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November 1, 2011
During the administration of President Corazon Aquino, a dozen or so coup attempts were mounted by renegade officers and men apparently disgusted at the way the “vindictive” government was being managed at that time. While the attempts did not succeed as then military chief and eventual Defense Secretary Fidel V. Ramos and his loyal soldiers sided with the government saying it should be given a chance to reform and improve, the troubles created and destruction of properties that went with it left a big mark on the Cory administration as it slowed down growth and development.
Now, under the administration of the son, President Benigno S. Aquino III, who was nearly killed in one of those coup attempts, history maybe repeating itself as some soldiers have come out in the open allegedly dissatisfied with the bungled military offensive in Basilan in which 19 good officers and men were needlessly massacred by Muslim rebels. The soldiers also are reportedly angry at the response to the killings by the Chief Executive who readily ruled out a counter-offensive to go after the rebels and an “all-out war” as advocated by former President Joseph Estrada, Senators Panfilo Lacson and several Congress, national and local leaders.
Initially, Malacanang shrugged off the reported brewing coup. But later Deputy Spokesperson Abigal Valte confirmed the brewing coup plot amid reports of discontent among many soldiers on the way President Aquino handled the Al-Barka and Zamboanga Sibugay attacks by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, adding that the President himself was keeping a keen eye on the developments. “There are those who wish to take advantage of the situation for political leverage. We are aware that there are efforts to do this,” Valte said.
In an apparent move to appease the soldiers who are unhappy with Aquino’s earlier pronouncements seemingly taking the side of the MILF, Malacañang had a turnabout and talked tough as the military bombed the lairs of the criminals in Zamboanga, although it referred only to the so-called “lawless elements” who are behind the attacks that killed the 19 soldiers in Al-Barka and 10 policemen and soldiers in Zamboanga Sibugay and supposed coddlers in the MILF.
“The pursuit of the lawless elements will continue. The President was very categorical—you cooperate or you stand aside. According to Valte, the President further said, “Regardless of affiliation, if you violate the law, you will be liable and we will come after you.”
In the meantime, the Senate is poised to investigate the charges of alleged operational and tactical lapses of the Armed Forces during an encounter with MILF elements last October 18 in Basilan. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former officer who fought the Muslim rebels in Mindanao and later turned a coup leader against the previous administration and was incarcerated for his beliefs, also admitted getting reports on soldiers being drawn into possible coup plots.
It will be a step in the right direction for Trillanes to expand his investigation to include the talks on coup plots and spearhead the reforms in the Armed Forces. Having been in these disgruntled soldiers’ shoes, he is in a better position to partner with the President on calming down this unproductive unrest within the ranks and face the common enemy instead. Peace for progress and development is always a better alternative to war.
If Trillanes succeeds, a new place in politics will one day be his to claim.