Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:37:00 02/25/2008


(Editor's note: The author in this last of a series of articles was a former Army captain who delivered this speech before the Philippine Constitution Association shortly before he died on Aug. 19, 2005. It was edited slightly for brevity.)

MANILA, Philippines -- The country is in political turmoil once more. The legitimacy and moral authority of the Arroyo government are being questioned, echoing Jaime Cardinal Sin's proclamation before the 1986 Edsa People Power [revolt] that a government that wins an election by fraudulent means does not have the moral authority to govern.

Our fragile democracy is in peril again. The presidency is severely damaged and we hear discordant voices on how it should be fixed -- impeachment, people power, resignation, military takeover. Her stubbornness belies a desperation to hold on to power. She has to because she knows she is guilty, along with the unscrupulous politicians, bureaucrats and generals around her.

This is an administration that neither cares for decency nor respects the truth. It is painfully clear that the ship of state needs a new captain and the ship needs to alter course. The country needs to get out of the storm not just with new leaders but with a new rule set for governance and politics.

The history of many developing nations and our own people power history have shown that when civilian institutions are weak, there is a tendency for the military toward "reactive militarism," especially when civilian groups seek to co-opt and enlarge the role of the military establishment.

It seems we are moving toward this tendency today and for the soldier, these are bewildering times. It is a time for sobriety and restraint so as not to fuel the growing turbulence. However, it is also a time for action so the country will not be destroyed. And definitely, it is a time for soul-searching.

Balancing act

Should the military stand by the side and allow the politicians and their mindless bickering to wreck the country? Should it intervene as in 1986 and 2001? How can the Armed Forces of the Philippines balance its constitutional duty with the need for change in political leadership?

For the AFP, it is also an opportune time for redemption -- to atone for having been the willing stooges of corrupt and irresponsible politicians, for having allowed itself to decay and become corrupt and for failing the people. It is an opportunity to become a real force for change, not in the extra-constitutional transfer of power from one elitist element to another but in the creation of a new moral order in politics and governance and the comprehensive transformation of Philippine society.

The AFP should play a constructive role in the present political situation. It should not stand idle as our country goes to pieces but neither does it take over government. It must be proactive by "prudent intervention" to stem chaos, to deter bad government, to facilitate the peaceful transition of power and to promote good governance and democratic reform. It acts as an arbiter of the national leadership but not the leadership itself.

Its Code of Ethics states: "The AFP adheres to the principle of democracy that the government is of the people, by the people and for the people. The real power and authority in the governance of the nation emanates from its citizens. The AFP recognizes its role to protect the people and assert its rights to participate in democratic processes in which it is legally allowed to do so, but it shall never allow itself to be used to subvert the sovereign will of the majority neither would it lend its power to stifle the rights of the minority."

By standing idly and hiding under the veil of the law, the AFP is not acting as the true protector of the people. It is unknowingly protecting the status quo that places irresponsible and corrupt politicians into power and works against the interests of the masses, that is destroying the moral fiber of our nation, that is stripping away the future of our country.

By breaking up legitimate expressions of dissent in protests and demonstrations, it is no more than a hired mercenary unit of the ruling elite that wants to preserve its power and of the corrupt generals who are enriching themselves at the expense of the people.

Why should the AFP perform a constructive role? First, it is a matter of duty as the protector of the people. A constructive role is within the framework of the Constitution and the Filipino people's collective prayer in the preamble to "build a just and humane society and establish a government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good."

The junior officers and soldiers understand this role because of their involvement in the political life of remote communities whose "hearts and minds" they try to win over from insurgents.

Matter of honor

Second, it is a matter of honor. The Honor Code is clear: "An officer does not lie, cheat, steal nor tolerate those who do." The Commander in Chief is not above this code. More than any public official, she should be held accountable for violations of the code and the breach of trust placed on her by the soldiers and the people. The circus of lies and deception coming from her office indicates a clear intent to deceive and must not be tolerated.

In the spirit of the code, the truth must come out even if it means her downfall. It is time for the AFP to use its power and influence to reawaken the ideals of service and honor in the political system and in government. In a constructive role, the Armed Forces can redeem the honor lost over years of unprofessional conduct. It must atone for human rights abuses against the poor and helpless. The AFP has become a disgrace to the nation and it is time to show its true worth as an army of the people, by the people and for the people.

Third, it is for the country and people. It is for the common good. The present impasse must give way to peaceful and acceptable solutions. The Armed Forces can serve to release the gridlock so the country can move on. With the Armed Forces in a constructive role, there will be no need for another people power that will only further demolish our democratic institutions, destroy confidence in our economy and make us the laughingstock of the world ("Oh no, not again. There goes the crazy Filipinos with their government by rabble").

The challenge for the Armed Forces today is how to act within the framework of the Constitution while facilitating needed political change. But how does the Armed Forces become a constructive force without slipping to interventionism or abusing its powers? How does the Armed Forces assist in good governance and promote democracy without misusing its authority and becoming greedy like in the martial law period?

Answers would be easier if the AFP is united and is led by a discerning and morally courageous officer corps. But the officer corps is fragmented and unprofessional. There is an internal struggle between the senior officers and generals who have been co-opted by the system and the junior officers who are looking forward to change and a better Armed Forces.

Gripes and frustrations in the lower ranks fuel this constructive attitude but the soldier is bound by military regulations and his actions are subject to directions of the chain of command and the Articles of War. Thus, there will be risks to whatever actions the soldiers take especially since the administration and the generals will be watching and taking immediate action to clamp down on dissent.

To minimize the risks, the Armed Forces or whatever group that seeks a constructive role must be united and committed. Whatever action the soldiers take must send a clear, unequivocal message to the President and her cabal that the soldiers will no longer tolerate the present situation and she must do what is right and good for the country.

More than the Church, business or the Left, a message if from the military sector will be taken seriously. These actions should be peaceful and nonviolent. The soldiers can join peaceful marches, prayer rallies, gatherings or formations or even conduct a press conference to show their sentiments. They can also go on mass leave or resign en masse. They can even provide protection to witnesses for them to speak up and tell the truth.

Illegitimate gov't

I have lost faith in the AFP chain of command to act in the interest of the people. All chiefs of staff from martial law, after EDSA and until today, are all guilty of corruption, one way or another. They all have skeletons in the closet and are protecting one another. Real reforms demand that these skeletons be exposed and subject to accountability.

Many of the generals are in a state of denial. I remember clearly how the generals denied "conversion" in the Senate hearing when the Feliciano Commission has already exposed it. The generals surrounding Ms Arroyo are fully aware that there was cheating in the election. They know who is lying and who is telling the truth. They know that, by action or inaction, they are guilty of abetting electoral fraud. They are knowingly propping up an illegitimate government and have violated the Honor Code by intentionally lying and cheating the people. It is ironic that these generals are mostly Peemayers supposedly instilled with the Honor Code.

Indeed, the troubles we are experiencing today could have been prevented if the generals had the moral courage to speak up and act, or not follow illegal and improper orders.

If today, they can have the courage to speak the truth, they can help sort out this mess by exposing the Arroyo government as a fraud. It then becomes clear to the AFP what it needs to do on the basis of the Constitution. It will then be the duty of the Armed Forces to ensure a peaceful transfer of power even it means forceful eviction of Arroyo.

As the generals are hopeless, we then have to look to the younger generation of officers who still possess the idealism and are untainted by corruption. I believe that many in the junior ranks are in the constructive mode. But many are confused and afraid. They are disorganized but they are waiting for a credible leader. I hope that they find that leader soon.

NCOs

There is one group that should not be overlooked -- the noncommissioned officer corps. They have their own chain of command and if they can be united and refuse to follow orders, the generals would have no one to order. They can lead this constructive role.

I saw this myself as a lieutenant when the NCOs of the First Scout Ranger Battalion rose against their corrupt and abusive commanders. The sergeant majors and first sergeants have credibility among the younger officers and the soldiers.

Sometime in late 2003, there was an attempt by a group of sergeant majors to play this constructive role by sending a letter up the chain of command denouncing the unprofessionalism and corruption in the Armed Forces and the Arroyo administration. But then Generals Eduardo Ermita and (Narciso) Abaya found out about it and called on the sergeant majors to stand down using subtle threats of legal action and damage to hard-earned careers.

It must be emphasized however that after a peaceful transition of power, change must go beyond the mere change of personalities. The Armed Forces should continue this constructive role by assisting in the building of democratic institutions and promoting political, economic and social reforms. Until then, the Armed Forces must play a constructive role and assist in the resolution of the problem peacefully and within the Constitution. It must be done for the sake of itself and the nation.

(The author was a 1986 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and a holder of an MBA from the Ateneo School of Business. He served in various positions in defense policy and strategy studies, was a lecturer and editor, and in combat received decorations for wounds in battle. He left the service in 1998 as a captain but remained a defense consultant. He had been involved in work advocating AFP reform and good governance before he died in Indonesia on Aug. 19, 2005, at the age of 40.)

Inquirer