RAM pledges support for Rody

MANILA, Philippines - Leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) have pledged support for President Duterte and his administration amid criticisms on continuing corruption at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), as well as human rights concerns over his bloody anti-drug campaign.

This came after RAM leaders, mostly retired, arrived in full force – including Capt. Felix Turingan, resigned Capt. Glen Agudo, Navy Commodore Rex Robles, Col. Marcelino Malajacan Jr., Col. Hernando Caraig, Col. James Joven, Police Director Victor Batac and engineer Jegie Pereda – at Malacañang on Wednesday.

Demonstrating that their bonds are deep and even closer than brothers, Duterte and Sen. Gregorio Honasan joined their fists as part of the movement’s customary greeting among comrades of RAM, a scene captured by Palace photographers.

It was during the brief meeting that the RAM, instrumental in ousting former president Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, assured the President of the group’s strong support for his administration.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol were also present during the meeting held a little over a year since Duterte assumed the presidency.

Malacañang officials gave scant details of the RAM-Duterte meeting, just as his administration has been under attack from human rights advocates in relation to the bloody drug war, the peace talks with the Reds gone awry and corruption allegations against BOC officials who are former military officials.

The meeting also came a few days after Honasan posted bail for a case related to his alleged misuse of pork barrel funds.

Dubbed as “Big Brother” by the Oakwood mutineers, Honasan was hunted by authorities for his role in the failed coup on July 27, 2003 in the Makati business district. 

During the standoff, the public saw the rise to popularity of then young officers: Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who was a Navy officer at the time; embattled Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon, who was then Marine captain, and his commissioners Milo Maestrecampo and Neil Estrella.?Since becoming mayor of Davao City, Duterte has been part of RAM, which was also instrumental in convincing him to run for president last year. 

In his previous public speeches, Duterte admitted that he accommodated Honasan when he was wanted for rebellion during the past administration.  

During the launch of the humanitarian vessel of the Philippine Red Cross last May, Duterte revealed that he helped Honasan evade authorities during one of the times when the senator became a fugitive from the law.