YOU ‘originals’ pledge loyalty, support to administration

Original members of the military rightist group Young Officers Union (YOU) emerged from the shadows yesterday and pledged their full support to the Arroyo administration.

In a manifesto, the YOU members denounced the use of their organization "for selfish political and partisan interests, personal aggrandizement and mercenary ends."

Reacting to the group’s gesture, President Arroyo said military uprisings to topple an unpopular go-vernment have become a thing of the past.

A 20-man YOU delegation called on the President last night to pledge their loyalty and support. They were accompanied by Defense Secretary Angelo Re-yes, Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr.

"As officers, soldiers and law enforcers, we warn the plotters and destabilizers, whoever they are, that we shall fight to the death such conspiracies against the people, the Constitution, the government and the state. This is our sworn duty and we shall abide by it," the group stressed.

They said they will not hesitate in coming to the defense of the duly constituted government.

The two-page manifesto signed by 73 police and military officers who said they were the organizers and original members of YOU stated that they had not authorized anyone to speak or represent the group.

"We were the officers and men of the First Scout Ranger Regiment and other units from the Philippine Army, the Philippine Marines, the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Navy and the (defunct) Philippine Constabulary who delivered the warm bodies," the group declared.

The officers, now occupying mid-level positions in the police and military organizations, stressed that YOU was disbanded after the signing of a formal peace agreement between the government and military rightist rebels in October 1995.

"Let it be known to everyone that we have not mandated anyone to speak for us or represent the organization. People who continue to perpetuate the specter of YOU have only less than noble intentions for this hoax," the manifesto stated.

They urged the media, political groups and government organizations to refrain from playing up alleged sentiments of YOU.

"Let this manifesto put an end to all issues on the YOU. Let us not resurrect the dead. Let it rest in peace and undesecrated," the document said.

The group clarified that their clamor for reforms persisted, although they kept actions within the bounds of the chain of command and in accordance with their capabilities and responsibilities.

Mrs. Arroyo was visibly pleased as Lt. Col. Jerry Amante read the manifesto.

"I admire your courage and integrity in identifying yourselves in order to debunk reports linking YOU (to the alleged coup plots). Through your statement, you will help finally put to rest all these baseless rumors and even media reports of coups and destablization plots," the President said.

Among those who signed the manifesto were Colonels Cesar de la Peña, Ariel Querubin, Juancho Sabban, Jose Gamos, Rolando Detabali, Herbert Avinante; Lieutenant Colonels Essel Soriano, Fidel Legiralde, Arman Bañez, Reynaldo Ordoñez, Nestor Flordeliza and police Superintendent Boogie Calungsod.

Controversial Superintendents Rafael Cardeno, YOU founding chairman, and Diosdado Valeroso, were reportedly disallowed from signing the manifesto by their colleagues who threatened to withdraw their names if the two were included.

Cardeno and Valeroso have been implicated in the Dec. 31 gunslaying of self-styled YOU spokesman Baron Cervantes. Col. Danilo Lim said his group was willing to help solve the murder.

The President hailed YOU’s move, saying it should "mark everyone’s realization that coup attempts in our country are a thing of the past and that it is ancient history."

"Let us put to rest all these inanities about coup plots and unite to push our country forward, to uplift the life of our poorest."

Meanwhile, the President reunited with key players in the people power II that catapulted her to the presidency in January 2001 as she unveiled a marker at the lobby of Linden Suites in Mandaluyong City where anti-Estrada forces mapped out strategies.

Linden Suites on San Miguel Avenue served as the "command post" of the political opposition during the four-day military-backed popular uprising that unseated then President Joseph Estrada.

Mrs. Arroyo called the affair a "get-together" of her supporters, among them former President Fidel Ramos, Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Education Secretary Raul Roco, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza and National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force chief Deputy Director General Hermogenes Ebdane.

The President also inaugurated the boardroom at the fourth floor of the hotel, that was named after her, which was used as the war room of her supporters during the bloodless people’s revolt also known as EDSA Dos.

She said today’s commemoration rites of the culmination of EDSA Dos would be simple, highlighted by a holy Mass.

Mrs. Arroyo drew criticisms from the Council on Philippine Affairs, the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and other militant people’s groups who were barred last Wednesday from using the Mary Queen of Peace Shrine on E. de los Santos Avenue in Mandaluyong.

The Catholic hierarchy prohibited the use of the shrine for political rallies. — With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Sheila Crisostomo