AFP destabilization claims unsubstantiated, jailed officers say

The government’s recent claim of destabilization is a mere propaganda to “manipulate" soldiers, the group of military officers jailed for their alleged participation in the February 2006 coup attempt on Friday said. In a statement, 28 officers undergoing court martial proceedings for last year’s February 24 coup attempt said the administration’s destabilization claim remains “unsubstantiated." The group added that at times, the military leadership gains from scaring Malacañang with a “specter of the bogeyman." “Unless they substantiate their disclosure with names, a statement like this is paranoid, a psy-war to threaten and manipulate our soldiers," the group said. “Every so often, it serves the AFP leadership to hound Malacañang with the specter of the bogeyman," it added. Among the officers facing the general court martial for supposedly planning a failed power grab against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2006 are then-Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, then-Scout Ranger Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Col. Ariel Querubin and Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon. The group said that while the military leadership continues to suppress progressive sentiments in the ranks, most soldiers still share the group’s sentiments to restore “dignity and respect" in the institution. “The Armed Forces leadership has now become the permanent vehicle to suppress voices of truth which can indeed be contagious… Majority of the soldiers share our sentiments to restore the dignity and respect to our institution as vanguards of democracy. The high percentage of men in uniform who voted for a young Navy lieutenant to the Senate is a good barometer," the group said. Meanwhile, wives of the jailed military officers distributed t-shirts during the resumption of the court martial proceedings in Tanay, Rizal. In front, the shirts had the picture of the 28 jailed officers, and bore the following text at the back: "A Few Good Men What our country needs today are men of will, Who dare to go against the the tyrants and oppressors, Our nation does not need orators who know just what to say, It does not need authorities to reason a way, But our nation needs just a few good men. Men of full compassion and courage, Men who will face eternity and are not afraid to die, Men who will fight for freedom, justice and dignity. Our country calls the one who has the strength to stand up for the truth. Rise up and be counted." - GMANews.TV