BAGUIO CITY – The top graduates of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1974 were no-shows at homecoming ceremonies here yesterday in the shadow of alleged plots to assassinate President Arroyo and fresh protests calling for her resignation.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and “mistah” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. both canceled their scheduled attendance at the homecoming as their guest of honor Mrs. Arroyo did earlier for security reasons.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also stayed away from the celebration.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), said the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group and its allies were behind plans to assassinate the President.
Prestoza said police uncovered the assassination plot last week, adding, “It’s not only the President who is the target, but also other people... and embassies.”
Esperon confirmed the assassination plot in saying former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who have allied with the Abu Sayyaf are part of the plot to kill the President.
Esperon said the assassination plot allegedly involved a sniper ready to strike when the opportunity arises.
AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said Esperon decided to stay and monitor the security situation “because he wants to be in a better position.”
“Duty calls that (Esperon) maintains physical presence in Manila to personally supervise things in case something happens,” Bacarro said.
“(Esperon) would have wanted to (attend) but he wants to be in a better position because there are threats that may happen over the weekend,” he said.
Bacarro even joked the AFP chief did not have a vehicle to use on his way here.
Razon also cited the same reasons. “I chose to personally monitor proceedings of the rally, monitoring lang,” Razon said, referring to the protest actions in Makati City last Friday where thousands of rallyists massed up to call for the President’s resignation.
Razon said he would also monitor the scheduled Mass today at La Salle Greenhills in support of Senate star witness Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, who testified on the national broadband network controversy.
Razon said security plans have been put in place for today’s prayer rally to be held at the La Salle Greenhills gym in Mandaluyong City.
Mrs. Arroyo, an adopted member of PMA “Matikas” Class of 1978 hosting the homecoming, was represented by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, while Esperon was represented by AFP vice chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog also failed to show up at the ceremonies.
Of the military’s top commanders, it was only Navy flag officer-in-command Vice Admiral Rogelio Calunsag, also a graduate of PMA Class of 1974, who made it to yesterday’s affair.
The absence of the PMA’s top honchos, however, failed to dampen the spirit of cavaliers, who took time out to attend the affair, which is looked forward to every year by graduates of the country’s premier military institution.
Some of the most prominent personalities who attended were Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, former PNP chief Oscar Calderon, former AFP chief Generoso Senga, and Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, representing the graduates of PMA Class 1961.
Ermita, a graduate of PMA Class 1967, said the President even called him up to check if he was able to arrive here.
“I told her ‘yes Ma’am, I am already here.’ That shows how hands-on the President is,” Ermita remarked.
Ermita did not mention the security threat against the President but emphasized the need to eradicate poverty to defeat the decades-old Maoist insurgency waged by the New People’s Army (NPA) in the countryside.
“Their eventual demise will come as a matter of course. But let us remember that a holistic approach is needed. We need to continue to address poverty,” he said.
In his speech, Ermita also stressed the PMA graduates in the Armed Forces and the PNP should always be insulated from partisan politics and resolve to live up to the mandate of upholding civilian authority.
Ermita also took the opportunity to announce the release of P300 million next week to finance the housing projects for policemen.
“While there are efforts of some sectors to project that some funds are being taken away from housing for soldiers and policemen, in 2006 to 2007, we have released P700 million for housing. As a matter of fact, as I am speaking before you now, the Department of Budget and Management will release next week P300 million for housing for policemen,” he said. - With Ric Sapnu