Some soldiers took sides in May 10 polls — NCRCom chief

Contrary to what the military leadership claims, a number of its senior officers participated in partisan politics in the May 10 elections and are now reaping its benefits. This was according to Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue, commander of the military’s National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), as he challenged the newly created Truth Commission to also look into the alleged involvement of these soldiers in partisan political activities. "Why do I want the 2010 elections investigated? Because we did it again [taking political side like in 2004]. The stand of the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] should be apolitical. We should not be favoring [any side]," Angue told reporters Wednesday in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo. He said the involvement of the soldiers, whom he did not identify, is reminiscent to what happened in 2004 when ranking Armed Forces officials allegedly helped in rigging the results of that year’s elections supposedly to favor then presidential candidate Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Angue said these officers attended "clandestine meetings" with the candidates or their representatives during the 2010 election period. Middlemen "We should be at the middle. Those who sided with the winners who are now given juicy positions, were given privileges, should be investigated. Those who sided with the losers should also be investigated," Angue said. President Benigno Aquino III formed the Truth Commission to look into the unresolved controversies under the Arroyo administration, including the alleged rigging of the results of the 2004 elections. Angue said he witnessed and fought a number of efforts to railroad the results of the 2004 elections in Tawi-tawi. He said he was even offered millions of pesos and a position of choice by one he codenamed "Captain Ball" if he agreed to take part in the supposed cheating. Angue said some of those who took side in 2004 were his classmates at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1978. The class includes Mrs. Arroyo, now a congresswoman, as an honorary member. The officer, however, said he doubts if these officers were bribed by politicians for their support. He said these officers were just targeting key positions in the military. Bangit's plan Angue said then Armed Forces chief Gen. Delfin Bangit, a member of PMA class 1978, planned to relieve these erring officers from their posts for their activities. "The former chief of staff, General Bangit, wanted to relieve some but he changed his mind if this can be solved suavely. Sad to say some of those he wanted to relieve are our classmates," said Angue. Bangit opted for early retirement last June after Aquino declared that he will not keep him as military chief. Angue said he feels bad that those who breached military disciplined during the elections are given promotions while the others who stayed professional and apolitical are being relieved from their posts and sidelined. A number of members of PMA class 78 have been relieved of their posts when Aquino assumed the presidency, including former Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu, who was appointed Armed Forces vice chief whose duties are limited to desk jobs. Wasted professionalism Angue specifically cited the case of Rear Admiral Emmanuel Victor Martir, who was relieved as AFP deputy chief of staff for intelligence several weeks ago. Replaced by Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz (PMA ’79), Martir remains without any position. There are talks that Angue would also be relieved of his post and would be replaced by Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, also of the PMA ’78. “Some junior officers and middle grade officers are talking to me. They are asking why is this happening…They regretting that the professionalism shown by the Armed Forces during the last election will just go to waste," Angue said. When asked to name the erring officers, Angue declined, saying he is leaving this up to the Truth Commission to discover. Nevertheless, he said he doubts if this issue would be looked into by the panel. “Those who departed from the apolitical stance of the Armed Forces during the 2010 election, I doubt if they will be investigated properly, those who jumped fence, those who did not stay in the middle, those who did not stay apolitical, those engaged in politicking during the last election. I doubt if they will be investigated," he said. When pressed who are among those who took side in the elections, Angue said: "Well, let us just look at those who were positioned now." — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV