AFP chief likens Trillanes, Lim to communist insurgents
Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr likened military adventurists like Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim to communist rebels, saying both groups are out to destroy democracy and grab power for themselves.
Speaking before the Manila Overseas Press Club on Tuesday night at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City, Esperon said that like communist rebels, military adventurists are “enemies of the people" and they should be put to their end.
“In the end, there isn’t much difference between insurgents and military adventurists. They both seek to destroy our democratic way of life and grab power for themselves through armed uprising. They cloak their motives with social, economic and political issues," Esperon said.
Esperon made the statement barely two weeks after the November 29 standoff in Makati City, led by Trillanes and Lim. During the standoff, Lim withdrew support from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, citing issues on corruption and rigging of the 2004 presidential elections.
The military top brass said documents recovered at the hotel indicated that Trillanes and Lim would be among the leaders of a transition government that was supposed to replace the Arroyo administration had they succeeded in bringing down the President.
Lim, a former Scout Ranger commander, has been linked to several failed coups in the 1980s and to last year’s coup attempt. On the other hand, Trillanes – a former Navy lieutenant – is one of the core leaders of the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in
2003.
“It is easy to discern that the standoff staged by the Magdalo members is a blatant attempt to grab power that was barely concealed by the ‘issues and grievances’ they allegedly sought to raise. Documents recovered from the perpetrators attest to this," Esperon said.
“In a prepared statement, they declared that they were ‘taking over the reins of the government’ and establishing a provisional government, which will eventually take the form of a transitional government with Trillanes and Lim as its leaders. They even had their proclamations read. Thus, what they did was an attempt to grab power through armed rebellion," he added.
Citing the result of the investigation done by the Davide commission on the bloodiest coup in 1989, Esperon said the adventurism caused economic growth to skid from six to zero percent and the nation incurred economic losses of up to P30 billion.
“The Oakwood incident and the Manila Peninsula caper could have inflicted as much damage if they were not swiftly resolved," he said.
“These adventurists are doing soldiery a great disservice. We cannot let our troops be demoralized when they see how some rogue members attempt to grab power for themselves and topple our democratic way of life when our soldiers on the ground, especially those in the front lines, continue to sacrifice their lives for our people ad democratic institutions," said Esperon, as he vowed that the military would continue warding off similar attempts, be it from the military adventurists or communists. - GMANews.TV
Speaking before the Manila Overseas Press Club on Tuesday night at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City, Esperon said that like communist rebels, military adventurists are “enemies of the people" and they should be put to their end.
“In the end, there isn’t much difference between insurgents and military adventurists. They both seek to destroy our democratic way of life and grab power for themselves through armed uprising. They cloak their motives with social, economic and political issues," Esperon said.
Esperon made the statement barely two weeks after the November 29 standoff in Makati City, led by Trillanes and Lim. During the standoff, Lim withdrew support from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, citing issues on corruption and rigging of the 2004 presidential elections.
The military top brass said documents recovered at the hotel indicated that Trillanes and Lim would be among the leaders of a transition government that was supposed to replace the Arroyo administration had they succeeded in bringing down the President.
Lim, a former Scout Ranger commander, has been linked to several failed coups in the 1980s and to last year’s coup attempt. On the other hand, Trillanes – a former Navy lieutenant – is one of the core leaders of the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in
2003.
“It is easy to discern that the standoff staged by the Magdalo members is a blatant attempt to grab power that was barely concealed by the ‘issues and grievances’ they allegedly sought to raise. Documents recovered from the perpetrators attest to this," Esperon said.
“In a prepared statement, they declared that they were ‘taking over the reins of the government’ and establishing a provisional government, which will eventually take the form of a transitional government with Trillanes and Lim as its leaders. They even had their proclamations read. Thus, what they did was an attempt to grab power through armed rebellion," he added.
Citing the result of the investigation done by the Davide commission on the bloodiest coup in 1989, Esperon said the adventurism caused economic growth to skid from six to zero percent and the nation incurred economic losses of up to P30 billion.
“The Oakwood incident and the Manila Peninsula caper could have inflicted as much damage if they were not swiftly resolved," he said.
“These adventurists are doing soldiery a great disservice. We cannot let our troops be demoralized when they see how some rogue members attempt to grab power for themselves and topple our democratic way of life when our soldiers on the ground, especially those in the front lines, continue to sacrifice their lives for our people ad democratic institutions," said Esperon, as he vowed that the military would continue warding off similar attempts, be it from the military adventurists or communists. - GMANews.TV
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