for the communist insurgency: While the threat has been reduced to its lowest level in 20 years with less than 6,000 active guerrillas, why is the AFP seeking to create six new battalions of infantry, plus 20 more Cafgu [militia] companies to assist the military in the campaign against the NPA?
The answer, according to army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, is “to deliver the final blow to the NPA” by having a “preponderance of forces, for the enemy not to be able to recover.”
Lieutenant General Yano is a bemedalled, experienced combat officer with a fine record of military service. But I fear that he has forgotten the lessons of history. Guerrilla forces have seldom been beaten by the preponderance of forces thrown at them. The Vietcong with their bicycles and rubber sandals defeated first the French and later the combined forces of South Vietnam, the United States and its allies all equipped with the material and technological resources that only a superpower can provide.
The greatest mistake that the AFP can commit is to throw more troops into battle with the NPA. There is no military solution to the problem we face.
If the mission is to defeat the NPA by 2010, we do not need to create additional battalions of fighting men for this purpose.
We need to create a climate of social justice throughout the country where the poor and impoverished sectors of our society can feel the compassion and care of a government rather than the heavy hand of its military forces.
To defeat the NPA, we do not need to create additional Cafgu companies. We do need to create more job opportunities so that the poorest of our men and women, especially in the rural areas, will have the chance to engage in activities that will allow them to support and sustain their families with dignity.
To defeat the NPA, we must have clean and credible elections so that people, through their ballots, can effect change in a peaceful manner instead of resorting to force or the use of arms. And a step in this direction is to have a Commission on Elections made up of respected men and women of integrity who would inspire confidence in our people that their choices will be honored. We also need to computerize our election mechanism so that we do not keep on waiting for delayed results from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which since time immemorial has led to all forms of electoral fraud and disputes casting doubt on the results of the balloting.
To defeat the NPA, our people must be convinced that the rule of law applies to all—not one set of rules for rebels, rightists or leftists and another for rapists, murderers, or allies of the people in power. We cannot give the rebels in captivity the “bartolina” treatment while extending to others the amenities of a good life in prison.
If our people are wary of government and its institutions, all the battalions that we create will not be sufficient to end a struggle which now has lasted for almost 40 years.
Which now brings me to the approaching retirement date of AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. next month.
Lately there have been a number of trial balloons floated on the issue of a possible extension of General Esperon’s tour of duty beyond the compulsory retirement age of 56.
Such an extension is nothing new. Former President Fidel V. Ramos started the practice of extending the tour of duty of the AFP chief of staff beyond age 56 when he allowed Gen. Arturo Enrile to stay on after reaching this age. According to FVR’s legal advisers, the records of the Constitutional Commission showed that the intent of the charter framers was to exempt the chief of staff from the retirement policy covering military officers and allow the chief of staff to continue his services even beyond age 56 but not exceeding a three-year tenure. General Esperon was appointed in July 2006 so he still has another 18 months to go before completing three years in office.
What is new is for President Arroyo to have Esperon remain in office after reaching age 56. Should she decide to do so, he would be the first of nine AFP chiefs of staff during her administration to be extended in office beyond the compulsory retirement age.
There are two reasons why President Arroyo would like to see Esperon stay in office.
First, she feels very comfortable with him. He gives her a sense of security which is important for her these days and in the coming months.
Second, she may not be as comfortable with Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano or any of the other possible candidates for the position. So rather than take a risk, she would prefer to stick with General Esperon.
The statistics that came out of the recent AFP command conference—highlighting the accomplishments of the AFP under General Esperon—is designed to support his continued stay as chief of staff. What better explanation can she give to the officers and men of the AFP for her extension of General Esperon than to emphasize the achievements of the organization under his command?
My guess is General Esperon stays in office after Feb. 9.
Inventing figures is a favorite past-time apparently of the lazybugs there. Can’t help wondering really if these crooks really know how to count. They cannot even be sure of the number of Filipinos at home and abroad with foreigners being able in fact to get Philippine passports. I also know a number of Filipinos who have had 3 or 4 identities and birth certificates registered with the NSCO.
Kahit nga si Joma sa palagay ko hindi alam ang bilang ng NPA sa totoo lang. Iyon pang mga bobo at batugan sa AFP, etc.
I don’t think the AFP itself nor Gloria herself believes the stats presented in that conference. It is all a charade, just like virtually everything else in Gloria’s government.
As to Esperons’ extension, Gloria does not need any excuse to extend Esperons’ tenure. Again, it is all palabas. Hey, may delicadesa din naman si Gloria.
“To defeat the NPA, we must have clean and credible elections so that people, through their ballots, can effect change in a peaceful manner instead of resorting to force or the use of arms. And a step in this direction is to have a Commission on Elections made up of respected men and women of integrity who would inspire confidence in our people that their choices will be honored. – Farolan”
TRUE. Absolutely true!
Why Esperon needs additional six battalions if the NPA strength is really diminished? What’s the basis of their headcounts? Maybe the AFP has its own ID system and census for the rebels.
The rebels’ cause (Maoism) is no longer there, even China is operating in a democratic environment already. What are the compelling reasons for people to join the NPA? Human rights violations, injustice, abuses of the military, police, and the rich who use the powers of the state to take advantage of the poor.
The solution is obvious to us who are used to solving problems as a living. Why is the military brass oblivious to it?
“Lieutenant General Yano is a bemedalled, experienced combat officer with a fine record of military service.”
Definitely not true. Yano is an overrated officer. His service reputation is just bloated by the media. Pati si Farolan naimpress.
Instead of adding 6 new battalions, why don’t they revisit the benefits and compensation package, equipment, etc. of the AFP personnel?
Zardux,
Is it true that the six new battalions would mean more vacancies, more officers needed, more promotions and if in case Esperon will be extended the echeloned effects will be mitigated as far as the promotions of the officers are concerned?
“The greatest mistake that the AFP can commit is to throw more troops into battle with the NPA. There is no military solution to the problem we face.”
True!
Ang mindset ng AFP ay nakapako sa “body-count” parameter. Maraming patayan, accomplishment yun. So, we expect more human rights violations kung matutuloy etong addtional 6 battalions.
Counter-insurgency (COIN) problem needs a political solution. A well coordinated action of all govt agencies is paramount.
The role of the military in COIN campaign is very minimal. Mas malaki pa nga ang role ng DOJ, DILG, DPWH, DA, DOTC, at DSWD.
But the biggest problem now in the AFP particularly the army, is the UNWILLINGNESS of the ground troops to fight because they have already realized the hardships and futility of fighting while their officers are enjoying the fruits of corruption.
I have contacts with former cadres of Joma, most of whom in fact are living overseas and enjoying their freedom even from want. What they have in fact in the Philippines are grassroot movements who have nothing to do with Maoism, etc.
Jug is right, communism is dead. China is now a capitalist country trying to beat the US, its benefactor. Humahanap lang ng pagkakakuwartahan iyong mga boyfriend ni Dorobor sa AFP boasting of ending the insurgency.
Ganyan din ang sinabi ni Magsaysay noon sa totoo lang. alam ko kasi noong Grade IV ako gumawa ako ng report sa ginagawa ni Magsaysay noon para masugpo ang panunulisan ng mga Huk. At least, si Magsaysay, mas humane ang approach di tulad ng mga boyfriends ni Dorobo. Kahit na hindi naman tulisan, tina-target gaya noong mga community leader na dinukot at pinatay na nila. As of the last count, malapit na ngang 1,000 ang bilang ng mga biktima ng extrajudicial killing. Well monitored iyan ng Amnesty International, Human Rights Now, etc. di gaya ng hocus-pocus figure na bino-broadcast ng mga bobo dela yuca!
Kung ano-ano pang pangalan ang binabansag ng mga ungas. Hindi na lang tawagin na tulisan iyong mga nagdarambong sa bundok.
I didn’t want you guys to lose your lunch so I waited 2 hours before posting this. Watch this video at your own risk (vomitting to death).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5oLrIRoB64
ace,
“Is it true that the six new battalions would mean more vacancies, more officers needed, more promotions and if in case Esperon will be extended the echeloned effects will be mitigated as far as the promotions of the officers are concerned?”
Yes, more vacancies, promotions and more officers needed. Echeloned effects will be mitigated coz six battalions mean 2 Bde generals and One Major General if organized as one unit.
The AFP has NO approved Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE). In short, walang plantilla. So they can activate and even deactivate units anytime the want. When a unit is activated, pera yun. When a unit is deactivated, savings yun.
All they have now is a Proposed TOE. And if we talked about an afp unit, truth is that it is not a full-complement unit. Short ang personnel assigned at equipment.
Maski magcreate pa ng 100 battalions, tyak ang katumbas nun ay 100 company size units lang.
Ang Phil Marines lang ang masasabi nating hindi nandadaya sa numbers. Pag sinabi na Marine batallion, 500+ troops yun. Sa army ang battalion ay 300+ lang. Mind you, all battalions have the same MOOE. So, anong unit ang maraming savings?
“Instead of adding 6 new battalions, why don’t they revisit the benefits and compensation package, equipment, etc. of the AFP personnel?”-jug
Bullseye! The army is in dire need of thinking officers. I will strongly recommend you jug to replace the CGPA. Bwahahaha
Zardux,
Still on the video, I didn’t know that promotions nowadays are based on the number of medals garnered in shooting competitions and ability to sell out you comrades? If this is the basis used in staffing the AFP, we are all in big trouble. All the NPA need to do is move around all the time (jump up and down, zigzag, etc., just like in counter strike) just behave the opposite of paper targets. In this case, we really need 6 battalions, maybe more? hehehe
“So, anong unit ang maraming savings?” – Zardux
Allow me to ask a question by answering your question.
“So,Yanong unit ang maraming savings?”
Iyong sinasabing increase ng mga sundalo para ipalit doon sa tinatanggal at kinukulong nila, noon isa pang taon namin narinig iyan. Dapat ngang kini-question iyan dahil para daw siguradong madaling ma-mind control ni Dona Ladron!
The additional six new battalions is for the security of GMA and her family. That’s all to it !
I am inclined to believe the prediction of Gen Farolan that Esperon will be extended.
Gloria needs Asspweron more than she needs Big Mike!
Ang kailangan ma-extend kay Esperon iyon isang parte ng katawan niya sa ibaba.
This AFP report contradicts numbers and logic, it’s a pure propaganda for Asspweron’s extention.
“to deliver the final blow to the NPA”, Yano’s reason for six new battalions of infantry, plus 20 more Cafgu [militia]. This is plain bull! Sentido Komon lang, bakit pa magdadagdag ng papatay kung patay na ang kalaban!
I agree with Gen. Farolan, the only solution to this threat is to “create a climate of social justice throughout the country where the poor and impoverished sectors of our society can feel the compassion and care of a government rather than the heavy hand of its military forces.”
Komento ng isang taga-baryo, “patay na sana ang NPA dito, binuhay lang ni Gloria”.
how did they get the figure 5,760? Did they take a census? seguro sinabi nila…will the active members of the NPA come forward to be counted..walang nag come forward kaya they made up the number. Matayaan nga sa lotto ang number na ito..napanginipan seguro ni Esperon at ni Goria..ang sabi nga liars can figure..but the true figures do not lie..Sa plot na nahukay ni siraulo..sa epitaph ang dapat ilagay..Here lies….who lies still.
nabilang nila ang active members ng NPA ilan naman ang active corrupt members ng AFP and PNP? I wonder…baka nag NPA na rin dito sa USA…No Permanent Address and armed with TNT..Tago Ng Tago…USA, the great land of opportunities..a haven for those who does laundering…labandera…Ang labandera ng bayan..ano na nga yong ad…
Rose,
I’ve been asking the same questions for a long time:
(1) Re NPA: Where did they get the NPA numbers… NPA warriors after all don’t go around carrying their IDs and even if they did, how do you figure such exact number?
(2) Re Abu Sayyaff: It was a 100 strong bunch some 8 years ago according to Gloria and her military henchmen and after having killed many, the group has apparently increased so which is which?
Gen Farolan is absolutely spot on… it is very difficult to defeat a parallel army when that army is goaded by an ideological motive. Seems it’s time to re-read Gen Templar’s military dogma: winning hearts and minds.
It seems that ang buhay ni GMA (both politically and physically) is in the hands of Esperon..he is the life support machine..kaya pag na unplug ang machine na ito sa Feb. 9.. soon she will be gone.. Feb. 9 is just around the corner…
..hindi ba Feb. 9 ang EDSA One? That’s the anniversary of Evelio J’s death too. Sa mga taga Antique dapat local holiday…and a day of prayers.
..will Tabako light his cigar to celebrate and remember? Will Enrile follow him?
…Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa Feb. 9, for GMA? Life Extension or Life Extinction? Come Holy Spirit…kindly guide us!
Malakas ang kutob ko na may sasabihin na naman itong si Esperon at GMA sa issue na ito. They shall again say they were misquoted. They would say what they said was only five new battalions not six. Pustahan iyan ang sasabihin nila…
Anna: (2) Re Abu Sayyaff: It was a 100 strong bunch some 8 years ago according to Gloria and her military henchmen and after having killed many, the group has apparently increased so which is which?
*****
Sinabi mo pa. Sabi pa ni Dorobo, she would blast them off this earth with one bullet. Anong nangyari? Bakit dumami pa? Halatang nagsinungaling! Increase military spending lang ang gusto ng mga sipsip!
Lets relax back and enjoy. People are only doing their homework. There is beauty in numbers. Mass is a war doctrine that even the barbarians used effectively in winning wars using their war cries in attacking, the Russians with their howitzers, the congressmen…
And six new batalions means 4000 new jobs and about 10,000 mouths to feed (no. 2’s families not counted in and GRO’s.) Forget about the numbers on the other side. With the intelligence funds ransacked, they use the cowboys counting sheeps counting legs and divide by four multiplied by some factors of panic guessing. Anyone’s guess is as good as the cowboys.
Extension is the prerogative of high heaven. Those next in the line of command are happy anyway. Its like the policeman on the stroll connecting daily who would not want to be kicked upstairs in the Peters principle.
But come to think of it. I have the feeling that we are exporting wars. The Iraqis military were trained by our soldiers there, the air force in particular. At the same time in the preparation of Iran for the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranians were here in Bataan for their military tactics. For the 9/11 party, most of those involved had gone to the Philippines for training, for socializing, get married. And now the US and Iran are set for war because of the Filipino Monkey. That same thing aggravated the Gulf War. Just ask any Filipino seafarer who had been in the gulf, for sure they heard of the famous Filipino Monkey.
“So, anong unit ang maraming savings?” – Zardux
Allow me to ask a question by answering your question.
“So,Yanong unit ang maraming savings?” – ace
Bwahahahahaha.
Listen to this: The AFP now announces that the US soldiers will leave RP after the Balikatan War Games. It sounds like good news to many of us who are against the GIs presence in the country. But let’s ask them: What if these joint military exercises continue and never end? Okay, those who have participated in this coming Balikatan game would leave; then a new batch would soon arrive to engage in another war game under different name. Akala nila puro tayo mga tanga!
BTW, what’s the Filipino monkey the Americans are talking about in provoking the Iranians to declare war with the US? I don’t know why Filipinos should feel flattered with such an allusion similar to the “tail-less monkies” in reference to Filipinos especially in Zamboanga when the US ruled the Philippines. It surely sounds derogatory to me.
Iyang si Bush talaga, nakakahiya. Ipinapakita lang niya ang pagka-istupido niya. Or is the guy in the early stage of dementia? Parang idiot talaga ang dating kapareho ni Gloria Dorobo!
Bush is in Middle East asking for oil. Bagsak ang housing at mortgage, mataas ang unemployment rate…bagsak ang economy…flood, earthquake, fire, tornado,
hurricane…sinusumpa yata ng Diyos ang America!
Prophecied iyan, BB. God will destroy America if it tries to be the opposite of what God wants it to be.
The next president of the US of A will have difficulty righting the wrongs done by demented Bush. I know a lot of my American friends are being embarrassed by this fellow lunatic of the present occupant of the palace by the murky river.
Never has America been hated as now, I guess, not even when the US did similar provocation to start a war as the incident at the Gulf of Tonkin. Hindi pa kasi sila masyadong bistado noon. But I remember the school drills we were made to go through in case of some nuclear war not realizing that the only country with nuclear weapons then was the US. Kaya nagmadaling hinakot ng father ko ang pamilya namin sa America!
I suggest watching the news on this new Bush hallucination at http://www.payvand.com/news/08/jan/1128.html
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19070.htm
Extension or Extinction?
Deadline: Feb/ 9, 2008
1/15/08: 24 eays more to go..palapit na..