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Anatomy of Failure
By Antonio C. Abaya Written on Dec. 10, 2007 For the Standard Today, December 11 issue Believe it or not, the Manila Pen Revolt was the fourth time that military malcontents seized a five-star hotel in the course of their rebellion or mutiny. In July 86, barely five months after the EDSA People Power in February, mutinous soldiers loyal to President Ferdinand Marcos seized the Manila Hotel. I do not recall if they were expecting a civilian crowd to come and support their uprising. At any rate, no one came except a few dozen Marcos loyalists in their red-white-and-blue signature colors. But their undoing was comically unexpected in its provenance. A wedding banquet had been scheduled for that afternoon in the hotel�s ballroom and the food and drinks had been prepared for the expected guests. But it was the unexpected guests � the mutinous soldiers � who ate the food and drank the champagne. So much so that they became drunk and drowsy from all that abundant alcohol and all that unaccustomed rich food, and were too plastered to resist when soldiers loyal to President Cory Aquino stormed the hotel, without firing a shot and without crashing an APC through the main entrance. It was a farce masquerading as high drama, made even more comical by the punishment meted out on the officers who led the mutiny: 30 push-ups each. In Malaysia or Singapore or Indonesia , such mutinous officers would have been hustled off to court martial and the military stockade at the very least, or lined up against the wall and shot by a firing squad But in the lax and forgiving culture of the Philippines , the incredibly lenient punishment, if you could call it such, merely guaranteed that there would be other coups and other mutinies in the future. And, sure enough, they came: 1987, 1989, 2003, 2006 and now 2007 In the December 1989 coup attempt, led by then Col. Gringo Honasan and then Capt. Danilo Lim, Scout Rangers occupied the Hotel Intercontinental, as well as other high-rise buildings in the Makati central business district, for five or six days. It was the �persuasion flights� over Metro Manila of two unmarked US Navy F-4 Phantom jets from Subic that swept the rebel air force from the skies and gave soldiers loyal to President Aquino the chance to counter-attack and force Capt. Lim�s unrepentant Scout Rangers to retire back to their barracks. As in 1986 and in 1987, no one was shot by a firing squad. Instead, mutinous and rebellious soldiers and their officers were haled before courts martial and thrown into military stockades, only to be amnestied in the 1990s by President Ramos, who also amnestied Communist insurgents, Muslim separatists and Islamic militants, and anyone else who had wanted to take up arms against the state. His Management by Amnesty � right after Management by Prayer of President Aquino � both in sync with the lax and forgiving culture of the Philippines , bought relative peace for President Ramos, but it did not solve the underlying causes of the Communist insurgency or the Muslim restiveness. On the contrary, the Islamic MILF � a breakaway faction of just a few hundred fighters from the secular MNLF � was allowed to keep their Camp Abubakar in Mindanao, which progressively became a state within a state, into which even the AFP could not exercise the sovereignty of the Philippine State��and gave birth to 20 other MILF camps, for an estimated 20,000 armed fighters. Again, the lax and forgiving culture of the Philippines merely bought time for the sitting president, but did not address the fundamental causes of military adventurism, Communist insurgency and Muslim restiveness. In July 2003, some 300 military mutineers under Navy Lt. Antonio Trillanes seized the posh Oakwood serviced hotel, allegedly in protest against military corruption, and waited, in vain, for their civilian supporters to show up and make a people power uprising out of the mutiny. But the mob-for-hire led by Erap lieutenants was blocked by police from marching to Oakwood, and the Oakwood mutiny thus fizzled out within hours. In November 2007, apparently having learned nothing from July 2003, Trillanes and Lim seized another luxury Makati hotel, the Peninsula, to stage another military mutiny, this time with only 30 armed followers, obviously expecting many of the 11 million voters who had voted for Trillanes in the May 2007 senatorial elections to come and support his mutiny. But no one came. For some inexplicable reason, the military adventurists � the Manila Hotel putschists, Honasan, Trillanes, Lim � did not try to duplicate the only military revolt in modern Philippine history that actually succeeded: the February 1986 mutiny that toppled Ferdinand Marcos from power. In February 1986, Defense Minster Juan Ponce Enrile, Gen. Fidel Ramos, Col. Honasan and 300 RAMboys � the same size force Trillanes had in July 2003 � seized, not a ritzy hotel, but a military camp (Camp Aguinaldo), where they holed up, held a press conference and waited for their civilian supporters, rallied by a Catholic bishop (Cardinal Sin) to mass in their hundreds of thousands and block the government reaction force. Of course, in hindsight, we know that the Oakwood mutineers also had very little civilian support in 2003, recruited from the Makati slums and organized and led by Erap�s lieutenants. But if they had seized Camp Crame , instead of Oakwood, they would have had tens of thousands of genuinely pro-Erap supporters from Erap�s bailiwick, San Juan , which is right next to Camp Crame , who would have eagerly trekked, without even being paid, to the camp perimeter through several routes that the police could not have totally blocked. In 2003, Gloria Arroyo was already very unpopular and there would have been no shortage of Catholic bishops to rouse the San Juan residents to an insurrectionary mood.. But in November 2007, with only 30 armed supporters, Trillanes could not have seized the Camp Crame men�s room on the ground floor even if he tried. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and acabaya.blogspot.com. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Anatomy of Failure� More Reactions to �Why No One Came� Why the Coup Attempt Failed Coup Fatigue Masses Shun �People Power� Coup at the Pen How can Lim, a consistent mutineer, become a general- baka naman DPA, to keep the civilian government hostage. In other countries they're shot. Reminds me of Victor Corpuz. It's surrea. Rock Drilon, (by email), Dec. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwl. I do agree with you that this lax and forgiving culture gives license to repeat wrongdoing. It does not really show the leader to be a compassionate and able one but one that can be exploited and abused. This is demonstrated not only among our own citizens but in our unenthusiastic prosecution of the thieves and pirates that continuously rob us of our marine wealth, the poachers. It must be one of the highest monetary penalties under Philippine law - US $200,000!!! To this day, officials are pussyfooting around 19 poachers caught last September off Tawi-Tawi with a haul of up to 200 endangered marine turtles. (http://www.wildlifeextra.com/turtle- poaching128.html) But our government prefers to "do the diplomatic thing" and keep releasing them, despite loud local protests in the areas where they are caught - Palawan , Batanes, Tawi-tawi. How high up does this "diplomacy of forgiveness" go and does it really give us a better standing in the community of nations to keep showing that forgiveness for these crimes is requested from as high up as it can go? How can we expect compliance from our own people? Ipat Luna, (by email), Dec. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, There are lessons to be learned from all these military adventurism from 1986 to the latest. First, a military coup will never succeed without civilian support and an acceptable alternative to the unpopular leaders. Second, votes do not translate to blind following. And third, coup participants who are not punished and not booted out of service, will try again even without any hope of succeeding. The limelight and the promise of a rewarding career in politics are too attractive to ignore. Future mutineers and the government hopefully learned a lot from the last caper. [email protected], Dec. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww In 1986, there was an overwhelming exasperation on one hand and hope on the other. Filipinos were exasperated and angry about the dictatorial rule but hopeful of new breeds of promising leaders (or so we thought they were?) In 1989, only the military (maybe) were exasperated, and hope? I didn't know because people really didn't know what they were up to In 2003 or 2007, Filipinos, we, or some of us, are exasperated but we couldn't see any hope or hopeful alternative. The people who we trusted in 1986, unfortunately, were of the same colors as Marcos, nothing to be surprised of anyway, since most of them belong to his cronies. The few, quite righteous one, submitted to oblivion, succumb and overwhelmed by the more evilish herd of witty, selfish politicians, and preferred to fight with the tip of their pens or shall we say today, through finger tips on the keyboard, some others prefer to die. The Mabini's and Rizal styles might have worked in the past, provoking the people in the seat of power through the magic of writing. Today, no amount of defamation would seep into their (the s-itting regime) conscience. The instigators will not be declared a hero but a criminal and those who prosecute them are the hero, protector of democracy. As you said, we are deep in s--t, no morality at all. Many Filipinos today are overly exasperated but clinging to that single thin strand of hope and we would not risk snapping that in a premature, reckless adventures. Try an accurately calculated and tactical strategy and for sure, those who are hiding discontents in their heads and hearts will come out It was the spirit of Ninoy that gathered all the people in 1986 which all started after his assassination in 1983, 1986 was the crowning glory. He was then the epitome of our democracy. Today we are fighting for our constitutional rights which is continuously raped by those nincompoofs. Edilberto Aniot, (by email), Dec. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hafa Adai Tony! Christmas greetings from Guam , USA ! I just read your article today, and your theory about Camp Crame piqued my interest! What would it take for another "People Power" to happen? (In my humble opinion, a character like Cardinal Sin is missing...) Warm regards, BJ, [email protected], Dec. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, I read the email of: Efren N. Padilla, Ph.D., (by email), Hayward , CA , Nov. 30, 2007 Professor, Urban Planning and Sociology, California State University at East Bay Could you provide me with his email ad or forward this email to him. I am very interested in his city-state concept. Regards from Davao City . Guillermo Prat, (by email), Davao City , Dec. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Yes how true, the incredibly lenient punishment merely guaranteed that there would be other coups. Fortunately or unfortunately, our irresponsible politicians, corrupt government and military also guaranteed the failure of the attempted coups. The Glorieta and Congress bombings and the Peninsula caper hardly made a dent in the Stock Exchange and the Peso's value. The Peso's value kept on improving even up to now. This proves what many has been thinking all along... that government corruption and politicians have become non-issues to many businessmen and Corporations. It is as if business and the citizens at large are saying " you (politicians, government and military) can "F.U." and machine gun each other for all we care...just leave us alone to live our lives. Best regards, Andy Pages Paras, (by email), Dec. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, One of the main reasons why the December 1989 coup nearly succeeded and inflicted so much damage in the siege Makati is due the participation of members of the Marine brigade based in Fort Bonifacio led by no less than the cousin of Col. Gringo Honasan. The Scout Rangers of then Capt. Danilo Lim were less in numbers than the marines who got involved. Again, the reason why subsequent coups never succeeded is because the Marine Corps did not get involved in any military adventurism. In the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the group of Trillianes would have been annihilitated by the Marines if they did not surrender. The same was true was true with the Scout Rangers of Capt. Lim in Makati who really had not choice. The APCs and tanks of the Marines were already in position and have surrounded the rebels. This is the same Marine Brigade you saw on television in the Nov. 29 caper of Trillianes at the Manila Pen. The commandant of the Marine Brigade based in Fort Bonifacio that has been developed into an "anti-coup" unit is a friend and former classmate of mine. He is a professional soldier who has never been involved in any coup, including EDSA I. During the Marine standoff at Fort Bonifacio in February last year, it was he who send out the tank for a show of force to help resolve the impasse. He is also the government's principal witness against Gen. Lim and other top coup plotters Regards, Rick Ramos, (by email), Santa Rosa , Laguna, Dec. 12, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, This article simply confirms what I had thought of Trillanes in 2003 - an idiot of gargantuan proportions. In 2007 - he deluded himself to think that 11 million voters would rally behind him. He did not discount the following: - Many of those who voted for him were a little short in the IQ department. Likely, they were swayed by media hype; - He may not have had 11 million voters because his votes may have been padded for some twisted minded reason; perhaps because even if voted in, he would not be able to claim his seat anyway; (There was no indication at all that his votes were padded. He won fair and square. ACA) - He is a lousy military strategists who simply puts his followers in harms way without possible escape routes or ways out; a good strategists would have already calculated the outcome and would only go ahead if the odds in favor were close to 100%; this adventure was a long-shot and great military minds only do long shots as a last resort when their back are against the wall. Otherwise, they will pick the time and the place of highest probabilities. He could have done better if he chose to hole up at the DBP or the Petron Tower where he would have been able to hold off for longer time if he really believed that people were behind him and would show up to surround him. I can go on and on. Bottom line is, this guy is nothing but a fool, and a deluded self-righteous, narrow minded windbag who has nothing to offer our people but more trouble. If he wanted to genuinely reform the military, he can do it sitting in jail by writing down all the details and mechanisms of corruption in the military and how he proposes to mitigate or correct them. He can then send it to the senate after all, he has colleagues in the senate who are not condemning his unsenatorial behavior at all. But then again, does anything that these senators do still surprise us. Very truly yours, Gus Cosio, (by email), Dec. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir Tony, I believe that the November 29 incident was not a coup d'etat but a political parade. I say this based on the following observations: 1. There was no support from any sector or unit of the military. 2. The Manila Peninsula is not a defensive terrain, it is an Island that can be isolated and be controlled from all approaches. This indicates that the group has no intention of fighting it out with government troops. 3. Lastly, there was no actual threat on the Presidency. I remember when we were cadets in PMA, during a inter-collegiate debate against DLSU. One of the judges spoke in front the whole corps and said... "You are all beautiful, you make me proud to be a Filipino. (Broken down in tears she added) Please take care of my country, its the only one I've got" Needless to say we won the debate against La Salle . But as a PMAER did Sonny Trillanes took up the challenge of Taking Care of the Country? My answer is NO he did NOT! Immediately after that day an investor cancelled a 10 Million USD planned investment for Philippines . That investment could have been translated to more jobs and more food for the Filipino table. I don't think Sonny will be involving himself in a similar fiasco if he was allowed to be an active part of the Senate as mandated by 11 million Filipinos. As such, it would turned-out that everything was for Trillanes personal interest, no more no less. Vonne Villanueva, (by email), Dec. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, The recent military adventurism is for me more significant for its cultural symbolism rather than its political opportunism. Although by such act, those who were involved have shown themselves once again as cerebrally impulsive, I cannot cast the first stone because they have made a personal choice. And for that, I might admire their bravado and desire to change the status quo. However, the cultural symbolism is for me a more serious issue because it represents to us what is wrong with our democratic subculture where dramatis personae like Navy Lt. Trillanes and Capt. Danilo Lim are allowed to thrive. Do we continue acting out our dysfunctional democratic subculture? Must we continue to follow our cultic proclivities to be lax and forgiving at the expense of accountability and justice? If we can't go on anymore with the status quo, how do we get out from this repetitive rotten mess? These are difficult but grave questions that must be answered once and for all. And yet, we have key answers to these questions. What are they? The first key answer is making the decision of who must we become. Do we want a hopelessly docile, dogmatically gullible, and poverty-stricken people? Do we want to continue to exercise the futility of wasteful elections? Do we still want to subject ourselves to the endless chicaneries of our political and religious leaders? How long do we want to live under the machinations of mediocre and unimaginative politicians? How about having a highly-competitive and a highly-educated people? How about having a disciplined and polite people? How about having a people living in new towns and cities that are beautiful, clean, and safe? How about having a people who are no longer being pushed to migrate and shamed by their host countries? The second key answer is making the decision of what is to be done. This is a no-brainer given the failure of the status quo. What then are our urgent options to hopefully start turning things around in the island? Let me offer some options. Given the national prerogative and bureaucratization, there is a more difficult option but a possible one. I need an educated, ethical, and no-nonsense provincial leader who will commit his/her life to this task of city-state building, no matter what. For a starter, I am willing to help craft a master plan for a model city-state (a viable province, region, or island) pro bono. With this kind of leader, I believe we might have a palpable chance to enjoy the ideals of democracy in the future. This will also spare us from the unending shame and insult caused by simpletons pretending as saviors and demagogues masking as democrats performing in the national scene. Any taker? Of course, there is a less difficult option that cuts through all the national �red tape�--- a temporary governance based on compulsion? Our country needs that transition to an "iron hand" possibly by elderly military leaders (with its younger officers/followers in its hierarchical command) who will firmly lay down law and order and discipline which is vital to a society trying to develop. Where there is a legacy of adventurism and instability, it is hard for people to feel secure enough to enter into long-term economic contracts. Instead, people look for short-term gains at the expense of others, reinforcing a spiralling skepticism about our current democratic subculture's relevance and prospect. Finally, there is the easiest or perhaps, the most difficult option---we can simply choose to bid our people's life chances a painful goodbye. Efren N. Padilla, Ph.D, (by email), Hayward , CA , Dec. 11, 2007. Professor, Urban Planning and Sociology California State University at East Bay wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Re: the Peninsula "revolt". TRILLANES DECLARED A REVOLT AND NO ONE CAME!! So much for that!! Subas Herrero, (by email), Dec. 13, 2007. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, If I may add, Trillanes does not deserve the respect to be called a Senator. He must not have run in office. if in the first place, he does not believe in the system where he is ought to be in. If he is courageous enough and true to his so called advocacy that instant change is possible thru Military take-over, junta, or a combination of civil and military, then later military, or communists take-over at the end, we do not what anymore, because at the end what evolves ae changes which are all beyond our control. One thing could be sure, there will be lawlessnes, anarchy and more corruption! In a miltray take-over, then Military junta, who would dare speak against the Military like with Trillanes who does not have respect even with order and privacy of others. Besides, just like Sen. Jambi Madrigal has said, Trillanes is an expert saboteurs or may be, hes just a litmus test if coup will still work out now-a-days! He had not learned anything about participatory democracy, ih his PAdm class, believing, he got the monoply of patriotism in our country. He sees no one else but himself is a Messiah, and thats very dangerous! Now that he is back in jail, maybe it is time to prove that he can organize the inmates, either to stage a very succesfull mutiny against the jail warden, or the at least with one of the General who is in direct supervison of his cell. Or inside the cell he can prove to all of us that he can organize his fellow inmates some self help programs to improve the lives of the convicts and fellow soliders without any help from government he has condemed eversince. Pagkatapos ng ginawa niya humihingi pa ng Pork-Barrel sa gobyernong kinalaban nya. Sana ginaya na lang nya si Lacson may paninindigan at hindi kumukubra ng Pork-Barrel at sweldo! Maganda yan sa mata ng Sambayaang Pilipino! Sana lahat ng Congresssmen a Senador, at matataas na opisyal ng gobyerno pati and Presidente, "promo bono" and trabaho yan ang tunay na serbisyo. Pwede kayang maging "electoral reform" na walang sweldo and mga elected officials sa gobyerno. Meron kayang mag-aagwan sa pwesto? Baka wala na! Sa puntong ito, baka titino na ang ating gobyerno.maybe Trillanes will stop also trying to grab political power. If he really wants change, first, change must take place within himself, his way of thinking, attitude, respect for others and totally abhor the use of force! Rodolfo Cada, (by email), Dec. 14, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony. The hyperlink on this page for your �Anatomy of Failure� article is not working. http://www.geocities.com/dapat_tapatt/tonyabaya.html The word anatomy in the hyperlink is misspelled. BTW, thanks for your articles. I find them to be quite excellent. Tim Forman, (by email), Seattle Washington , Dec. 15., 2007 (Thanks for informing us. It is being looked into. In the meantime, you can access our alternative website: acabaya.blogspot.com. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy furnished) But it really is not laughing matter now, RP as a Banana Republic looks "inihaw." A senator/ex-VP, a bishop, an ex-UP president? In yet another half-baked coup sans precedent! GMA needs to "G-o M-elt A-way" but who'll take over? From your current batch of pols, trapos, or whomever? Two women presidents, Cory and Glo, Strikes #l & #2, Do we need a 3rd woman Prez, like Loida Lewis, shrew? (No pol, but a rich widow, religious and incorruptible, But as a dual (US & RP) citizen, is she "presidentiable?" Time is running out for Our Beloved Philippine Republic, Can the pols stop fiddling while the masa burns in panic? Where do we find another RM "The Guy", or a Ninoy Aquino, To truly take up the cause of our beleaguered masa Filipino? In the wings, there are wannabe Prez's, with money and power, But there seems to be no 1 true leader at this very crucial hour! Tell me, who can be groomed, from scratch, and wield the Mace Of Pinoy leadership to move RP's Int'l disgrace to Amazing Grace? Whom does Mahar Mangahas' Social Weather Survey list as top Presidentiable post-GMA in 2010? A juggernaut hard to stop? Tell me not in mournful numbers, but really, let all join the search For a "Pili" (Choice) & "pino" (Fine) "Pili-pino"/"Fine Choice" to lurch Onward for a "PhilippiNew Nation" ala Singapore's Lee Kwan Yu(sp). "Bayaw" Johnny Flavier, sadly, & wisely retired as SenaDoctor, Due to age (72), health; Protestant wife (i.e. RC voting factor), FVR is too old to re-run; and ERAP (for all his PERA) is corrupt! So tell me, dear nephew dear, how to revive a Pinas so bankrupt: Morally, Politically, Economically! Not by "divine intervention!" Read Abaya's column re this, and his I-net readers' reaction. Tony Abaya's series of sensible columns must be read, To get a feeling of what can be done to RP's future head! ACA is a "must" read if I have to choose a Pinoy columnist! A sensible columnist, maraming alam at (sans calumnies)! Daniel Aguila, (by email), Nashville , Tennessee , Dec. 10, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Why No One Came� (Dec. 06, 2007) I think it will not take long when you, as a MAN will humbly accept and even proclaim the EXISTENCE of A Creator or THE Supreme Creator (or �force� probably for you) as i think Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein ultimately - finally did. A logical, analytical, calculating, searching person like you undoubtedly will ultimately accept the existence of GOD - and His �Divine Intervention�. We should give room for the inexplicable. An acceptance that there are still many things beyond the grasp of the human mind. Beyond the grasp of one Antonio Abaya and many other thinking men like him. Ed. J. Tirona, (by email), Paranaque City , Dec. 16, 2007 (I suggest you do not hold your breath waiting for that to happen. BTW, neither Bertrand Russell nor Albert Einstein converted to Roman Catholicism or even to Christianity before they died. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww You wrote: (So did Divine Intervention also give us Hello Garci, Joc Joc Bolante, ZTE and Abalos, Malacanang paper bags full of cash for congressmen and governors, missing billions of pesos in quarrying fees in Pampanga, and a long list of overpriced government contracts starting from here to Eternity? ACA) No amigo. That was when Divine Intervention was absent. Why? Finally, because, believe it or �NO�, Tony, there is Divine Intervention every time evil seems to get the upper-hand in this troubled land. Indeed, as He promised He will spare the land from his wrath for as long as there are Men of Goodwill praying and crying out His Holy Name! Praise the Lord! Shalom, Ed. J. Tirona, Dec. 16, 2007 (But that is being intellectually dishonest. You are positing Divine Intervention when something good happens, but denying its presence when something evil happens. That would make GMA more powerful than your God since she can make both good and evil happen. ACA) wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Mr. Trillianes is an adventurer, an irresponsible military man, he is sick, he is impulsive, and of course opportunist. Like Erap, Mr. Trillianes is riding on the wrong notion that the masa on his side, it may be so, for he won the election, but he is taking advantage of this wrong impression of him by the masa- that he has integrity that he is brave, Like Erap, who uses his popularity with the masa whom he has not help at all during his incumbency, How could he? He was busy building mansions for his queridas. Mr. Trillianes is an adventurer, he has the wrong notion that being on the other side of the government will land him free media mileage and took the gamble that if he once again rise and declare in a tumultuous manner that this is the tmie to bring down the government on a spur-of -the moment thought, no preparation or at least he was double-crossed by his allies-- shows that he lacks maturity not only in age but also in military operations. He is irresponcible for getting the media peole rally behind him, even putting in danger those media na matitigas ang ulo. Serves them right. I am not for the government but I see no reason for the event at Manila Pen. Thank you. Cita B. Garcia, (by email), Dec. 16, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, The Pen incident did not invite support of the many simply because military coup has lost its seductive influence. Trillanes at 35 was too early for his time; Guingona, a septugenarian, on the other hand, was too late for his time. By experience, a coup to succeed in the Philippines has be preceded by spilling blood in the streets and not by repeatedly sprinkling spittle in the dress of GMA. Honasan did it to Cory and it did not succeed. Filipinos have short memories and will never learn any lesson from the past especially if they wear uniforms or wear barong Tagalogs and are members of Congress! Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, (by email), New York City , Dec. 16, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Thank you for making me a part of your global network. You have always been creative in your approaches and your writing has always been transparent and direct to the point. When an error is made, you admit and correct it. When a contributor makes an error, you point it out. That is why you remain credible. Such is the hallmark of a true journalist. Congratulations. I do hope you could teach a thing or two to a great number of our media people that the "Freedom of the Press" is not a license but rather a responsibility and that the journalist' ethics have never been and shall never be above the rule of law. I wonder how our media would react on the rules of engagement provided to media in Afghanistan and Iraq by the Allied forces. I do frown on the mishandling of the media caught in the peninsula crossfire by the government forces but I believe they and their management still deserve a scolding for their irresponsible actions of insisting to be at the crossfire in the middle of an official police action by government, all in the so-called interest of providing information to the public or shall we say "ratings". I'm glad to see that there are more Filipinos still concerned about our country. Unfortunately, I'm surprised that a great number of those who sends RX to your write-ups are already outside of our country and quite a lot of them are so hard hitting considering that they have already left our shores for greener pastures and left everyone else to fend for themselves. I hope they used their right to absentee voting in the last elections for if not, I wonder why they do not see themselves as part of the Filipino problem. Filipinos love to criticize but are not willing to take certain risks to do any action towards a solution. Of course, I mean a constitutional solution and not what the rightists, the leftists and the separatists have in mind. A great number have not yet lost their Filipino citizenship and therefore still has the duty to vote. If they had exercised that duty, probably some of those now in place would not have been as lucky while those who did not make it are unlucky. The reason wrong politicians are in position are not only because of the voters who voted for them but more specially due to those voters who opted not to vote at all on the lame excuse that they had no better choice or are far away. If there really is no choice, then they should have run for elections themselves rather than simply hide behind the curtains and wait to criticize. If they are far away, they could have used the absentee voting approach. I have seen other nationalities make a beeline to their consulates or embassies whenever they have elections to exercise their duty of suffrage, I say duty and not merely a right. It is far worse if one has a right and do not exercise it and then starts criticizing those who did, even if wrongly done. 2010 is just around the corner and the national elections would spell the country's future. If the millions of Filipinos living outside really want to help our beloved country, then they should rethink their position regarding their right to vote, wherever they may be. Again my congratulations to you. Lito Madrasto, (by email), Dec. 17, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww So now it is the consensus that people are tired of People Power. So what now? Are we simply to wait for some Messiah (by what signs shall we know him or her)? And how can we even be sure that this vertically challenged piece of work in Malacanang will actually step down in 2010? It surpasses all understanding that people actually believe she will exit once her ill-gotten term is over. From where I sit, it seems the most astonishing self-willed naivete to beleive she will. This is a woman after all who has lied so blatantly and shamelessly - even at one point using a dead pope to justify her illegal take-over. (I wonder just how the Vatican received the startling news that the Holy Father - chief of state of a foreign power - was interfering in the most outrageous way in the internal affairs of a sovereign country.) After all the yadda-yadda, after all the exhaustive analyses and penetrating insights, what now? Does anyone really believe that this woman will be removed by peaceful means? Nothing I have seen so far can convince me of that. And so Filipinos - like Juan Tamad - will wait and wait, while every other country including Laos overtakes us and misery and suffering will be the only thing we will have more of. Alex Menez, (by email), Dec. 17, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya: Why no one came to support the sons of Oakwood at the Pen is not surprising. First, the minds of the majority of the Filipinos at that time were already psyched to the forthcoming Christmas Season - the most awaited time of the year that most Filipinos cherished, revered and perennially reserved for celebration of life, e.g. weddings, reunions and parties. Bad timing. Second, Sen. Trillanes, et.al minds', it seems to me, are beclouded by their present status. Great men such as Ninoy Aquino and Jose Rizal can think clearly even if they were languishing in jail. How can you convince the Filipino masses to join their ranks if they would repeatedly occupy hotels in the country's financial district to start a revolt? Because they cannot muster enough numbers to occupy Camp Aguinaldo , the seat of the AFP. If his mind still entertains that one day he shall rule this country, then he must sharpen it by focusing on the role of a Senator entrusted to him by the Filipino people, not as a rogue mutineer. Third, in the Game of the Generals and Chess, players who are strategists employing classic game plans would always prevail in the end game than those with pure guess work. The Trillanes incident at the Pen was quelled in just a few moves using a Barias Caro-Kann opening and Espiron's Sicillian offensive. Check mate. And lastly, the Arroyo government is well-entrenched like the Russian Kremlin successfully breezing past the Cold War. Despite all odds against her, she shall prevail because of the bright president's men standing solidly behind her beleaguered administration bouyed by the gains of in-placed economic policies. But we have to learn from the mistakes of our leaders and must shun trapo politics that continue to undermine the gains of our Republic to this day. Tunay nga na ang mga Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan ani ni Gat. Jose Rizal, mga kabataan na may karakter, talino at galing sa makabagong politika na may takot sa Diyos at Inang Bayan. Niel Enrile Narca, (by email), Dec. 18, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Why no one came? Majority of those who wanted GMA ousted didn't believe in Trillanes' way. Of course the fact that nobody came shouldn't be interpreted as an approval of, God forbid, GMA's way, FAR FROM IT!!!. What this affirms is GMA's insensitive obsession, nay, lust for power. Elizur Militar, (by email), Dec. 19, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Why the Coup Attempt Failed The are several factors that converge, which caused the failure of the recent coup attempt by Senator Triallanes, Brig. Gen.Lim et al. They should have anticipated these very vital considerations. First of all, the coup failed due to the unfavorable weather conditions. Just like school classes and work being suspended due to inclement weather, it is hard to elicit the support of people when there is a chance that they might catch cold when exposed to the intermittent showers. Filipinos have a aversion of getting wet especially when they are wearing nice clothes like in their office attire. Worse, baka sipunin pa (they might catch cold!)! Second, even if the weather cooperated by offering eggs to the contemplative nuns in the convent, the coup plotters cannot also get the support of the citizenry because there is a long weekend - a 3-day holiday - beginning today. Wrong timing! Sayang naman ang extended vacation over the weekend. Besides, reservations to out-of-town accommodations have been made and there might be penalties for cancellation. Eh, hindi naman puede iyon (it cannot be!). Lalo na kung mayroon (especially when) airfares are involved. Mahal ang (expensive) penalty of �NO Show!� at the airport. Third, malapit na ang Pasko (Christmas is already near or here)! Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin (Air is already cool)! Malapit ng ang Simbang Gabi (pre-Christmas masses coming soon))! Panahon na ng early Christmas bazaars at ano pang ibang shopping time for shopping). So dapat ipagpaliban muna (postpone) ang coup after Christmas & New Year! Seriously speaking, empirical data show that the weather or climate is a major factor to consider for in staging a coup for change of government. The People Power EDSA I in 1986 and EDSA II in 2001 both occurred in the month of February when the weather is most pleasant during the first two months of the year. Hence, the timing must be during cool and breezy weather, which will invite more people join the popular uprising. Ric Ramos, (by email), Dec. 11, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Forwarded to Tapatt by Misael C. Balayan) Source: http://arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=104180&d=1&m=12&y=2007 Editorial: Coup Fatigue 1 December 2007 The farcical failure Thursday of yet another rebellion in the Philippines led by a group of disaffected military officers should not hide the seriousness of the state in which the country�s politics finds itself. This latest attempt by Sen. Antonio Trillanes � he walked out the court where he was being tried for his 2003 effort to oust President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and set up his rebellion in a function room of the luxury Manila Peninsula Hotel � was designed to galvanize government opponents to come out on the streets. That they did not was a consequence of two factors. The first is that the middle class that was decisive in the ouster of Marcos and Joseph Estrada did not want a political convulsion that would undermine slowly growing economic prosperity. Therefore, these Pinoys did not, as the plotters hoped, join in a similar tidal wave of mobile text messages that mobilized the massive crowds that saw off Estrada. The second factor is more serious. Filipinos are fed up with politicians and politics. After seven years in power, including an election she was accused of rigging, President Arroyo is deeply unpopular. Her government has failed to implement promised social, welfare and economic reform and is, like all its predecessors, mired in allegations of extensive corruption. Nor is the opposition any more popular. The people are disgusted both with their present leaders and those who would lead them if they could. This includes coup plotters, such as Trillanes, who won elected office while he was still in jail. Such extensive fatigue with the whole political process is not surprising. Ever since the fall of Marcos, Filipinos have seen high hopes of change dashed underfoot by irresponsible political leaders. Corazon Aquino who succeeded Marcos with a stunning popular mandate, restored democracy. To her successor Fidel Ramos goes the credit of liberalizing the economy. However, they both failed to dismantle the politics of patronage and nepotism that is built in for corruption. When the electorate chose the former soap-opera actor Estrada in 1998 there was once again a real hope that a president who was far from being a member of the ruling elite would finally break the country�s political mold. Estrada did, but only by displaying just how venal and incompetent someone from outside the magic circle of power could also be. Yet ordinary people persisted in hoping that real change would finally come when Arroyo succeeded the ousted and impeached Estrada. Seven years on and hope is gone, not just for reforms from her but from politicians waiting their chance at power. It is bad enough that the political system in the Philippines does not work. It is even worse that the man in the street no longer cares. One terrible scenario is that this despair could foster insurrection, with violence far more serious than the comic-book antics of plotters like Trillanes. It is more likely however that the people of this country with so much potential will carry on suffering from the greed and incompetence of their politicians. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5343379.html Philippine masses shun 'people power' By PAUL ALEXANDER Associated Press Writer � 2007 The Associated Press MANILA, Philippines � The Philippines' poor majority are still unhappy, convinced that all government officials are corrupt and eager to see the end of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. But the disaffection isn't translating into political activism � at least, not on the scale that generated "people power" revolts responsible for ousting two presidents in the past 21 years � as shown by Thursday's failed attempt by military dissidents to create a flashpoint for people to flood the streets against Arroyo. Instead, the protests they hoped to generate with their takeover of a five-star hotel fizzled out. The same men tried the same stunt four years earlier at a different hotel with similar results. The Philippine Daily Inquirer said in an editorial that Thursday's action "had failure written all over it." Added the Manila Standard: "When will messianic people ... realize that nobody put them in charge?" Fifty military officers and their supporters were under arrest and others were being sought Friday in connection with the incident. The latest bid to oust her came when 27 soldiers walked out of their trial on earlier insurrection charges and commandeered the five-star Peninsula Hotel. They were joined by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim � suspected of involvement in another failed coup plot last year � along with dozens of sympathizers within the military and leaders of leftist and opposition groups. Of the 101 people arrested at the hotel in Makati, Manila's business district, only 50 remained in custody Friday � including former Vice President Teofisto Guingona � and were to be charged with rebellion, said Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Marius Corpuz. National police chief Avelino Razon earlier said several documents were found at the hotel that "support the theory that this is a well-planned activity." It was the latest � and most bizarre � attempt to oust Arroyo, the daughter of a president who has never managed to cultivate any camaraderie in the slums and shantytowns that make up much of Manila 's massive urban sprawl. Her approval ratings in opinion polls are at record lows, thanks to a string of corruption scandals and lingering allegations that she rigged the 2004 election. While a third impeachment complaint against Arroyo was crushed this week by her dominant majority in the House of Representatives, there is a sense that she is just papering over her critics, not responding to the allegations they have raised. Those would seem to be the ingredients for a popular revolt in a country where the military and populace have taken power into their own hands before and coup attempts are only separated by constant coup rumors. But, instead there was some relief that the number involved in Thursday's hotel takeover was pitifully small, about 30. "There is a clear lesson here, that a purely military-led action will not bring about change," said Rasti Delizo, spokesman for the leftist group Sanlakas. As many quickly pointed out, the issues that the dissident officers raised � particularly corruption � carry resonance around the country. But people also seem to have become increasingly cynical that a new government will make things better, and fear any military-installed government after years of martial law rule under former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. "No matter how rotten the civilian administration, there's no way Filipinos are going to install a military junta," said Philippine Star columnist Ana Marie Pamintuan. One thing seems clear: Even if Arroyo can manage to finish out her term in 2010, she will continue to be dogged the rest of the way by scandal and attempts to oust her, one way or the other, because most people feel she has skated through the allegations without truly addressing them. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww) (Forwarded to Tapatt by Louie Fernandez) The Coup at the Pen TOP TEN REASONS WHY TRILLANES AND COMPANY PACKED UP 1) Not even his mother joined them 2) Oakwood had a better lobby 3) CNN was not there to cover it 4) The hotel had run out of ice cubes 5) The APC's were parked in the lobby and not the parking lot 6) Trillanes realized being teargassed was not part of his mandate as senator. 7) Guingona thought it was an anti-erap, or pro-erap pardon rally, whatever... 8) Surrender was better than the company of Father Robert Reyes. 9) Trillanes noticed people were crying not because of the tear gas but because of him 10) Even GMA was beginning to look better the longer they stayed TOP TEN REASONS WHY THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE TO VICTORIA COURT INSTEAD 1) They were only gonna stay for a 'short time' anyway 2) Bishop Labayen and Fr. Robert Reyes could have heard confessions 3) They could have wet the towels in the jacuzzi to combat tear gas 4) There are no wedding receptions in Victoria Court. Only honeymoons. 5) It always has more people than Manila Pen 6) The APC won't know which garage to park 7) The ceiling mirrors would have thrown off the raiding party. 8) ABS-CBN could have done an episode of XXX and The Buzz while covering the coup 9) 'What happens in Victoria Court stays in Victoria court' 10) It's a good place to get screwed OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |