Appeared in Newsbreak magazine, March 27, 2006, as part of their comprehensive report, "Romancing the Military: Civilian Groups Welcome Coups".

Defenders of the Constitution

BRIG. GEN. NELSON ALLAGA
A Pragmatic Leader

Brig. General Nelson Allaga earned sudden fame when he was picked as the Marine Corps commandant on February 26. He defused the tension during the six-hour standoff at the Marine Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio-and resolved it.

His loud, dominating voice after those grueling hours and his strong statement against politics ("We should not allow ourselves to be used by politicians") indicated that Allaga is a difficult person to deal with. But his classmates at the Philippine Military Academy (Batch 1976) believe otherwise.

Allaga is known to his classmates as "Iggoy," being a native of Ifugao, said Brig. General Alexander Yano. "He's a toughie highlander guy but down to earth."

Brig. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, deputy commander of the Southern Command, described Allaga as "a very carefree person, practical and well rounded."

Dolorfino said Allaga is known as a pragmatic commander, "very democratic, and [who] prefers consultation rather than imposing any policy or directive on his troops."
During his stint as 3rd Brigade commander in Sulu from 2002 to 2005, Allaga admitted to NEWSBREAK that while he was not very media-friendly, he got close enough to some media personalities to open up and share important information, including their operational plan against the Abu Sayyaf Group.

He was the only brigade commander who admitted that the February siege in 2005 in Panamao emanated from a previously reported massacre where he noted "collateral damage on civilians."

Allaga started his military career in Mindanao before he was tapped by then President Fidel Ramos as chief of the Presidential Security Group from 1992 to 1995.
After serving under Ramos, Allaga returned to Mindanao. In Sulu, he was the only commander who was transparent on the anti-terror operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

Allaga, 53, retires in August 2009-unless politics plays some more with his career. -Julie S. Alipala

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COL. JONATHAN MARTIR
No Gray Areas

A ranking intelligence officer describes him as one of the "pillars of democracy" in the Marine Corps. If this sounds effusive, it's because Col. Jonathan Martir has always shunned coups and has consistently stood by the chain of command.

During the planned withdrawal of support from President Arroyo on February 23 and 24 as well as the standoff at the Marine Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on February 26, Martir stuck to his principles-again.

As commanding officer of the Combat and Service Support Brigade (CSSB), Martir, 52, heads a 1,000-strong unit in Metro Manila which controls ammunition, armory, and artillery. His was the most crucial command the rebels had to have on their side. But he said no.

His brigade is the Marine's anti-coup force. It was Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, then commandant, who directed Martir to train and indoctrinate the CSSB on urban warfare.

In December 1989, the most fatal coup attempt so far, Martir was part of the minority in the Marines who stayed loyal to the Constitution. "You'll have to kill him first," Brig. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said, referring to Martir's implacable stand. "He will never join any coups." (Dolorfino, a Marine officer, is deputy commander of the Southern Command.)

When Martir was assigned to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in the late ‘80s, he used to encounter Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan when he visited the cadets, a captive audience eager to hear the exploits of an "EDSA hero." In an account in Boys From the Barracks, Criselda Yabes wrote: "It was rare for an officer like Martir to openly shun Honasan's charisma." Martir was then considered an outsider among the tactical officers at the PMA, many of whom were drawn to Honasan.

"A military man must protect the institution. He has no right to become a rebel," Martir told Yabes.

In Sulu, where he was battalion commander in the 1990s, those who saw how he worked say that he was strict with his men. "There were no gray areas," a journalist who covered the military said. "The rules were clear."

A PMA graduate (1979) and classmate of Col. Ariel Querubin (they were shooting partners in the Academy), Martir comes from a family of sailors. His late father was vice commander of the Philippine Navy and his brother is a Navy officer.

The Marines are his family. There's no doubt in his mind that he's duty-bound to protect it. -Marites D. Vitug
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:salute: UWAH!

Martir and Allaga makes counterinsurgency very very easy. Under a democracy, we don't have to worry if we have the support of the people. Rest assured we have. Communism is discredited. And we have mechanisms for accountabitity and transparency. One cannot experience having them under a military junta.More power to you, Sir Allaga and Sir Martir. You are most popular in the eyes of the masses ! We need soldiers like you!More Power to you, Sirs!! Hooah and I'll die for you!

I hope col. martir could reach the pmc commandant post after gen allaga, he is truly deserving of that post, what do you think?

Secretary of National Defense at UnderSecretary of National Defense respectively ang ambition ko para sa kanila. Sa ganuon, makakatulog tayo lagi nang mahimbing! More power to you, Sirs!

I think he will since his charisma with the officers and Eps are good. i remember him reviving the PMC gun club to encourage competetive practical shooting with the officers and EPs. He was always seen at the 50meter firing range at the PMTC with his cigar and encouraging shooting tips "o nandito ka nanaman keep it up" i saw my first DPMS upper from him way back 1996 and that was when i got interested in custom M16s. he sure has my hopes for him to a future CPMC. :salute:

other officers that are good candidates for CPMC are Col. Jerry Julna Carillo and Col. Natalio Boing Ecarma, Col. Alivio if you guys ever encounter these officers you will surely like them. :thumb:

What positions do these guys currently occupy?

I remember a story, after the 1986 revolution, then capt. jonathan martir was a tactical officer at the PMA, he was one of those who were not mystified by the "Gringo" mystique, a rarity in those times, so when Gringo Honasan and Red Kapunan visited the Academy, he was not impressed at all, as they were wearing improper uniform ("Gringo" was on the name patch instead of the standard), and they were sporting beards, which he thought very unmilitary.

During the 1989 coup, I think he was the operations officer of the 4th Marine Battlion Landing Team and in spite of being the only voice of opposition, as his superior, Maj. Cesar de la Pena and his contemporaries, then Capt. Ariel Querubin and then Capt. Juancho Sabban was already on the side of the rebels, he remained steadfast in his duty and did not joined the coup.

(Got this news from the book "Boys from the Barracks" by Criselda Yabes)

Allaga was promoted to MAJ. GEN. last May 31.

my vote goes to my good friend col. natalio cabili ecarma, iii...he celebrated his 50th birthday last 03 june...he's in taiwan studying for some doctorate, i think...mabuhay ang musang na marino!...col. ecarma is from PMA dimalupig class'81...aba eh talagang di malulupig yan...he's a big man physically but he's actually kindhearted...oh yes, he can be really funny also...boing, if you're reading this, how is your mistah the former special forces guy who is now a popular painter in the american west coast? :banana:

he took over as chief of staff of PMC vice Col Jojo deleon cl '81 three weeks ago. He's being groomed as brigade commander within this year. Yes i agree he's a tough marine and i'm sure he'll make a good commandant someday. Col Ram Alvio 79 handles the 1st Marine Brigade while Col Julna Carrillo is already retiring.

aba eh kailangang matawagan ang col. ecarma...hindi lang si pacquiao ang pwedeng magpaiinom noh? hehehehe! :banana:

How true that Col. Querubin is imlicating Col. Martir to be also a supporter of the coup plans?

I doubt it, it's not in the character of Col. Martir to join any coups, as proven in 1989 and 2006. Maybe it's the other way around, Col. Martir implicating Col. Querubin, these two are shooting buddies at the PMA in the late 1980's

just a malicious and unfounded intrigue, Col. Martir is a soldier of integrity and deep abiding faith in his profession, he will never be involved in any adventurism against duly constituted government

the Lopez report already exonerated Col. Martir from involvement in the aborted coup, in fact, it was Gen. Miranda who was convincing col. Martir to join their withdrawal of support but the good colonel refused.

Mabuhay ka Col. Martir :ssalute: