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By Anthony Vargas, Reporter
The military will remain loyal to the chain of
command despite calls by critics of President Gloria Arroyo for her
resignation over allegations of widespread corruption in her
government.
A top bishop this week urged Filipinos to
“reinvent” people power, two of which led to revolts that
toppled President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and President Joseph
Estrada in 2001.
The assurance was made Thursday by Gen.
Hermogenes Esperon Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines. He cited supposed lessons learned from the two
revolts—EDSA 1 and EDSA 2—that rule out an EDSA 3.
“One of the lessons we have [learned] is that
the military must remain apolitical and must not be the one solving
the political problems in the country,” Esperon said during a
chance interview at Villamor Air Base, headquarters of the
Philippine Air Force in Pasay City. EDSA 1 and EDSA 2 were backed by
the military.
His visit to the air base was part of his tour
of military camps to “enlighten” soldiers on unfolding political
events.
Because the military supposedly has succeeded in
staying neutral, Esperon said no “critical mass” of people in
the streets will entice soldiers to break out and intervene in the
brewing political crisis fueled by corruption scandals in the Arroyo
administration.
“Amid all the noise, the charges and
counter-charges, the theatrics and allegations, I don’t think we
should be acting irrationally. In other words, we want to be
enlightened about the issues,” he added.
Esperon dismissed circulating text messages that
the military and the police would eventually declare their
withdrawal of support for the Arroyo government.
“We are not seeing any [military] units
joining the protests [calling for Mrs. Arroyo to step down],” he
said. “After all, as I said, that [taking part in anti-government
rallies] is not part of our job … going to the streets [does not
come with the territory],” he said.
“Just remember, soldiers are allowed to bear
arms for reasons,” Esperon added.
Threat of arrest
Unlike the military’s chief who sounded vague
on how troops will handle the President’s critics, police have it
all laid out.
Protesters who will turn violent in calling for
Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation will be arrested, said Director Geary
Barias, chief of Metro Manila police, of those who will create
trouble during planned demonstrations on Monday, the 22nd
anniversary of EDSA 1.
“If there would be violations of the law …
there would be corresponding police actions, there might be some
arrests,” Barias said during a press briefing in Camp Crame, the
headquarters of the national police in Quezon City.
Stepping back, he expressed optimism that the
scheduled protest actions will turn out to be peaceful.
“We don’t want any chaos or anarchy in the
streets,” he added. “We are hoping that the [rallies] that will
happen [starting Monday] will be peaceful up to February 29,”
Barias said. On February 29, the President’s critics will mass up
for a so-called ecumenical rally. The Metro Manila police chief
added that they have not obtained any information that an antigovernment
demonstration will be held on that date.
Barias said he had ordered his district
commanders to talk with the organizers of Friday’s protest. “If
the [rallies] will be confined [to the area around] Sto. Domingo
Church … then there will be no problem.” He was referring to the
church in Quezon City that was a key converging point for
anti-Marcos demonstrators. Barias did not say how he knew that the
rallies will be held in the area.
The regional police chief said Civil Disturbance
Management units have been readied for today’s rally. He added
that the national police will likely raise the alert level for Metro
Manila this weekend.
LGU people power
Local government officials will have their own
version of people power to counter moves by groups critical of the
government.
Gov. Leo Ocampos of Misamis Occidental also
president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, on Thursday
said the officials’ version in support of President Arroyo will
kick off today through the holding of consultative dialogs by
at least 14 provincial governors and rallies in local governments
nationwide.
Through these moves, he added, the local
officials and their constituents will show their belief that the
President has “done a lot of good things for the benefit of our
people and the promotion of local autonomy.”
Mayor Ramon Guico Jr. of Binalonan, Pangasinan,
also president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines,
said their provincial chapter presidents have agreed to replicate
the local officials’ demonstration of support for Mrs. Arroyo.
Guico credited the President for the steady
increase in the shares of the local governments from Internal
Revenue Allotments, the implementation of nationally funded
infrastructure projects and the community-based peace initiatives
that, he said, brought about stability in the countryside.
The mayor, also president of the Union of Local
Authorities of the Philippines, said he wants the people to be given
“the right information in the midst of several disinformation
campaigns” against the government.
The union represents at least 1.7 million local
officials and employees nationwide.
-- With William B. Depasupil
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