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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Military Demoralization 2 By Antonio C. Abaya Written Oct. 16, 2005 For the Standard Today, October 18 issue Col. Ricardo C. Morales� eloquent lament (see my article �Military Demoralization,� Oct.04) on why he was leaving the AFP must be considered an authentic cri de coeur. And because it is devoid of the usual anti-Gloria rhetoric so common these days, it reflects a sentiment that is probably more widespread in the organization than the passions of the moment. Because of poor governance on the part of our national leaders in the past four decades, we have lost some of our best public school teachers, some of our best doctors and nurses, and some of our best managers and entrepreneurs. Are we going to lose some of our best military officers, too? If so, then that can only strengthen and embolden those who have vowed to destroy and humiliate our (soft) state and sow more discord in our (discordant) society, be they communist militants or Muslim separatists or organized criminals or political power-grabbers. Col. Morales is exceptionally articulate for a military officer, but he is by no means alone in his disillusionment. Let me quote some of the others who have written in. I have withheld their names and email addresses to protect them from possible reprisals. An Army lieutenant colonel wrote: � I am worried for our country�s future. I understand what are the root causes of our problems and I now realize that the brand of regime changes (that) we have been accustomed to are clearly and significantly insufficient if meaningful; and lasting changes are to be attained. ���.To tell you honestly, I am thinking of a career change to, perhaps, teaching or joining the United Nations. I now see the path I have taken to be a road to perdition and an exercise in futility. I want out�.� An Army officer who gave his name and email address but who did not give his rank wrote: �After reading your essay, I am tempted to forward my comment, since I also belong to the military institution. I am also a regular and active officer in the Army. It is a fact that a majority of the lower- and mid-rank officers are in the state of �static confusion.��.We woke up as gung-ho lieutenants years ago, fighting the same �enemy of the state� we still are confronting now. I really don�t know where we are going or where we are all going to sink. �Many wanted to see the AFP grow. Many officers and enlisted personnel who had the chance to study abroad were amazed or envious at how the armed forces of neighboring states developed. Our AFP stagnated. What is ironic is that many personnel have undergone schooling both in military and civilian schools, but it seems like it is not making a dent in the AFP�s organizational development. Many a bright individual have chosen to leave the AFP and go somewhere else, changing their careers. It is a sad fact. Col. Morales is one. The late Capt. Jarque is another. I choose to remain because I still believe that somewhere in time, the AFP might be able to change its fate�I hope. �If you listen to private chats between active, retired, resigned or ordinary persons concerned with the AFP, you would always encounter issues on the stagnated growth, corruption, political accommodations and political plays. �I would be a hypocrite if I said I did not entertain the idea of leaving the institution. In fact, I wanted to take up nursing. We do not see a near-end to the conflict the AFP is confronting. Politics and governance no longer serve as they should. (The AFP) has become an instrument that a few individuals or many are taking advantage of for their individual motivations. �How I wish that officers like Sir Dick and the late Sir Rene would be copied a hundred fold or, better yet, a thousand times more in the organization�..� An Army major wrote: �I am a graduate of the PMA. It pains me to see the name of my alma mater being dragged, time and again, in political issues, because some former plebes are dipping their hands in this septic tank we call politics. These future leaders in the PMA are not trained to overthrow governments they don�t like, nor are they imbued with messianic complexes. �The highest form of idealism and personal honor, often misunderstood and viewed as surreal by an outsider, is being practiced as a way of life during the four years in the PMA�s hallowed grounds. Sadly, because of this sense of idealism and honor, graduates also acquire some sort of naivete with reality and, coupled with obedience training, they are easily manipulated and fall prey to some charismatic leaders with their rhetoric promising to deliver the ideal world they once knew in the PMA. �I am sure, sir, that you are aware of the fallacy that the validity of the median is often tested at the extremes. Saying that the PMA trains putsch leaders is like saying that the UP trains communists. How come UP has never been an issue when her graduates are at the forefront of the communist movement? �Many PMAers still cope with the real world and, like any average individual, learn fast that one cannot trust everyone like they did in PMA. A few rotten eggs do not represent the whole bunch. Even the great biologist, Charles Darwin, surmised that random mutation makes one individual slightly different from the rest of the species�� But a PMA cadet, a member of the 2006 graduating class, wrote: �I am a member of the graduating class and as a cadet I want to serve my country with honor and distinction. I look forward to the day that I die in the service to my country. �Though I am more pre-occupied with my academics and training, the recent political turmoil is really quite disturbing. I know that, as soldiers, we should leave politics to the politicians, and remain neutral and to remain loyal to our people. � What really is disturbing me is that, every now and then, I find myself asking, �Is this the country that I am supposed to die for?��� �My country demands that I fight for her to the last drop of my blood. But what is my country doing to make such a demand? I think the answer rests on the people who govern our country. �In five months, I will graduate, after which I�ll be fighting, and ultimately, to die for my country. �But before I might die for my country, I ask you in the civilian sector, please, make our country worth dying for.� To which I will respond that to �make this country worth dying for,� would require a massive make-over of its weak institutions, as well as an infusion of a sense of national purpose among the broad mass of the population. These twin-goals cannot be achieved by uncritically following the jaded constitutional processes, which merely perpetuate the rule of the trapos and the political dynasties. A bold new, civilian-based revolutionary phase must transpire, and for that to happen, the intervention and support of the idealistic elements of the AFP is critical. ***** Reactions to [email protected] or fax 824-7642. Other articles in www.tapatt.org OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |
| Reactions to �Military Demoralization 2� Dear Sir: I read your article "Military Demoralization 2" in today's issue of the Manila Standard Today and I can't help but give my personal opinions as one of the readers and as a Filipino at that. I work in a government agency catering to one of the poorest sectors in our country. By the way, I've also read in the same page (where your article is found) the article of Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr. entitled "Time to Say, 'Tama Na' (Enough)".I've always thought that the Manila Standard Today is pro-administration but reading these two (2) articles only proved that I was wrong. I'm quite active serving in our parish and praying for the healing of our nation, our people and the public servants has been one of my regular prayers. But still I personally feel that it's high time for our people to rise and fight for our nation and our people, against leaders whose hearts have been hardened with greed, whose minds have resorted to cheating, also because of greed and lack of compassion for the weak and the poor in our country and for those civilians who go against the will of the administration. I personally feel that the people's uprising should be undertaken with the intervention and support of the disgruntled and demoralized AFP elements whose ideal of "dying for their country" has crumbled like a castle made of sand, because their country has become one not worth dying for. With God's support and intervention, through the AFP elements, I'm sure we would not fail. May this be God's will for our nation and our people. In our office, through the creation of a certain government project for the poor "kuno" I have been witness to the evidences of how the money intended for one of the poorest sectors in our country have been snatched from them by the highest governing official, although it was done in such a way that the voluminous sums of money would still go to the poor through various projects, but then the money would be coursed thru politicians who would be trying to buy the votes of their constituents in favor of the highest governing official of our land last election, in exchange for the projects promised to them. But then there is no guarantee that the voluminous sums of money would really be spent completely to fund the projects as indicated in the reports provided to agencies and persons inquiring how the money was spent. Some of our officials and employees who have helped one way or another to make this "mismanagement of funds intended for the poorest of our people" have had their share of "showers" out of the snatched money. At present, again another project is in the process, involving several hundreds of millions of pesos, again to be sourced out from the funds which are supposed to go to the poorest in our nation. The strategy to be used would be similar to the first project but this time maybe this would be to get the support of the poor not to impeach the highest governing official of our land. But with the way things are going now, the poor have made up their minds, so I think this second project would just be" too late the hero". Sir, with you being in the media, may I kindly and respectfully request from you to write articles that would encourage our people to pray, reflect and act NOW to save our nation, to make it worth dying for, out of our love for it, because who would fight for it but us. Let us not be mere spectators, let us be participants in another one of the greatest dramas in our nation's history. Let us not wait too long as in the past Marcos regime for evil people to triumph for too long; for more damage to be done to our nation, its peoples and its resources. I also wish that those who believe that what they're fighting for is truth and justice and who believe that what they're doing is the right thing to do, would call on the others who share the same sentiments, to take the streets. I am willing to be one with them. Since I'm in government service, may I ask that my name be withheld for obvious reasons. Thank you for giving time reading my letter. Respectfully yours, (Name and email address withheld on request) October 18, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Hi Tony, With reference to your " Miltary Demoralization 2" in the October 18 issue of Standard Today, I was tempted to make some suggestions. However, when you admonished me to conduct my own survey when I suggested that a survey of "Vote of Confidence" on PGMA be conducted, I opted to just limit myself to a few sentences of comments. I'm sorry for even suggesting such a survey. Definitely I cannot do it because I don't have the means to do such an extensive survey because I'm just a mere retired government official. Back to your column, the quoted comments of the military men, particularly the PMA graduates are quite touching if not inspiring. Even in my early PMT (Preliminary Military Training) LOYALTY was already an emphasis. LOYALTY in military discipline means loyalty to GOD, COUNTRY, and the CONSTITUTION in that order. Loyalty is never associated with "boot-licking", but that's how some, if not most, politicians and a few military SENIOR officers interpret or mis-interpret it. Merardo C. Abaya, [email protected] October 19, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Must be the chicken-and-egg conundrum. I don't know which came first, MILITARY OPPORTUNISM or MILITARY "DEMORALIZATION". Maybe there are too many aspiring caudillos, to begin with. Or maybe too many majors and captains wanting to live in Ayala Alabang. Ross Tipon, [email protected] Baguio City, October 19, 2005 MY REPLY. Or maybe there are really still some idealistic officers in the AFP. What makes you so sure there aren�t any? wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (Copy fiurnished) Yuko, Who is Antonio Abaya? Is he related to an ex-West Pointer who became AFP chief of staff during Gloria's first stolen regime and whose wife was a member of Gloria's presidential management staff? Gen. Abaya once suspected Joey Syjuco of ratting about him last year. I know Ric Morales of PMA very well; a former Naval officer who decided to quit the Navy (after the Coast Guard, where he initially was detailed, became part of DOTC) to become full time member of the PMA corps of professors. An outstanding person and a very intelligent officer of great integrity. Admiral Billy Marcelo, Class '61, one of the last genuine naval officers in the Philippines thought very highly of him. Ana de Brux, [email protected] Belgium, October 19, 2005 MY REPLY. I am not related to former AFP COS Gen. Narciso Abaya, and my wife has never been a part of Gloria�s presidential management staff. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Demoralization in the AFP did not just happen today. It started a long time ago. Underpaid and under gunned, the AFP is being kept as a private army. The idealism of serving the country comes to a test if the choice is between the flag and the wallet. Anyone in the government payroll does not have a career path unless he is in politics. Dr. Nestor P. Baylan, [email protected] New York City, NY, October 20, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Antonio: Many military officers are disillusioned with the government nowadays. If this continues, it won't be long before we will have a military government. Pres. Fidel Ramos was asked during the height of the Oakwood mutiny whether he was somehow responsible in the interference of the military with the government since he led the first zarzuela of the EDSA I revolution. He was asked this question by a very young reporter. The People's Power politicians paid dearly in trying to call the military to overthrow the regime of President Marcos. This will bring about the continued military interference with political affairs of the country. That some of the military has expressed dissatisfaction with the government has been going on since the time of Marcos. Of course, I think it is our culture to be dissatisfied with whoever is in Malacanang, but with the decision of the People's Power politicians to ask the military to interfere with their problem with Marcos was foolishness of the highest order. Now, anybody who has some serious grievance against the government will be asking the military to side with him. Those who believe that changing the government through the political process is just an exercise in futility. They just want the military to step in and order people around so that faster action could be undertaken to respond to the grievances of the people. They believe that the politicians are totally inutile to solve our problems. Before EDSA I, it was unthinkable for the military to interfere in politics, but after EDSA I, the question is just when the military will take matters into its own hands and kick out the politicians from government. The People's Power government believes that it has the solution about our economic problems in its palms and that is why there was no need for it to come into an accommodation with any opposition party. They are even so confident by reducing all our tariffs to zero they will solve all the economic woes of the country. I only hope that the People's Power government will not have to be taught the hard and painful way. Or is that the only way in which the People's Power government will be taught lessons in proper economic management. I certainly hope not. I certainly hope that the People's Power politicians would be humble enough like Pres. Marcos to admit their mistakes and not commit that same mistake in the future. Ramon A del Gallego, [email protected] October 21, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Good Day, sir, These lines where posted in the website right after Col Morales' "Why I am leaving the service" litany. It sounds like a sentiment of disgust in reaction to his _expression of 'kabulukan' in the service which he swallowed for years, before he realized to end his military career. It sounds like an _expression of frustrations why 'few good men' cant stand the stinking situation of the AFP; and leave the service with so much funfare.It sounds like the 'real' realities of the system, na minana pa namin sa mga matatanda, kasama na sya. Col Morales is no hero to me.The late Cpt Jarque was a very inspiring individual, but he is no hero to me. I dont want to undermine the services of these people but i should have placed them in line with great people i have known,if they had decided to stay and 'die with their boots on'ika nga ng marami. I dont idiolize the "mr suave images of class 71" or the "sparkling stars of class '57", or the 'best class(es)' PMA ever produced. See, dami ko pa lang idol.hehe. And i am expressing my views not to warrant a little space in your colunm but to let you know that we do appreciate people like you who really are so concerned about the AFP today. Your AFP. just to share to you my point that it's not the officer corps or the system ang nag bibigay ng problema... its coming from the outside... and we can do nothing about them kasi mga Civilians sila masquerading as POLITICIANS or Govt officials... Hindi cila kaya ng mga idol ko... my idols are COURAGE, INTEGRITY and LOYALTY. And we need your help on this matter, baka kaya ng mga idols mo ang problema na ito.. I can also say that we are still on hi morale mode despite whats happening... And please say a little prayer for us to withstand the challenges of days ahead,kasi iniwan na kami ng iba naming kasamahan na magagaling.. na low mrale kasi.. sir, pls take of yourself and regards to the family... p.s. i wrote the lines below with tears in my eyes... im so really fucking frustrated during that time... but im staying!!! Of Being Idealistics, Quitters and Survivors. Ang buong akala ko kapag IDEALISTIC ang isang tao OPTIMISTIC din siya. Matibay ang dibdib, buo ang loob at laban kung laban kahit sikmura ay kumakalam. Kaya nga tinitingala at dapat tularan. Akala ko ang mga IDEALISTIC punong-puno ng PAG-ASA. Sila'y nakangiti kahit dami ng problema. Nagagawa pang tumawa kahit nag dildildil ng century tuna at lucky me noodles. Skyflakes lang solved na. Akala ko ang mga IDEALISTIC hindi naduduro. Buti pa pala si PACQUIAO at ang GINEBRA, bugbog na pero sumusuntok pa. Tambak ng bente pero bumabalya pa. Huling kalembang taas pa ang kamay kahit second place lang. At least �LOVE of d GAME� ika nga. Akala ko ang mga IDEALISTIC may PANININDIGAN. Hindi sumusuko hangat di tapos ang laban. Hindi tulad ng ibang pulitiko pag patalo na, benta ng boto. Kumita pa, kasi bisnis minded pala. Akala ko ang mga IDEALISTIC walang dugong PAG-IIMBOT. Sila�y marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, Walang inggit sa katawan. Masaya kung anong meron sila at kayang maging masaya sa mga bagay na wala sila. Ang akala mo wala kang KASAMA??? HOY!!! Madami sila. Tahimik na pinaglalaban ang tunay na paglilingkod sa bayan. Di umaayaw, di natitinag. Kasi iyun ang tinuro at natutunan nila sa mga tunay na mapaglingkod na kagaya mo.. Kung isa ka ngang tunay na huwaran. HOY!!! Marami sila. UMIIYAK sa sama ng loob, pero gumagapang sa Hirap para mabuhay.Hindi mo sila kailangan papirmahin sa isang papel. Kasi madami lang ang papapel. Madami nadin silang napirmahang papel�. PAPEL de AHENCIA. Yun, d makaalis sa serbisyo kc pambayad n lang ang pension pag retire. Hindi sila nabigyan ng pagkakataon ipakita ang kakayahan kasi simply lang sila, walang ARRIVE di tulad ng IBA. Yung iba, nakadalawang palit na ng PASSPORT, sila ni wala ngang ePASS, eload nga lang ang kaya. Kung yung iba naka aircon, wid driver na sarhento papuntang San Agustin, Ateneo or LSHS, habang hawak ni momi ang gas slip ng petron... Sila mga anak ng driver, panadero at magsasaka. Mukhang di rin kayang pag aralin ng medisina or abogasya ang kanilang mga anak. Pero, proud pa din na papasukin ang anak sa PMA kahit under height. Kahit ang gusto nursing or interior design�. acheche Sil a ang MASA na naniniwala sa kakayahan ng mga IDEALISTIC. SUSUGOD ng walang alinlangan.. (Parang Marines..Hehe) kc astig si SIR. PiMA yan. Pero naniniwala sa pinaglalaban mo. NOON!!! Pasensya kana.. Sa pagkakataong ito.., di mo sila makakasama. Kasi, ni wala nga silang mapupuntahan mga kamaganak sa ibang bansa. Wala rin silang pambayad ng rent,�la silang bahay sa AFPOVAI. Or Boni Hieghts.. D nrin cila pwedeng makipagsiksikan sa labas, kasi d cila� CSP,CCP. Or what ever qualification..(langhiya, dami n ksing dogomon ang nauna) Iiwanan mo ba sila nkatunganga at nkatingala??? Paglisan mo. Sana nakataas ang yung noo�iwanan mo kami, pero wag mo kaming kalimutan na mga naiwan. Naiwan, para langhapin ang sinasabi mong kabulukan Pilosopong Tasyo, [email protected] October 22, 2005 MY REPLY. Next time, have the courage of your conviction by appending your name to your opinion. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Sir, I've been following your postings in this Forum, and certainly you speak the sentiments of majority of our soldiers. I myself, a senior Colonel and a PMA graduate who just finished MNSA at the NDCP can not be given assignment because of poor personnel management of the AFP/PA. Positions are filled-up and many officers are placed on a/u (attached/unassigned) waiting to be given assignment. The problem with our AFP is - many officers who are rated very low under the "Officers Evaluation Report" are still given positions (even sensitive ones) for reasons we do not know (obvious ba, sir?). Ang nangyayari, those who are deserving but without political patronage are being left-out. This is one among the many reasons of demoralization in the AFP. And these cases spread like fires among the AFP personnel because they know who are snappy and who are not. We have cases like Col Morales, Capt Jarque, Col Ortiz, to name a few. In fact, the soldiers are watching. I know and feel that if the political situation (including the military) will not be addressed properly, something will happen (I hope it will not be bloody). (Name and email address withheld) October 23, 2005 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww |
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Dear Tony, I've sent you an email about local initiative in neutralizing the communist insurgency movement yesterday. I wish to add that enlightened local military commanders and local executives can work together and initiate the program by themselves without so much dependence on the national government. As I've mentioned, the requirements for success are already on the ground and only need to be organized and mobilized. In fact, the Kalahi program of the DSWD being vigorously implemented by former Secretary Dinky Soliman is exactly the same thing without the security component. I've presented the paper I've attached to the email in a conference among Davao City business leaders, local officials and military commanders. The conference has been called because of the Menardo Arce Command threat. Military commanders in attendance, such as Col. Frankie Pangilinan, former commander of Task Force Davao, has hailed the concept. He has vowed to try it in his area of responsibility but has been transferred before we could work on it further. I'm willing to work with other military commanders interested in the concept. You can forward the paper and my email address to them. Please inform them though that a firm commitment to preserving and protecting human rights is a pre-requisite. Otherwise, the effort becomes self-defeating. At the height of terrorism in Europe in the 70s, a European statesman has declared that democracy has no right to exist if it cannot defeat terror without violating the very principles on which it stands on. European democracies have resisted attempts by their police forces to curtail civil rights in the fight against terrorism, They've instead invested in superior tactics and technology and has soundly defeated terrorism. It is this firm commitment to human rights that has kept most of Europe away from America's war of aggression in Iraq. Overreacting to 9/11, America is indiscriminately employing force and violating human rights in its fight against Al Quaeda. It's really search and destroy tactic that our military applies here in our country as well but in a smaller scale. So far, America has succeeded only in becoming the enemy of the world. With all its economic and military might, it still has to find Osama Bin Laden, is mired in a hapless war in Iraq and is ridiculed all over the world. Brawn without brains is indeed a pitiful combination. The same thing happens with our military units on the ground. They become the enemy of the people that they're supposed to serve and protect when they begin to limit their option to brute force. Perhaps thinkers with a strong moral sense like Col. Dick Morales can make the difference in developing more creative approaches. The problem is that they're leaving not only the AFP but the country as well. Gico Dayanghirang, [email protected] Davao City, October 29, 2005 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |