Palace on Trillanes survey: 'It's for a good purpose'

Malacañang defended on Wednesday the survey conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the soldiers' sentiments regarding the foreseen senatorial victory of detained Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former AFP vice chief of staff, told reporters that the survey is “for a good purpose" because it intends to evaluate the conditions within the military. He also said the survey is not made to check the loyalty of the military to the Arroyo administration. “It’s just to assure that things are all right within his command, it has no bearing whatsoever as to whether they are conducting a loyalty check for anybody. It’s just the inherent responsibility of a commander to see to it that it everything is ok within his command," he said. Ermita said the feelings or sentiments of the soldiers are important especially in the performance of their duties and accomplishments of missions. He said a commanding general is responsible for the performance of his unit and to be able to accomplish a mission, his soldiers should be “well-motivated and properly informed about the situation." Ermita added that such “surveys" are not new. He said the military, particularly the AFP Civil Service Relations Division did those before. The AFP survey on Trillanes contains 20 items that can be answered either by SA (strongly agree), A (agree), U (unsure), D (disagree) or SD (strongly disagree). The survey asks how soldiers feel on the following: 1. In the May 2007 elections, is it possible that many personnel, active or retired, have also supported the candidacy of ex-Lt. Trillanes? 2. Voters have cast their votes for Trillanes to openly express their disappointment with the present national leadership. 3. The votes cast in favor of ex-Lt. Trillanes reflect the people’s trust in his competence for good governance. 4. Within the military organization, a Trillanes’ vote indicates a compelling desire for change in the military/defense establishment. 5. Within the AFP, a Trillanes’ vote implies defiance on the present AFP top brass. 6. I perceive ex-Lt Trillanes, who is a military man, to have a limited knowledge in governance. 7. Trillanes is successful in his senatorial bid because of the public’s dissatisfaction with the military/defense leadership. 8. Ex-Lt. Trillanes definitely provides a strong leadership. 9. Many have supported Trillanes’ candidacy because he represents reform in the Armed Forces. 10. The concerns of the soldiers will be better represented when Trillanes becomes senator. 11. Ex Lt Trillanes should be released on bail by the time he sits as senator 12. Ex Lt Trillanes should have waited for the conclusion of the charges against him before running for public office. 13. Coming from the military organization, ex-LT Trillanes can bring forth significant changes for the AFP, should he get elected. 14. Ex-Lt Trillanes wants to be in power so he cannot be made accountable for his fault in the Oakwood event. 15. I believe that ex-Lt Trillanes is supported by politicians who want a divided AFP. 16. The votes that ex-LT Trillanes got are expressions of the public’s diminished confidence in the military organization. 17. The support that Trillanes got in the last election represents a silent approval that agrees with extra-constitutional resort to achieve organizational change. 18. If this country requires radical alternatives such as launching coup d’etat to achieve reforms, then so be it. 19. Voluntarily, ex-LT Trillanes could have forged an alliance with the left for his senatorial andidacy. 20. Left-leaning groups have supported Trillanes because they saw in him a rallying point to promote their cause. - GMANews.TV