MANILA, Philippines - Rebellious soldiers stormed a major commercial center in Manila early Sunday, hours after the Philippine government ordered the arrest of officers believed to be plotting a coup. The president warned the mutineers to surrender or face military action.

With demands that the government resign, troops in camouflage uniforms set up gun posts and rigged explosives at 3 a.m. around the outside of the Glorietta complex, which includes one of the capital's largest shopping malls.


The military responded by sending marines to positions nearby. Television footage later showed them shaking hands with some of the rogue officers, raising questions about what government forces would do if ordered to mount an assault.


Around 10 a.m., seven hours after the takeover began, President Gloria Macapagal went on national television and set a 5 p.m. deadline for the rebels to surrender.


"There is absolutely no justification for the actions you have taken," Arroyo said. "You have already stained the uniform. Do not drench it with dishonor. Your actions are already hovering at the fringes of outright terrorism."


The rebel soldiers pledged to remain. In an earlier statement, they demanded the government resign and said they were prepared to die to force change.


"We are not attempting to grab power. We are just trying to express our grievances," navy Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes told reporters on the scene.


He said that the explosives were for self-defense. "If they try to take us down, we will be forced to use it," said Trillanes, who is among the officers Arroyo ordered arrested.


Trillanes claimed to have the support of 2,000 officers and soldiers. Radio reports said about 100 men were involved. They were armed with rifles and wore red arm bands with a symbol of sun rays. A warning shot was fired as a delivery truck approached.


Unlike the two "people power" revolts that peacefully ousted two presidents in recent years, there appeared to be little public support for the mutiny. The military chief of staff declared loyalty to Arroyo.


Rumors of a coup plot had been spreading for the last week. Arroyo took action Saturday, publicly announcing that she had ordered the military and police to hunt down and "arrest a small band of rogue junior officers and soldiers who have deserted their post and illegally brought weapons with them."


The officers responded in a video released just before the takeover, accusing the government of selling arms and ammunition to Muslim and communist rebels, staging recent deadly bombings to justify more aid from the United States, and preparing to declare martial law to stay in power.


The takeover began hours later. Checkpoints quickly went up around Manila and armored personnel carriers at the gates of the presidential palace were reinforced with more vehicles and elite troops.


Australian Ambassador Ruth Pearce initially was prevented from leaving a ritzy apartment complex where a number of foreign diplomats live. But all residents were later evacuated, some left carrying children and luggage. Many appeared alarmed as they passed a rebel machine gun outside the building.


National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said he hoped for negotiations and a peaceful resolution.


"We have to be very prudent about this," he told reporters outside the palace. "This is similar to the 1989 coup attempt."


There were several coup attempts against former President Corazon Aquino in the late 1980s by officers complaining about corruption.

In a 1989 attempt, rebellious troops also occupied the commercial center. They held onto it for several days until they were persuaded to surrender.

In their statement, the rebellious officers called themselves "Soldiers of the Nation" and talked of disillusionment over corruption and favoritism. Soldiers and officers in the past have complained about low pay; the military is poorly equipped and trained, and hampered by budgetary constraints.

"We demand the resignation of our leaders in the present regime," the statement said. "We are willing to sacrifice our lives today, to pursue a program not tainted with politicking."

Interior Secretary Jose Lina ordered the arrest of Sen. Gregorio Honasan, citing an intelligence report reportedly linking the former army colonel to the mutiny. Honasan denied he had any "influence or control" over the mall takeover.

Military Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya said 10 of the wanted officers were from the army and navy — including several captains, the highest rank, mostly from the special operations command.

Eight served in the fight against Muslim separatists in the country's troubled south, and most had been decorated for gallantry under fire.

Arroyo, a 56-year-old economist, has enjoyed generally solid public support and is one of the staunchest U.S. allies in Asia. The United States has been working closely with the 120,000-strong Philippine military, which has been battling Muslim separatists and communist rebels for the last three decades.

In May, President Bush held a state dinner at the White House for Arroyo, praised her "unwavering" partnership in the war on terrorism. He said he would visit the Philippines, perhaps this fall.

Earlier Saturday, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jaime Sin called on Filipinos to be vigilant, saying in an open letter that "credible sources" in the government and military believed that plotters were set on "undermining and if possible overturning even with violence the democratic institutions of our country."

As the leader of the Philippines' powerful Roman Catholic Church, Sin has extensive government and military contacts.

He played a key role in the "people power" revolt that toppled late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, and massive anti-corruption protests that forced out President Joseph Estrada in January 2001.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...id=516&ncid=716

:eek: How stupid could you get when you try to have a coup without any major support. And I thought it was just about military benefits that they were trying to voice out, 4,000 peso a month ($74) issues. :confused:

Personally I'm for the rebels. They're not complaining about the money. They're complaining about a conspiracy! And we're talking about JUNIOR officers. Younger, more educated, more principled.

It is good that they are voicing out their grievances and opening the public's eyes to the real situation. The AFP bombing Davao and the mosques?

Helicopters hover above my home as I write this.

Viva la Revolucion!

The Philippines is surely going to be a big mess.

Pueda Ayuda de Dios El Filipino

Finally! I found someone siding with the... okay, lets not call them rebels, they are the "True Philippine Army."
Yeah, the government makes it look like these soldiers want a raise in salary, which is bull, and the media buys it! They want a negotiation, well, what's there to negotiate.
I dont see anything wrong about staging a coup as long as you know your purpose for doing so.
We should all see what these soldiers are fighting for and if we find it justifiable, we shouldnt be afraid to join them, even for another EDSA 3.

I believe that this is a cowardly act that must be condemed in the strongest possible terms. These people are using terror to propagate their views on the government. There are numerous avenues where they may express their views in a more civilised manner.

The government is here for the people, and by the people - we have elected these officials; and in doing so we accept their methods of running our government. People who are in the minority should respect majority (although not necessarily correct) as they want democracy.

I would rather have a militaristic state, however, as then, it would be ethical to conduct such activities, and it would be a honourable thing to do instead of a cowardly thing to do.

If we want to protect democracy, we should wage this war against terror, even if it means compromising our intermediate views. Just imagine what it would be like to rally up each time we don't like something. Compromises have to be made, for this government to be truly effective.

Let us all join forces in this war against terror, condemn the same in the deepest terms, and join a coalition to protect our country.

The end does not justify the means.

both parties should just let out all their grievances and talk about them. ammunition is not necessary.

So if the government wants to sell arms and ammuntion to the NPA and the Abu Sayaff to prolonga 35 year, we must accept that method?

And if they want to bomb Davao airport and a handful of Moslem Mosques just so we can get foreign aid and blame it on terrorists, we must accept that method?

The stakeout being made in Oakwood is not a coup attempt. These people are making serious accusations, and they know their lives are at stake. If they used "democratic" means, they would have very likely been picked off one by one.

Thier secrecy and subsequent holdout is part of the plan to reval to the public what the government has been hiding from us. Remember, they are going against the AFP chief himself.

They do not want to install this person or that. They do not want power. They only want to purge the corruption by removing those in power so they can be punished.

[B]How can you call them terrorists when they just themselves evacuated all civilians and innocents from the bomb area?

What they're doing is suicide and they know it. I can't help but admire their bravery, courage and principles.

And are you going to side with a government that instaed of negotiating, wants the AFP AND the PNP to use the REQUIRED FORCE to remove the threat? Just to kill 200 people?

thanks for your opinion. but with all due respect, you're not the one with friends or loved ones still in the vicinity, I am... this is a machiavellian action which is categorically illogical. this is a disruption to our society, and all will lose in the end.

it is our government's policy not to negotiate with terrorists. what they just did is an act of terror... white washing is what you call releasing hostages... just so you don't feel sorry for involving innocent civilians. they're not judges either that alows them to take action.

this is all unethical and unbecoming an officer - officers as they are.

we elected the government and we have a statutory obligation to accept our government within these statutory bounds- 35 years in the presidency is not within statutory bounds...

if you have loved ones in the area. I assure you your position will be completely different.

Is man naturally good or evil?
This was once debated in our class and my classmate stated a point saying that man is naturally evil because he is naturally selfish. He is motivated by personal interests and nothing else.
When we can gain something apparently, we support a movement, we get involved, heck, we even do the job ourselves. But, otherwise, he...

Haay.
How sad.

Even though we're a Democracy, it's not perfect. We just have to deal with the disillusionment by ourselves each and everytime something like this comes up.

may narinig ako sa news kanina... mga 7:30 pm...

kakaunti pa lang ang nakakakain sa mga government troops na nakabantay sa makati. most of them ate 9 am pa..... so whats my point?

eto yung punto nung mga "magdalo" group...
sobrang baba ng living standards ng mabababang sundalo natin, pagkain lang di pa maibigay
grabe, sobrang wala na ba tayong pera para mapakain man lamang yung mga sundalo natin?

sila na nga yung kakampi at nagbabantay nung gobyerno, kinalimutan pa sila....

haaay

hindi lang yun ang punto ng magdalo group, mababaw lang yun kung icompare mo sa gusto nila iconvey. our government is super corrupt, pinaglalaruan lang nila ang mga sundalo, they are sent to do battle in a war that the government staged. why? because of money, its not just US aid they are talking about, high positioned officials in the military are making lots of money from the insurgency and etc, its business at the cost of the lowly soldiers lives, i've been privvy to what some of the officers in the magdalo has noted in the war with the muslim rebels, and it enlightened me how corrupt our government is, not necessarily GMA, but many people in position both political and military. I pity and i support the Magdalo group. I have been praying for them. INDEPENDENT MINDANAO!

Im sure the 10 junior officers are not stupid people. They all graduated from PMA, they are also the elite forces the government sent to deal with the rebels (correct me if im wrong).
Its just while fighting the rebels, they found out that the government (sec. Angelo Reyes, namely) were supplying the rebels with arms not only depriving our military of its already badly needed weapons but it also implicates that the government is sending its soldiers to die in order to churn the money machine of selling arms.
They experienced first hand the grueling effects of graft and corruption in the Philippine government. Being young and idealistic who could blame them for their dissapointment and dismay, which led to the coup.

btw
they did try to petition the arms selling case to the government but they were never heard.

About sec Angelo Reyes
when i heard about what he said about upholding the constitiution i am continually reminded of my favorite person in the bible, Caiaphas.

He likes to preach about upholding the constituition but he neglected is duty as a soldier when he relinquished his support for the state, and instead pledged to the "people", to support GMA, who was still unconstituitionally "president".


wala laaaang
hahahaha

[ July 27, 2003: Message edited by: daming putahe ako'y natatae ]

has anyone bothered to verify first te allegation to ms arroyo's government? has anyone bothered to check if the government is correct? this can be a problem of most young people... overly idealistic without prejudice to reality... think about it. aren't we all to sterotypical with all the cliche about corrupt government officials with no solid proof to back it up... personal circumstances should be reserved first... think abt the big picture... the lieutenants allegaltions may be correct, but the truth of the matter is they have no evidence to back it up... that's why they weren't heard... how would it be to have a justice system that ran on popular belief. if these terrorists succeed we are all going to be at risk of not being protected in accordance with the law... what our government stands for...

exactly what kind of evidence are you looking for? video? tape? picutes?
you try gathering eveidence against the AFP
and see if the army doesnt kill you first.

one of the demands made by the magdalo group is to profile all the military wepons so that they can keep track on the weapons.
why do they make this demand? Because it isnt done, this makes it easier for the corruption to exist.

doesnt the fact that they are willing to risk their lives and careers for this cause enough to justify that there might be truth to what they say?
isnt it worth an investigation?

the point is the government didnt investigate their allegations
thats why they got pissd and staged the coup.

evidences will only surface if investigations occurs

As an Ateneo alum, an outsider, a veteran of the US Armed Forces, and a blood brother to a current officer in the AFP, I'll try to make a fair assessment of this recent attempted coup.
The BOTTOMLINE: soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are unfortunately instruments of national policy. The Philippine military, like the US military (except for the latter's required ROTC), is a volunteer force. It is not a product of a mandatory conscription. Thus, whoever joined the military, CHOSE to be in the military. Upon choosing, he swore an oath to defend the republic, and that it includes the government. The military is not a democratic organization. It never was, it never is and it never will be. If you democratize it, it will not function as it should. I am not portraying these gallant men,who staged the this mall takeover, as evil men. There is a strong moral base to their arguments. My father is a retired non-PMAer officer in that country. He witnessed firsthand the brazen corruption by his fellow officers, the disregard for the lives of the enlisted, the misuse of government funds and resources...the list goes on. He tried to effect change from within in his own little way through the chain of command without sounding like a whining b!tch. The Chain of Command is the most essential element in the maintenance of a military's integrity. It works in the United States. It doesn't work over there. Griping and whining in the military are internal dynamics. The private b!tches to the corporal, the corporal to the sergeant, the sergeant to his platoon sergeant....and the buck stops at the Commander in Chief. Unfortunately, for some reason or another, that Chain isn't working in the AFP. It's not working because it has been made not to work. It's almost like a ceremonial phenomenon. And indeed, some of the grievances from the rebel soldiers like rank corruption are reasons for the Chain not to work. Morally, they have a rationale for staging this act of rebellion. BUT, are they justified? NEVER. NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. The military man, while he is in uniform, has no business to function extra-constitutionally and is bound by the orders of the Chief Executive. Regardless of how decorated a military man is, he has no right to rebel against his government. He should not have been in the military in the first place but a parliamentarian of the streets. When he took the oath, he renounced some of the rights that a civilian abundantly enjoys. People speak of these soldiers as idealistic and principled. They probably are, at least in their own minds. But a coup? That's not an option for them. Sorry but mutiny and insubordination are not choices provided for in the rules of conduct and military justice.
So what's the resolution? Better yet, how does a corrupt government effect reform? How does a state with a strong cultural base of patronage, nepotism, favoritism, and merit minimalism transform the AFP into a more professional outfit. The military needs a strong ally-- the people. It needs more political advocates who will fight for it in the halls of the Batasang Pambansa in issues of pay, retirement, health, housing, promotion. By its very nature (and as it should be), the military is shackled by duty to defend the diff. elements of the state--its people, its government, its territory; not one or two of them but all of them. Thus, the citizens need to back them up not in extra-constitutional means but within the framework of the established democratic process. Laborers, useless left-wingers, farmers, factory workers always get the attention and support from so-called advocates. I think YOU need to start backing the military folks up. You need to elect leaders who not only look after the welfare of the teeming "masses" but also of those guys in uniform--who in their imperfect way still provide that very blanket of security required for the existence of a thriving democracy. Remember, they are also part of the masses.
As for the rebel soldiers--you messed up. You are not the free press or part of the naive cause-oriented student movement. Hello!!!??! You are not a civilian. You are a military man who is at the service (mercy) of the civilian. Put a lid to your idealism and do your job!
I do hope that the Arroyo gov't extends a one-time clemency on these rebs.

[ July 28, 2003: Message edited by: fray torquemada ]

Yep...it's hard to live on a 4 k a month salary. Especially when you are risking your life whenever you are going to battle.

While some of the govt. officials have a heyday stealing money from the country's treasury.

Sayang naman ang mga sundalong to. Most of them came from the toughest school in the country (PMA).

GMA now has a scape goat regarding the sinking economy of the Philippines.
Kahit hindi naman nag-coup , nagsisilayasan na yang mga investors at natatakot na ang mga tourists pumunta dito.

Remember the Frapport-Piatco deal? This sent a message that our govt. plays favoritism and corruption in foreign investmentd.

Remember the Al-Ghozi escape? Lots of countries have issued travel warnings.

Remember the Vat? P**** I**. Pati utang ng mamamayan tinataxan pa.
kung sino pa yung maliit ang kita ang maaapektuhan samantalang di covered ang mga sweldo ng mga artista.

Careful na careful ka regarding GMA ha.

they're patriots if they're on our side, terrorists if they're on their side.

This is probably the thinking of the US, our govt.,
.....and Cardinal sin(?) = )

Syempre terrorists sa mata ng govt. yan dahil hindi pabor ang mga mutineers sa corruption ng govt.

But they are patriots in my eyes. Because I hate corruption.

[ July 28, 2003: Message edited by: G35 ]

patriots? military officers who are no loyal to her majesty? their commander in chief? the people for which they stand... patriots... tell that to the marines...

military officers protect us from insurgency... what they did was an act of terror... no matter how noble the cause... it was a machiavellian act... it is illogical.

they chose to be in the military... they are stupid to join a military that they don't believe in... why not make their own military? or join the npa instead? then at least they won't be a disgrace to the uniform.

bottom line is military officers don't functon on popularity... they serve the ppl through the commander in chief.

if they want reform. why don't they join the ever sensationalist media? or secessionist rebels? or the house of lords perhaps? military officers don't make the law. they uphold it.

well, now that this whole thing is over, what now?

will the Arroyo government live up to its end of the bargain to investigate the allegations of Trillanes and company? or will they just whitewash the whole thing?

fray is right, these officers had no business going against their oath and orders, regardless of the truh of their accusations. but now that they're back in barracks, what will happen to the allegations they've raised?

they never should've left that building! if i were in their shoes i would've stayed put until the government explained themselves. on the other hand, i would've picked somewhere else to lock myself up, not right smack in the middle of the business district.

check out Matanglawin.com
-------------------------
Junior officers.
Tama nga naman na sabihing idealistic pa ang mga ito. Junior eh. Totoo na kapag bago ka, idealistic ka, may prinsipyo, umaasa kang may magagawa ka tungo sa pagbabago at ikabubuti ng sistemang kinabibilangan mo. Tapos kapag pakiramdam mo, hindi mo na kayang tagalan, ano pa nga ba ang magagawa mo? Rebolusyon na nga raw ang paraan tungo sa social change. Kung totoo ang mga pagaakusa ng mga junior officers na 'to, kahiya- hiya ang gobyerno natin!
Hindi maikakailang ginawa ito ng mga opisyal upang
maisawalat ang NANGYAYARI na lingid sa kaalaman ng taumbayan! Kung totoo yan! Hay, takte! kahiya- hiya naman... hintay tayo ng hintay na maayos problema sa mga MILF at Abu Sayyaf, heto't malalaman natin na ungas pala ang mga taong dapat na nagtatanggol sa bayan...
--------------------------
eto galing sa web discussion sa Matanglawin.com

"Binansagan agad sila ni GMA na terorista dahil sa mga nilagay nilang bomba sa paligid ng Glorietta. Bakit daw nila ginawa iyon?
Ayon sa Lt., ginawa nila iyon upang protektahan ang kanilang mga sarili, dahil alam nila na sila ay aatakihin ng gobyerno. Pinalabas nila ang mga sibilyan sa lugar upang maiwasan ang sakuna. Bakit sila nandoon? Pinaglalaban nila ang kanilang prinsipyo. Isa itong moralistikong galaw, sapagkat ayon sa kanila, ang mismong nakatataas sa kanila (sina GMA) ay ang mga mismong nagdadala ng terorismo sa ating bansa. Ano ang mga datos para sabihin nila ito? Sinabi nila na ang gobyerno mismo ang nagbibigay ng mga armas at mga bala sa MILF (kung kaya't hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin natatapos ang digmaan sa pagitan ng MILF at ng gobyerno). Kaya nila ginagawa ito upang makuha ni GMA ang kompensasyong handang ibigay ni Bush sa mga biktima ng "terrorismo". Ayon rin sa kanila, ang pagbomba sa Davao ay gawa rin ng gobyerno upang maging "terrorized" muli ang Pilipinas. Ang tanong naman ng mga media (na para bang pinalalabas nilang mali ang ginagawa ng mga JO), bakit hindi sa isang demokratikong paraan gawin ang pamamahayag ng kanilang sentimiyento. Sabi ng Lt. "kanino kami magsusumbong kung mismong ang mga nakatataas sa amin ang gumagawa ng terorismo? hindi kami aalis dito. we already risked our lives, our family, for this. it's up to the Filipino people to act."
-----------------------
Sa sinasabing hindi nararapat na ginawa ito ng mga junior officers, it is all a matter of perspective.
-----------------------
Minsan, di mo na alam kung sino papaniwalaan, kung ano ang papaniwalaan.

----------------------
Kasi kahit media na may responsibilidad na maghatid ng balita, SABLAY din.
:mad:

thanks for putting my sentiments in words.

off-topic

media is one agency to be blamed for young people's penchance for judging things and making pronouncements without proper evidence. pop radio for instance, have these phone in/text in/email portions where so-called issues are brought out. however, the topics aren't well chosen and tend to emphasize pre-judgment without a consideration of the facts. questions like "do you think so-and-so is guilty?"; "do you think so-and-so is telling the truth?"

QUOTE]Originally posted by slide26:
has anyone bothered to verify first te allegation to ms arroyo's government? has anyone bothered to check if the government is correct? this can be a problem of most young people... overly idealistic without prejudice to reality... think about it. aren't we all to sterotypical with all the cliche about corrupt government officials with no solid proof to back it up... personal circumstances should be reserved first... think abt the big picture... the lieutenants allegaltions may be correct, but the truth of the matter is they have no evidence to back it up... that's why they weren't heard... how would it be to have a justice system that ran on popular belief. if these terrorists succeed we are all going to be at risk of not being protected in accordance with the law... what our government stands for...[/QUOTE]

tell me slide, what is the difference between the act that Angelo Reyes did back in Edsa 2 and the act of the junior officers now? both withdrew support from the current administration. if you are going to call Reyes' act legal... you have to call the Magdalo groups act legal.

now, Mrs. Arroyo cannot demand support in the first place. why? coz she was not elected president. she's still technically VP. the supreme court was not supposed to be there at EDSA since they're SUPPOSED to be NON-PARTISAN. and they had no right to DECLARE that Estrada is no longer President since the EXECUTIVE and JUDICIAL branches are supposed to be separate from each other. otherwise, any President can also announce the Resignation of any Supreme Court Justice. second, Estrada did not submit any resignation letters. last, the act of Reyes was unconstitutional.

am+dg

I felt like puking as Arroyo, Bunye,
Golez et al mouthed the Constitution that they themselves defied in EDSA 2.

with those rebuttals... i can now speak my mind about the junior officers.

emotions first:

they're all absolutely, without a doubt HEROIC!!! i get goosebumps whenever LTSG. Trillanes spoke on TV and on the RADIO.

what they did was what any morally sound person would do.

magtatagalog na ako para mas-madama natin...

may mas tataas pa ba sa KATOTOHANAN? may mas tataas pa ba sa udyok ng konsensya? mas importante pa ba dito ang pera, trabaho, katanyagan o pamilya? HINDI.

ang ginawa ng mga sundalong yon ayon pa rin sa sinumpaan nila na bantayan at pagsilbihan ang bayan. tama sila upang sabihin na wala nang ibang paraan kundi iyon upang maipahayag sa mga tao ang kanilang mga impormasyon.

magsusumbong ka ba sa presidente mo kung siya mismo yung irereklamo mo?...."madame president, imay susumbong po ako sa inyo... magnanakaw po kayo." Ganon ba?

----
punta na tayo sa mga pangyayari:

1.)
Pinapunta sa malacanyang ang mga junior officers upang makipag-usap kay GMA. sinabi nila ang kanilang mga hinaing. ngunit ano ang nangyari? pagkatapos nilang makipag-usap ay parang traidor/ahas na nag-utos ang pangulo na ipahuli ang mga sundalo.

ang resulta? napilitan ang mga juniors officers na pumunta sa oakwood. nagpaalam pa nga sila sa kanilang mga "commanding officers" bago sila umalis sa kanilang mga poste.

2.)
masasabi bang isang akto ng terorismo ang ginawa ng mga sundalo? hindi. dahil pinalabas nila ng mahusay ang mga tao na nasa oakwood. magalang pa nga sila sa mga bisita. walang pagkakataon na naisip nilang mang-"hostage" ng tao.

yung mga bomba naman ay nilagay nila sa paligid ng glorietta para sa kanilang proteksyon. madaling makakpasok ang mga sundalong maka-gobyerno kung wala ang mga iyon. ngunit gayon pa man, handa na silang lahat mamatay.

3.)
mababaw ba ang kanilang mga kahilingan? hindi. masyado lamang pinaliliit ng gobyerno at media ang mga isyu kaya lumalabas na sweldo at pabahay lamang ang kanilang mga kahilingan. pero sa katotohanan:
a. hinihiling nila na bumaba si GMA, Angelo Reyes, Ebdane, at Corpuz dahil sa mga katiwalian.

b. sila daw kasi ang nasa likod ng pagbenta ng mga bala at armas sa mga NPA, MILF, at Abu Sayyaf. sila Reyes ang siyang pumapatay sa mga sundalo natin.
totoo nga naman dahil paano pa ba tatagal ng 35 na taon ang giyera? saan kinukuha ng mga rebelde ang kanilang mga armas? bakit tila hindi na sila nauubusan ng bala? at bakit, pag may nahuhuling kuta ng mga rebelde ang mga sundalo ay panay bala na may tatak ng DND ang natatagpuan nila doon?
imposible ang rason ni Angelo Reyes na napupulot o nananakaw lang ito ng mga rebelde. dahil naparami ng mga DND na bala at Armas upang mapulot o manakaw lamang. hindi tanga ang mga tao upang paniwalaan ito.
ang mga Magdalo ay may patunay na inutusan pa nga daw silang mag-iwan ng isang truck ng mga armas sa isang lugar sa mindanao upang kunin ng ibang tao.

c. sila reyes ang nagpasabog sa Davao. ang mga sundalo ng magdalo mismo ang nagpatunay nito dahil nasa Mindanao sila... inutusan silang magbato ng mga granada sa mga Mosque.

d. may impormasyon ang mga junior officers na magtatawag ng Martial Law sa agosto...isang "palagay" ko ay may koneksyon ito sa pagkawala ni Al Ghozi. sa kanila nila isisisi ang mga pagsabog na magaganap.
itong martial law malamang ang pumilit sa kanilang magrebelde dahil hindi na raw nila masisikmura ang pagkamatay ng maraming Pilipino dahil sa mga pagsabog.

4.)
may katotohanan ba itong mga pinagsasabi nila? kung documento ang hinahanap mo...wala kang mahahanap. kung mga testimoya ang hinahanap mo...meron nito ang mga sundalo. kung KREDIBILIDAD ang hinahanap mo...sobra-sobra pa ang makikita mo sa mga junior officers.

sino ba sila?
a. karamihan ay taga class '95, '96, '00 ng PMA. mga batang-batang opisyal na puno ng ideyalismo.
b. sila ay galing sa Light Reaction Force ng AFP. isang grupo na "highly-trained in anti-terrorist combat" ng US.
c. sila ay galing sa giyera sa Mindanao at alam nilang lahat ang totoong nangyayari doon.
d. sila ay di lamang galing sa PMA kundi nagtapos pa na mga valedictorian at "top of their class". si Milo ay valedictorian habang si trillanes ay Top 4 ng kanilang klase.
e. mga junior officers. hindi sila basta-basta. meron silang ipinaglalaban.

dahil sa katotohanan, sinayang nila ang kanilang pagkakataong YUMAMAN at maging MAKAPANGYARIHAN.

kung wala silang ginawa ay madali silang magiging mga heneral. dahil sa sistema sa AFP, bawat dalawang taon, tumataas ang ranggo ng mga PMAers kahit nakaupo lang sila buong araw.

madali at maginhawa sana ang mga buhay nila ngunit pinili pa rin nila na sundin ang kanilang mga konsensya. "they had everything to lose."

sila'y mga bayani.
ito ang katotohanan.

----AM+DG

The investigation by the Feliciano Commission is open to the public.

Even before the allegations became public, the government has started work to improve the pay of the soldiers, the expansion of housing benefits, and addressing the matter of procurement. If any, the failed attempt accelerated the pace for the full implementation of the said efforts.