Marines affected by latest political row!

[Zeus]

Marines affected by latest political row
By Nikko Dizon
Inquirer
Last updated 04:10am (Mla time) 10/17/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- The commandant of the Philippine Marines Tuesday said allegations that Malacañang had attempted to bribe congressmen and local officials had affected soldiers but that he had not yet heard grumbling so far.
Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino warned that any attempt by rogue elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to overthrow the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could lead to a civil war.
“In one way or another, we are affected but our professionalism should reign over our respective personal and political interests,” Dolorfino told reporters in an interview at the Philippine Marines Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
He said he did not think there were indications of “grumbling” in the rank and file. He said the military leadership had been reminding officers and their men to distance themselves from “political squabbling” and instead focus on preserving peace and order.
The AFP conducts weekly Troop Information and Education (TINE) forum wherein troops are kept abreast of current events, among others.
“I have been making the rounds, telling officers and men that the Armed Forces of the Philippines should be apolitical at all times. We should be neutral because we are the only institution that is entrusted by society to maintain peace and order,” Dolorfino said, likening the military to a “solid wall.”
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP spokesperson, acknowledged that the troops were conscious of the media reports on the alleged bribery.
“The issue might be subject of informal discussions, but this will not have an impact on AFP operations. They remain focused on their job,” Bacarro said in a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.
No serious impact on Army
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Philippine Army spokesperson, told the Inquirer that the Army’s officers and men were cognizant of the allegations in the media that Malacañang handed out bribes purportedly to allow Ms Arroyo to escape a fresh impeachment attempt.
“We’re aware (of the issue) from what we see and hear in the media. But we don’t feel any serious impact on the Army,” Torres said in a phone interview.
Dolorfino said that not only would the “enemies of the state” benefit from another military uprising, it would also most likely spark a “civil war.”
‘Let’s not take a gamble’
“A civil war is not remote if the AFP gets involved. That is the main reason why we should remain solid and neutral at all times,” Dolorfino said.
Asked why a military uprising this time could turn bloody, compared to the peaceful People Power Revolts in 1986 and 2001, Dolorfino replied: “Let’s not take a gamble. The next time could lead to a civil war. It’s difficult if people with guns are involved.”
Dolorfino said that had then Marine commandant Brig. Gen. Artemio Tadiar not been a professional, there could have been a “bloody confrontation” during the 1986 EDSA Revolution that ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Tadiar led the Marine contingent with tanks and armored trucks but refused to fire at the thousands of people, including priests and nuns, that blocked its way to Camps Aguinaldo and Crame held by rebellious soldiers.
“It could have become a bloody confrontation between the pro-government and antigovernment forces so we cannot take chances as far as the use of military force is concerned,” Dolorfino said.

[mazdamazda]

Hahaha... labo ng thread/news title.

They focused on the "affected" part... but the whole article is stating that the whole AFP is neutral on the whole issue (which should be the case always).

:hysterical:

P.S. Inquirer pala... "why am I not suprised?" :evillaugh

[niky]

Affected... pero hindi? Wow! That's news!!!! :hysterical:

[juntzo]

tell me why i just read that?

[Syuryuken]

yan ang news na puro wento, wala wenta

[Flagg]

Affected siguro mga general kasi wala pa envelope nila...

[v6dreamer]

tama si syuryuken walang kuentang balita.

Balitang puro kahihiyan na naman ang nangyayari sa pinas. No wonder others they dont believe us anymore kung talagang aangat pa ang bayan natin. I dont know kung maniniwala pa ako sa gobyerno. By the way, its not my goverment anymore pero every time I heard something from others(not pilipino) DEGRADING PINAS it makes my blood boil. This too much!

[Galactus]

Medyo concerned ako sa balita. MGen Dolorfino kasi has never been known to be a lackey of PGMA, unlike Esperon & Tolentino. The mere fact na he admitted that the Marines are concerned by the payola issue is rather disconcerting.

Yung previous commandant kasi (MGen Allaga), puro denial ang bukambibig. (Deny ng deny na walang coup plot, walang destabilization na puwedeng mangyari, hindi sila affected, etc.)

[oldblue]

then GMA should replace that general if he can't control his flock.

[Zeus]

Comment of Tulfo about the statement of Maj. Gen. Dolorfino:

"Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino, Philippine Marine Corps commandant, made a statement about his men that was the height of inconsistency and double-talk.
Dolorfino said allegations that Malacañang had bribed congressmen and local officials had affected the Marines, but that he had not yet heard of grumbling from his men.
How could the Marine commandant have known that his men were affected if he had not heard or felt grumbling from the ranks?
* * *
The fact is, according to my sources within the Corps, troop morale has hit rock bottom.
So low is the morale among the elite troops that most of them, who have served 20 years when they can already choose optional retirement, are abandoning the Corps.
This hasn’t happened before, according to Marine oldtimers.
A Marine so loved the camaraderie that he stuck to the Corps until he was forced to retire at age 56 or after staying in the service for 30 years.
* * *
My sources told me that whenever Marines enlisted personnel in the barracks see President Gloria on television, they howl and shout unprintable words.
Of course, they do that in the absence of an officer.
But there are some officers who even tolerate that kind of behavior.
Why are the Marines, supposedly the best-disciplined soldiers among the armed services, behaving that way?
“The boys feel the leadership is not doing anything to avenge those who ambushed and mutilated their comrades in Basilan,” said a Marine officer.
The same officer said that the rank-and-file feel they have lost their best officers who are now in jail on suspicion they took part in an alleged attempted coup two years ago.
Two of the jailed officers are recipients of the Medal of Valor. Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, one of the Corps’ most popular commandants, is also in jail.
The Philippine Marines founding anniversary is a few days away, Nov. 9, but the mood in the Corps is somber.
It would be better for President Gloria not to attend the anniversary rites because she will surely feel the ill feelings of the troops toward her.
* * *
“How could you respect a Commander in chief who promises to increase the combat pay of soldiers, but then turns around and orders the CS (Armed Forces Chief of Staff) to tell the men there is no money to pay the increase?” said a Marine master sergeant.
He was referring to the promise the President made to troops in Zamboanga City several months ago that she would add P150 a month to their combat pay.
However, AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said several days ago there were no funds for such increase.
Ah, but soldiers should not take their President seriously.
Didn’t she also promise before the Rizal Shrine at the Luneta that she wouldn’t run in the 2004 presidential election?"

Source: Column of Ramon Tulfo(Inquirer)