New Marine chief vows action vs ‘destab’ plotters

The new Marine commandant on Sunday assured the military’s chain of command headed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Marine Corps’ loyalty even as he vowed to decisively act against threats of destabilization on the government. “We are assuring those up in the chain of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that that (loyalty) is always on the mind of the leadership of the Philippine Marine Corps," Maj. Gen. Ben Dolorfino said in a radio interview. Mrs Arroyo is on top of the chain of command, she being the military’s commander-in-chief. Second to the President under the chain of command is Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. Dolorfino is the second official to head the Marine Corps since February 25 last year when then Marine commandant Renato Miranda supposedly planned to lead Marine officers and men to Edsa Shrine and withdraw its support from Mrs Arroyo. Apart from Miranda, the other officials implicated in the failed power grab were then Scout Ranger Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Ariel Querubin and Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon. “Whatever we will do is to the interest of the broad masses of people regardless of their political beliefs, religions and ethnic identity," said Dolorfino, who succeeded Miranda’s predecessor - Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga who had been promoted to head the Western Mindanao Command. Reports had it that some quarters are plotting destabilization moves in time for the upcoming announcement of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan of its decision on the plunder case of former president Joseph Estrada. Reports also indicated that the Senate’s re-opening of the investigation on the “Hello, Garci" scandal and the fighting between the Marines and the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan could be part of the destabilization moves. Dolorfino, who is temporarily heading the military’s National Capital Region Command, said he had the reports on destabilization efforts but “so far we have not seen specific information on that [matter]." “But if there occurs (a destabilization move), that will be attended to decisively, meaning we have to neutralize the threat as soon as possible…My reminder to them (Marines) is that we should be the guardians of our democratic institutions," said Dolorfino. In his assumption speech last Friday, Dolorfino said changes in the political system should be done by elected representatives of the people and through the “democratic processes." “There should be no undemocratic action like destabilization, like coup d’etats, that is why I emphasized in my assumption speech that we will never be an instrument for the desecration of our democratic institutions," he said. Dolorfino said his position regarding the case of Miranda and Querubin “is always reconciliatory." The two officers are currently incarcerated at the headquarters of the 2nd Infantry Division in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, to face court martial. “If there are still wayward minds out there, I hope they will come home and be true Marines. We have things that we protect in our organization and that’s all stated in the Marine oath…It stated there that we should keep our organization as one and be trusted by the people," he said. “My message to the people is that you can be assured that your Philippine Marine Corps always protects the interest of Filipinos, whatever is their political belief, religion or ethnic identity," Dolorfino added.- GMANews.TV