A RAT OF AN OFFICER

Update: Hearing on confirmation of Martir’s promotion to brigadier general was deferred to January 2008.

Tomorrow, when the Commission on Appointments Defense Committee meets, on the agenda is the promotion of Col. Jonathan Martir to brigadier general.

Friday last week, Malaya’s editorial, “Toadies crawling out of the woodwork” was about Gloria Arroyo’s lapdogs in frenzied competition proving what they can do to be promoted to chief tuta. That’s why we have NCR police chief Geary Barias proudly bragging to reporters how he manhandled Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other Magdalo officers after the Manila Peninsula standoff.

And of course, Martir didn’t want to be left behind. Malaya’s editorial said, “Martir pulled a macho stunt at the Pen. He manhandled Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and some members of the Magdalo group while they were lying face down on the floor with their hands cuffed. Asked by a member of the CA from the House why he did so, Martir answered that Trillanes and his companions “deserved it.”

Who is this Martir? He is known in the military to be very close to AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon.

Sources in the military don’t paint a respectable picture of him. I have been provided documents that he was AWOL (absence without leave) for more than two years and yet when he came back from the United States, he was neither reprimanded nor punished for it.

Available records in the Philippine Navy and the Bureau of Immigration show that his authorized leave number only 195 days. But he was absent from service for 945 days.

A brief on Martir that we got says, “Records bear that Col. Martir left the country on five separate occasions, in 1994, in 1997, in 1998, in 2002 and in 2003, all without the necessary travel orders required by law for military personnel and in violation of the Articles of War (A.W. 62).

“On four separate occasions, he had exceeded his authorized leave – most significant of which was when he exceeded his leave by more than a year or 477 days to be precise, and, yet, the Corps never, in any of the cases,mentioned declared him AWOL or dropped him from the rolls as deserter, much less, have him investigated on his unauthorized absences.”

From comments in my blog of people who know him, one can have an idea of Martir’s character:

Juggernaut, who had interacted with Martir when the latter was a tactical officer, said: “He mostly kept to himself, a very mysterious character. One thing you can’t miss is the way he strikes a pose in uniform in public, almost contrived or choreographed (he still does, funny, old habits never die). The battalion he handled probably had the most gruesome “hazing” cases at the time.

On his manhandling of Trillanes and other Magdalo officers, an officer texted me, “Not surprising, for a wife beater.”

Another Marines officer said, “Let him be assigned to Mindanao. Iiyak yan. He is known to shoot only at target papers. Takot yan sa kalaban who could shoot back at him also. Behind his back, he is the butt of jokes among Marines.”

Another related an incident when Martir had a tiff with another officer from Iloilo. A third officer was trying to appease them but Martir would not be contained. He was really raring for a fight. So the peacemaker left. Left alone to fight the Ilonggo officer, Martir ran away.

One of the detained officers in Camp Capinpin told me that Martir talked to him and offered him a deal in connection with the mutiny case related to the February 2006 alleged plan to withdraw support from the bogus Arroyo presidency. The deal was: Pin down Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Col. Ariel Querubin and the other top Marines officers and I’ll dismiss the case against you. The officer declined. He told Martir, “Only rats do that. I’m an officer.”

Many I talked with mentioned about Martir’s “dark streaks.” Maybe some of those might be raised during his confirmation hearing. He will have a chance to deny or clarify them tomorrow.

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Di ba he was already assigned in Mindanao?

I'm quite shocked by the revelations in that article.

Never pick a fight with an Ilonggo, unless you are a Waray-waray. :armyLol:

You forgot to provide a link, Tormentor. This one's by Ellen Tordesillas, whose blog site is also a favorite hangout of coup aficionados, is it not.

If they realy have these accusations that they can substantiate, why raise these only now?

I only know Col. Martir from news reports but this write-up (based on her "sources in the military") smells like a smear campaign of an officer who has consistenly frustrated coup plotters.

I'm new here but I can't let this pass without making a remark.

Nice try, Mr. Tormentor but your character-assassination posting just prove that you are the real sissy here not BGen. Martir, piggy backing on Tordesillas. Isn’t that obvious? This is typical of those real rats who assassinate battle-tested generals and officers using the media just because they can't beat them in real battlefields. Worst, you desperately source it from that no-hoper Ellen Tordesillas. C’mon…as people say it’s nothing more than a smear campaign to score some cheap points.

Btw, Tordesillas materials are all recycled, this is is not the first time I've read such write ups from her.

And why hate a general who is a constitutionalist and who frustrated repeat coup-plotters? Would a military junta under ex-Gen. Miranda, Lim, Querubin, Trillianes et al a better option in February 2006 or today?

Pure, unmitigated character assassination.

I think Col. Martir should file a libel case against Tordesillas.

Sir mblt6/gen. jonathan martir,

Sir, I would like to let you know that as far as Im concerned you're not a rat of an officer but you're one hell of a Tiger of an Officer.

Sir, do not be distracted by this idiotic demolition job and continue your crusade for a better Marine Corps and AFP. Gob bless you.

:salute:

RE: Quote "I think Col. Martir should file a libel case against Tordesillas"

Typical Filipino mentality.... Libel... the number one charge in the Philippines which never sticks. Anything to gain money...

So what do you suggest? What other legal steps that this officer could take against the writer and publisher?

I guess he already has taken the necessary steps by not even responding to such trivial accusations. He is a professional and doesn't have to defend himself. His professionalism speaks for itself and he doesn't have to lower himself. But thats my own opinion. Why would someone of his stature want revenge. Look at Pacman he withdrew his libel suit. He knows he is a target and some will try to make him defend himself. Good someone schooled him now.

Its not character assassination from me, whether you believe it or not, not all of the "accusations" above are false.

and Col. Martir knows it. :armywink:

Its not character assassination from me, whether you believe it or not, not all of the "accusations" above are false.

and Col. Martir knows it.

tormentor usap nga tayo tungkol dito...interesting ha...i agree with what you said... :banana:[B]

according to a poster on ms. tordesillas' website martir "devised an award which he named as the FELICIANO award using the marine seal as logo. he did not submit it to the marine awards and decoration board for approval, " and same poster wrote "however, when the marine seal is used in any award, only the marine commandant has the authority to approve and sign the award. but" martir "signed it himself. tragis talaga itong RATON na to, may delusion of grandeur or is it illusion of grandeur. whatever!!!! he is still a LIAR among thieves and cheats!!!"

if you know jonathan martir personally verify ora mismo...if you dont try vic martir the philippine military attache in washington...all is fair in love and war...in this case in promotions hehehe...o kaya verify with ltcol toto parcon...but kinda hard to do considering toto is detained in tanay...teka si ltcol martin villasan na-exonerate na sa pagkakasangkot nya sa february 2006 marine standoff...verify with him...close sila ni col martir...:banana:

IMHO, from what I have seen sir Jonathan is respected in the Corps, I dont know why these stories are only comming out now. Maybe someone is thinking that he will run for public office ..... hahahahaha ...... and is thinking way way ahead, para bang premature eja---lation .... este premature detonation pala. All of us have faults and flaws of our own but these flaws are kept in a bag for safe keeping and to be used only at the right time. He has been known to keep the tradition of the PMC of not being divided, high in his priorities. Although we have not agreed on all of our beliefs I respect and support him on what he is doing for the Corps. Maybe the accusations are true, maybe they are not, but I think he deserves my benefit of the doubt I hope that you extend the same to him until these accusations are proven because he has earned it and very well deserves it. Again let us not judge Sir Jon by what we hear or read, he deserves more than that. Thank you.

It is very unfair to judge the man based on the allegations and rumors spread by cowards who are hiding behind the cloak of anonymity.

Di naman ganyan pagkakilala ko sa kanya. We cannot please everyone; it's plain and simple character assasination. Kung lagyan ng pangalan ang mga "nagsabi kuno", then lets ask them right away kung totoo. :nono:

hi Maldita, a friend happened to search my name when he came to your commentin in this site. though a member i have not had the time to interact as i use to when i was with MC-5. sure you may call or even meet ltcol villasan personally and will arrange it. he served as one of my Bn Comdrs with CSSB in 2006 and appeared as a witness against the coup plotters recently. regarding the awards for scout snipers "feliciano award" was iniated by civilian doctors who during the 2005 asian games toured the scout sniper school and were impressed with thier skill and relevance. they initiated the award for the founder of sniping in the corps who is the late Lcdr Chito Feliciano a marine reservist and known Olympian in the 60's. the request went directly to the commandant Mgen Allaga in which he has authority to supersede any board in the corps. the info you got may have been from the coup plotters or symphatizers with in the corps with intent to discredit myself and CSS brigade who foiled thier plans in the 2006 stand off and the manila peninsula hotel siegeof 2007. BTW the chairman of the award and decorations board then was col jojo deleon now undergoing court martial proceedings for the 2006 foiled coup attempt and MC-1 the staff overseeing awards is lt col villasan. best regards, mblt6

BG Martir's promotion to Maj General deferred:

http://pdff.sytes.net/index.php?showtopic=6345

"You can know one by what is coming out from his mouth"-Bible. (invoking right to freedom of speech). Nothing did come out of Martir. Hence, we do not know him. Only Tordesillas. :banana:

Kapag umakyat sa poder si Trillanes o Honasan, you'll see, read, and know most fascistic grabbing for their opportunities. Makikita mong magkakandarapa rin yung mga allipores gaya lang ng 'allegedly' Martir.

Martir submitted his resume and application form under a form of government named democracy. You'll not hear anything from him nor whine that he was not accepted. He will not stage a coup d'eta or a mutiny!! :banana:

heres an article written by a more credible journalist Miss Cris Yabes who authored the book "Boys from the Barracks" in 1991. A revised and updated edition will be out 1st week of June 2009.


"Maj. Gen. Jonathan Martir’s track record is simple: he has always remained loyal and professional to the armed forces. He was reared in the tradition of service to the country; growing up in a Navy family he dreamt only of becoming a Marine and to him that meant protecting the honor of being one.
So it does not come as a surprise that he has done what it takes to keep the Marine Corps standing in defense of the country. When the tide was against him at the height of coup attempts in the 1980s, he did not compromise and was counted among other loyal officers who kept the hope of democracy alive.
In terms of experience, he went to combat in the strife-torn southern Philippines as well as leading an anti-coup Ready Force unit to protect the capital from any more destabilization moves – the latest of which were the failed Marine Stand-Off in 2006 and the fiasco at the Manila Peninsula takeover in 2007, where Martir took quick action in flushing out a small group of rebel officers. Unlike in the past, this incident was over before the end of the day.
One year short of retirement, Martir now sits in the Joint Staff at the AFP General Headquarters. He may yet be a candidate for Commandant of the Marine Corps, but in all retrospect he is where he is now for believing in the military’s duty to country.
“A ranking intelligence officer describes him as one of the ‘pillars of democracy’ in the Marine Corps” – MaritesVitug wrote in Newsbreak magazine shortly after the Stand-Off incident in February 2006. “If this sounds effusive it is because [then Col.] Jonathan Martir has always shunned coups and has consistently stood by the chain of command.”
Martir was then commander of the 1,000-strong Combat Service and Support Brigade, a unit he had made relevant in terms training in urban warfare and refurbishing old equipment that were put to use for the fighting units in Mindanao. Newsbreak’s story highlighted the crucial time in December 1989, the most fatal coup attempt so far, in which “Martir was part of the minority in the Marines who stayed loyal to the Constitution.”
In the updated version of The Boys From the Barracks, which chronicles the coup attempts in the military, the author wrote: “In the Marines Corps,which has had to surmount divisions over loyalty to the government, itwas clear that Martir never strayed. He took this very personally. TheMarines was his life, he lived and breathed it night and day. He had alwayswanted to be a Marine ever since he was a boy.

By far, the Manila Peninsula incident was the lesser test of wills. Infact, it was a cinch compared to other situations he had gone through [the aborted 2006 coup attempt or Stand-Off]. It was thelast course of action for the rebel officers to make a move and it blewwide open the vulnerability of the Marines.”

Describing what took place during the Stand-Off with the Marine commandant, it gave details of how Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda called for a command conference in the early hours of February 24th, “with most of the officers calling for a vote toreach a ‘critical mass to be sure of victory’ before they would make anymove. They chanted, ‘Withdrawal of support’, raised their fists andthumped on the table in an agitated rhythm.

Martir tried to ease the stress overtaking him, leaving his office to get
a cigar in his car. His cell phone rang; it was a junior officer from Navy
headquarters – the same officer who was his cadet at the Philippine
Military Academy years ago who had also called for his help when the
cadets began moving down to the capital to join the rebels in August
1987.

The call brought him to back to the past, like it was only yesterday,
and how the pattern of resisting coup attempts seemed to have taken hold
of him. So again he was taking a stand, reassuring the junior officer that
he was not part of the current activity.“

And his action has always proven himself right. "



xxx

MARINES!!!!!!!!! Isang Bagsak!!!!!!! HUUAAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gen Martir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KARANGALAN....KATUNGKULAN...KABAYANIHAN!!!! THE FEW,THE PROUD!!!!!!! :salute:

Martir,........ the name that speaks for itself.

This general is an excellent candidate for the AFP's most critical post. :thumb:

IIRC, the last CSAFP from the Marines was the current senator R. Biazon.

Gen. Martir could become the next CSAFP from the PMC if GMA really digs deep, besides she partly owes her survival of overthrow attempts to Gen. Martir's decisive action during the Peninsula takeover by Sen. Trillanes and company and his refusal to support the Marine putschists led by Col. Querubin.

Just study or read the history of military juntas. 1)They stick to socialism as an enticement to those who infiltrated the army as a closet communists like those who always criticize Arroyo but never in their lifetime have done it to Sison. 2) They will never relinquish power like the Burmese generals 3) Never ending human rights violation. 4) The alleged leaders Honasan and Trillanes will enforce their rule as all-knowing ("Democracy's success has been through debate, votation and consensus"-Cory Aquino.) 5) The number of victims of a military junta number to millions like Pinochet's coup d'eta junta. Malaking suerte ko lang kung ako, si epigone, eh mabuhay. Eh hindi pa nakakatapak si Honasan sa poder, katakuttakot na provocations, threats and harrassment ang inaabot ko rito sa Canada sa mga bata niya.
They try to scare me off by telling stories of how many people they've killed in the name of Honasan at cough pa ng cough. O my God, baliw!

"I will step down....F*** y**, asa ka pa!

I think Epigone is just pretending to be insane. He is certainly more mentally sound than the Magdalo supporters in timawa and PDFF forum.

May pagka-spy din ako ako Sir Epigone. I was the one who knew you are Aussie Gardener in timawa forum. BTW: I like your poems!

Magdalo group is backed by Honasan who covered-up the senate investigation of General Garcia.

Long live General Martir and General Esperon!

Here's my advice to all generals aspiring to be in the chain of command: HUWAG KAYONG PADUDURO KAY TRILLANES AT HONASAN. (Don't let Trillanes and Honasan intimidate you). PATAY KUNG PATAY!! (Dead if dead) Just emulate my neighbour BRIG. GENERAL PEDRO JUACHON.

(Thanks, sir jooper)

He should be made marine commandant before 2010 :salute:

could be, but....my lips are sealed :demon:

He is. Turn over is in June. He has one year left, kaya he was given a chance. He is loyal to the constitution and government. He will protect it as need be, regardless of who is sitting. The only thing hanging over his head is his AWOL of one year sa states to deal with his former wife. Aside from that he is a good soldier. Mabuhay ang Marines! Mag kaisa kayong lahat ! :fire:

That is both good news and bad news sir babayeagle.

Good news is Gen. Martir will finally be able to unify and improve the corps for the better.

Bad news is he has only 1 year to do it.

The man has his faults, like any one of us, we are all just human as they say.

He should be given the chance to led the PMC as reward for defending the Constitution a number of times.

Really depends on your point of view, one man's rebel is another person's freedom figther.

Between the two strong contenders to succeed Mgen Dolorfino - who is best suited to lead the PMC, the frontline warrior MGen Sabban or the technosavvy MGen Martir?

The first figured in a number of mis/adventures while the second is a proven coup-killer.

:ssalute:

Place your bets.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata !!! :ssalute:

Sa akin, si Maj.Gen. Martir dahil daw sa ginawa niya sa Peninsula. Despite the AWOL charges against him, siya ang mag wa-wagi !

Si Maj. Gen. Sabban because of his coup history, he will only be given a position where he can not use/misuse his troops by any other means. GHQ siguro. This is according to my crystal ball. :pushup: :

Hoorah Marines ! Mag kaisa kayong lahat tulad ng dati ! :armycheers:

Wait a minute, Hold everybody's horses. Who is the Deputy commandant ? Isn't he next in line ? Does the Dep. Com. follow in succession ?

I guess it depends on the choice of the Commander in Chief and upon the recommendation of the CS. Pero sino ba siya ? Just curious guys. Baka lang sakaling pwede siya pumalit kay Gen. Dolorfino. Baka rin mas malinis record niya kaysa dalawang leading contenders ? Tingin niyo at sino siya? Hmmmmmmm?

I bet it would not be Gen. Sabban especially now that the country is again heating up due to the con-ass brouhaha. It will be very brave of GMA if she appoints him PMC commandant.

And about Gen Martir, my Marine officer friend says he is not very popular among marine soldiers compared to Gen Sabban who is a soldier's general. But then its not a popularity contest.

My guess is its not any one of them.

I think the current Deputy Commandant, PMC is Brig. Gen. Boying Ecarma (he succeeded Brig. Gen. Jonathan Martir). It's not always the case the the deputy replaces the commandant. To cite an example, then Brig. Gen. Ed Ducusin was Deputy Commandant, PMC when Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga was the Commandant, when Allaga got his orders to head WESTMINCOM, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, then NCRCOM commander was chosen to head the PMC with Brig. Gen. Ducusin still his deputy until his retirement in January 2008.

On who is going to head the PMC, just read between the lines, who is closer to the powers in Malacanang?

During the 2006 stand-off, Gen. Sabban was one of the officers who openly supported Gen. Renato Miranda when Miranda was relieved as PMC Commandant.

While Martir was the one who opposed any unauthorized movements.

So if not Gen. Martir or Gen. Sabban then who else can fit the bill? Is there any other senior officer in the Marines who is qualified, or who can lead and unite this elite branch of the Armed Forces? Of course he has to be liked by his fellow marines as well.

But who can ? Let's list the names. Sino pa ba ? :salute:

Well, judging by what happened in the standoff in 2006, Martir seems to have the upper hand. Sabban's involvement in the 1989 coup is a negative factor for him.

On the other hand, Sabban belongs to PMA class '78, PGMA is an adopted member of this class, while Martir belongs to PMA class '79, a classmate of Col. Ariel Querubin.

The palace will play it safe and go for Gen. Martir.

Though Gens. Martir and Sabban are the senior generals in the PMC, still it's hard to tell who would be the next commandant. IMHO

The PMC Deputy Commandent is Natalio Cabili Ecarma III, graduated with the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981 (Dimalupig)...sana si Boing na...Boing without the "y" in between the "o" and the "i"...he turned 54 last June 3... :banana: