Army, Marines chiefs: Adaza group has no substantial following

MANILA, Philippines - Following the arrest of a group for allegedly proposing a coup, the chiefs of the Philippine Army and of the Philippine Marine Corps on Friday assured that no soldiers from their ranks would have joined moves to destabilize the government even if the group succeeds to plot a coup. Army chief Lieutenant General Victor Ibrado said the group of former assemblyman Homobono Adaza does not have a following in the Army, as he expressed confidence that efforts to recruit Army personnel into joining a coup plot will not gain ground. “I think they do not have a following (in the Army). As of now, we have not gathered reports about people joining them....I don’t think they really have any substantial following," Ibrado said. “I can say that right now, I am confident that they cannot get support from our personnel in the Army," he added. Ibrado also issued a warning against officers and soldiers, saying: “If we will find out that anyone is involved with them, then we will charge them accordingly. If we have to detain them, we will detain them. As of now, we do not know anybody who is affiliated with them." Adaza, along with Army Lieutenant Colonel Oscarlito Mapalo, retired Army Col. Ernie Amboy, retired Marine Col. Cesar dela Peña and retired police Superintendent Rafael Cardeño – were arrested for proposing to commit a coup d'etat and obstruction of justice last Wednesday in Ortigas, Pasig City. For his part, Marine commandant Major General Ben Dolorfino was equally confident that no Marine soldiers will join a new destabilization move, noting that by now, the soldiers have already realized that they are just used as pawns by civilians in past coups. “No one will join such coup plots. I think no will join that because the soldiers are aware that in the past coup attempts that they were just used by civilians. After seeing what happened in the past, no one will allow himself to be fooled again," said Dolorfino. He said dela Peña does not have a following in the Marines, saying the officer is widely perceived to have destroyed the image of the Marines when he joined the December 1989 coup. Dela Peña is affiliated with the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansa ng Makabansa and was implicated in the bloodiest coup in December 1989. He was then the commander of the 4th Marine Battalion Landing Team. “He has no following. It's no secret that he destroyed the image of the Philippine Marines by joining the coup attempt in December 1989. He was the battalion commander of MBLT-4 that joined the coup attempt. I think his credibility to the Marines is low," said Dolorfino. Dolorfino said he has not monitored any coup plot involving active Marine officers and men. He said he was surprised to read in the newspapers that Adaza’s group were plotting a coup, adding: “We thought, there will no longer be coup plans because previous coups have failed." - GMANews.TV