These days it cannot be easy being a member of the AFP. It must be rather stressful having to deal with not only security threats to the nation but also with a President who publically questions your loyalty and accuses you of being involved in an ouster plot.
Lacson, a former police chief, said the military should check on its men through counterintelligence.
"Even without the president directing it, the AFP leadership should already be doing the loyalty check by way of counterintelligence and other similar built-in mechanisms," he said in a statement.
"Failing to do so would create more serious problems for them," he added.
Lacson meanwhile noted that despite rumors of an alleged ouster plot, the President should not worry since he enjoys the "overwhelming" support of the majority of soldiers.
"The President should not worry. Kasi sa sarili naming (based on our own) assessment, he has the overwhelming support of the vast majority of the Armed Forces,” he said.
“We’ve been talking to many military officers, even police officers and most of them, lahat halos na nakausap namin, they are happy with the way the President is treating the AFP and PNP (Philippine National Police). Spoiled nga eh. Remember buhos sweldo, benefits, lahat binibigay niya,” he added.
(Almost everyone we talked to in the military and even the police are happy with the way the President is treating the AFP and PNP. They are even spoiled. Remember they are showered with salaries, benefits, he has been giving them everything.)
The AFP is happy with Duterte but a loyalty check should be done anyway? What are these counterintelligence measurers? And who checks the loyalty of the loyalty checkers? The President has wrecked the economy with the TRAIN law just so the AFP and PNP could have their
salaries doubled. He loves them and they love him. How many times does the AFP have to declare their loyalty?
Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva, Philippine Army (PA) spokesman, said that as far as the ranks of the PA are concerned, they have not monitored any of their personnel to be actively involved in hatching a plan to overthrow the Duterte administration under the so-called “Red October” plot.
“Wala kaming namo-monitor na mga ganyang issue (We have not monitored such kind of issue). No recruitment; no intel reports that some or few of our army soldiers are planning to oust the President.
At present, the Philippine Army has an estimated 96,000 personnel in its fold.
Villanueva, at the same time, stressed that there is no need for a loyalty check among their ranks as they remain loyal to the government and their morale is very high.
“I guess there’s no need for that (loyalty check). We already have transformed into a professional army which is mission centric and dedicated to serve and protect the people,” Villanueva said.
No need for the loyalty check says the spokesman for the Army and the Navy, Marines, and Air Force concur saying there is no evidence that any soldiers are planning to participate in a plot to oust Duterte.
The AFP is so desperate to absolve themselves of being involved in a coup plot that they are going along with Duterte by agreeing that a coup is planned but pointing fingers elsewhere.
On Tuesday, however, the Armed Forces of the Philippines issued a press statement saying the search warrant served by the NBI was issued after “months of intelligence operations” against communist guerrillas hiding in the area.
The AFP identified the targets of the intelligence gathering as Armando Lazarte, alias “Pat” and “Romano,” secretary of the Sub-Regional Military Area 4A of the communist New People’s Army; and Tirso Alcantara, alias Bart, a former NPA regional commander.
The statement quoted Brigadier Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade, as saying that soldiers and NBI agents served the warrant on a farm believed to be providing “a safe house” for top NPA leaders in Southern Tagalog.
“The presence of top NPA leaders and the proximity of Teresa town to Manila are indicators that the threat of Red October cannot be downplayed and that the plotters are just awaiting an opportunity to execute their plans,” Burgos said.
But NBI insiders, who asked not to be named in this report lest they incur the ire of superiors, expressed surprise and dismay over the way the military reported the raid.
For one, they complained about the phrase “joint operation” used by the AFP, saying the soldiers only served as security backup of NBI agents—a common arrangement when they are operating in far-flung areas.
They also pointed out that the AFP was not part of the case buildup leading to the raid. “The military was never part of the surveillance. They did nothing. Nothing,” one of the insiders said. “This is disappointing. Is this the way our soldiers think?”
Is it really disappointing? Put yourself in their shoes. Duterte has publicly accused AFP soldiers of being involved in an ouster plot.
“I was hurt because some people in the military are communicating with the Liberal Party, those rebel soldiers. I can’t understand their loyalty,” the President said.
“That’s my ill feeling toward those soldiers. I don’t mind if they get angry with me. That’s nothing. But to be in cahoots with the enemy? I can step down anytime. But the problem is the nation... If you are true to your country, do not bed with the enemy,” Duterte added.
No one in the AFP is going to stand up to Duterte and say he is crazy or lying. It's much better to go with the flow by saying, "Yes, Sir, there is an ouster plot" to Duterte and deflecting blame upon any group that can take it. The AFP is covering their butts.
Perhaps the AFP would do well to use the counterintelligence measures advocated for the loyalty check to keep an eye on ISIS related groups in Mindanao.
Abu Sayyaf sub-commanders are regrouping after nearly two years on the run.
Some top sub-commanders, who were believed to have been killed in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 all-out war against the Abu Sayyaf in their Jolo island stronghold, have resurfaced and are now targeting the east coast to kidnap “high value” victims.
A “resurrected” sub-commander is Indang Susukan, who was widely reported to have died when his wife and children were killed during a security forces’ attack on his home base in Talipao on Jolo island.
Indang, according to a regional intelligence source, is working with another Abu Sayyaf sub-commander, Hatib Sawadjan, who managed to stay out of sight during the crackdown on the Abu Sayyaf.
The source said Indang and Hatib received financing from southern Philippine political warlords growing edgy over the newly introduced Bangsamoro Organic Law (also known as Bangsamoro Basic Law).
According to the source, the warlords – through Abu Sayyaf sub-commanders – have so far financed up to 1.7 million pesos (RM170,000) for two kidnap-for-ransom groups to carry out kidnapping in Sabah’s east coast waters.
Not only is Abu Sayyaf making a comeback but apparently they are being financed by Mindanaoan warlords who are not happy with the BOL. Who are these warlords? Who is the regional intelligence source for this article? Is it the AFP? With their track record, as evidenced by ignoring intelligence which could have prevented the Marawi siege, it would seem not. In fact from the response of the Palace it would seem as if they were caught off guard by this report.
“Well, what I can say is that we are ready to face the threats of the Abu Sayyaf,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.
“Expect it that whatever regrouping they do, the government can wipe them out,” Roque added.
Note that Roque does not say the government is aware of these threats and is dealing with them accordingly. He says "we are ready to face the threats of the Abu Sayyaf." That does not sound at all like they were aware of this situation. Now the Philippine government is back to where they were two years ago.
But the most important thing, according to Padilla, is the guidance of Duterte to rescue remaining hostages of the terrorist group and bring peace to the area.
They always talk about peace in Mindanao but peace remains ever elusive. Even the passing of the BOL has not brought peace but instead has lead to local warlords funding Abu Sayyf! How many all-out wars conducted by the AFP have resulted in a decline with a resurgence following only a few months later? How many times will the AFP claim victory only to have the same cycle of violence repeat itself?
How many more hostages will be taken this time around?
His family is rumored to have paid a ransom of P200,000 for his release.
Mijares said probers are still validating the alleged payment of ransom to the kidnappers.
"The government doesn’t allow that. We are to verify that yet," he said.
The government doesn't allow a lot of things but they still happen. Who can blame this family for paying Abu Sayyaf so they don't behead their loved one??
Even when the AFP does go after Abu Sayyaf they end up inciting the ire of the local population.
Seven Tausug men killed in what the military said was a clash between soldiers and terrorists were civilians, according to results of an investigation by two human rights commissions.
...findings made by the Commission on Human Rights and Human Rights Commission of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao showed that the slain men — aged 16 to 30 years old — were all civilians and not Abu Sayyaf members, as claimed by the military.
The families of the men said the seven had sought permission from soldiers to harvest fruits from their trees on the day they were arrested.
The military said the men were among some 70 members of Abu Sayyaf who clashed with a group of Scout Rangers belonging to Class 205-18 in the village of Bakong in Patikul town, Sulu.
What's a solider to do? He's in the heat of battle pursuing a group of terrorists through the jungle. Is he supposed to put down his weapon and affirm the identity of everyone involved in the clash? Just because these men were civilians does not mean they were not helping Abu Sayyaf in some way. Why else would they be in the same area? Harvesting fruit? Really? What a coincidence that they happened to be harvesting fruit in the same spot where Abu Sayyaf was hanging out and a clash with the AFP occurred.
It is best not to jump to conclusions about the affiliation of these seven civilians, some of who were children under 18, with Abu Sayyaf. The AFP so hated by local population and
terrorists lauded as heroes by children and adults with some
children even working with ISIS that it would not be surprising at all if these men were affiliates of one kind or another. In fact just this week two child soldiers surrendered to the AFP.
Security officials said 16 members of the New People's Army—including two alleged child soldiers—surrendered to the military in Guipos town, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday.
The Philippines is signatory to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, which also prohibits non-state armed groups from recruiting anyone under the age of 18 for any purpose.
Why would a group of terrorists care about whatever international agreements to which the Philippines is a signatory?
Peace has not come to the area. Not with warlords unhappy with the BOL financing Abu Sayyaf. Ironic that the AFP has to play teacher to educate the people about the BOL.
Why should the AFP be educating anyone on the BOL? That should be the job of the MILF. It screams of partisanship in a bad way and it takes away from the work the AFP should be doing which is protecting the nation from the very real threat of ISIS, other Muslim terrorists, and the communist NPA. Don't these soldiers realise that the BOL will be an Islamic State? That it's existence is the goal that ISIS is working towards? Imagine being a solider who has taken an oath to protect your country and you have to educate people about a law which compromises your nation's security.
It sure is a hard knock life for an AFP soldier. Your loyalty is questioned, you have to promote a law which will ultimately harm your nation, you have to fight real threats from terrorists, and you have to face up to the fact that you are not enough. The organisation you belong to, the AFP, needs a much larger nation to prop you up.
Galvez said the meeting with Davidson, held at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, ensured the continued robust relations between the Philippines and the US militaries with both agreeing to conduct 281 security cooperation activities for 2019, an increase over 2018.
“We have been doing this year after year and yet there is still so much left to learn. We hope that this year would be another fruitful interaction that will lead to favorable outcome. May our discussions lead to actions, and may these actions thereby lead us to success,” Galvez said.
Still so much left to learn? The AFP is both the teacher and the student!
