AFP spy chief: No politics in advocacy group

MANILA, Philippines - The military’s chief intelligence officer has admitted to creating an advocacy group but denied that it would be used for politics in the coming 2010 elections, said spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner.

Brawner said Intelligence Service-Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Prestoza has admitted forming Aagapay Foundation that focuses on values formation and character building.

“General Prestoza said it is not really an advocacy group but an advocacy in itself,” he said.

Brawner said the objective of Aagapay is to strengthen family values that are centered on the belief in God.

“Every morning, they read the Bible or the Koran. According to him, no other unit in the AFP does this,” he said.

Someone claiming to be an ISAFP agent codenamed A32 alleged in a letter sent to news organizations that Aagapay would be used for the coming elections.

Attached to A32’s letter was an application form for those who wish to become members of Aagapay.

The application form shows that the group’s address is at V.V Soliven Shopping Center in Ortigas.

Brawner said Prestoza started Aagapay when he assumed the top post at ISAFP and his subordinates were initially his followers.

He said the advocacy started spreading outside Camp Aguinaldo and is now reaching out to various groups.

Brawner said Aagapay followers give livelihood guidance for family members, although Prestoza claimed they have no funds.

Aside from values formation, Aagapay also advocates environmental protection because Prestoza believed the values within the family would not prosper if they don’t have a clean environment to live in.

Brawner said Aagapay’s concept has been presented to AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado, who in turn, welcomed it.

Prestoza belongs to PMA Class ’78, which has adopted President Arroyo.

PMA ’78 to remain loyal to the Constitution

The PMA Class of 1978 has given assurance that it would remain loyal to the Constitution and would not allow its members to be used for any unlawful actions such as coup d’ etat and the rumored no-election or “no-el” scenario.

Former President Fidel Ramos warned over the weekend that Class ’78 is being used by President Arroyo to hatch the so-called no-el or no election scenario.

Ramos was also quoted in a newspaper report as saying that PMA Class ’78 doesn’t have the loyalty of the majority of the uniformed services.

Southern Luzon Command chief, Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali said they were inclined to think that Ramos was misquoted by newspapers.

“We are sure that former President Ramos was misquoted because as former chief of staff, we believe he would not undermine the integrity of the military and the police by insinuating that soldiers are not loyal to their officers,” he said.

“Time and again, our soldiers have proven their professionalism, courage and loyalty to the duly-constituted authorities, which include their own officers.”

“We thank him for warning against adventurism in the military, particularly now that the elections are nearing. Former President Ramos was one of the military officers who helped mold the members of Class ’78; we have seen how he commanded the military and dealt with it during the many coups d’etat against former President Aquino,” he said.

PMA Class ‘78, whose members include Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena and National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Roberto Rosales, has been rumored to be plotting a power grab within the AFP under the so-called “Oplan August Moon.”

This plot allegedly plans to propel several members to key positions in the AFP by October, but this has been repeatedly denied by class members.

“We assure him that the members of PMA Class 1978 are professionals, and as professionals, we remain loyal to the Constitution and the government. We have our respective mandates and we will not be distracted from accomplishing these,” he said.

Still, young military officials called on PMA Class’78 members to heed Ramos’ call by resisting attempts to extend President Arroyo’s term. – With Delon Porcalla