PMA topnotcher, ‘goat’ set goals

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — The topnotcher of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA)’s "Banyuhay" Class 2002 wants the head of Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya. The class "goat," on the other hand, has an instant reward: deployment in strife-torn Basilan.

Cadet First Class Antonio Domingo Jr. is eager to capture or neutralize Sabaya, whose real name is Aldam Tilao, as soon as his orders to be deployed to Mindanao are finalized.

"I think I can, I will get him (Sabaya)," Domingo, who will enter the Marines as a second lieutenant, told reporters who asked him about his plans against the extremist Abu Sayyaf group.

Domingo graduated No. 1 in his batch, the Banyuhay class of 138, which held its graduation exercises here yesterday.

The topnotcher, who hails from Isabela, was awarded plaques in the humanities and social sciences.

On the other hand, the wish of class "goat" Gregory Chungsayan Inumpa of Bontoc, Mt. Province, was President Arroyo’s command.

Inumpa, who grew up in Baguio City and was delayed two years in the academy for flunking his math subjects, earlier expressed his wish to be sent to Mindanao to fight enemies of the State.

The newly graduated Army second lieutenant was granted his wish by no less than Mrs. Arroyo.

"I understand he has been dying to go to the southernmost part of the Philippines, so I am asking General (Diomedio) Villanueva to send him immediately to Lantawan, Basilan," the President said.

Domingo said he is very much in favor of the ongoing RP-US Balikatan exercises in Mindanao as it will help the country fight terrorists on its own soil.

"The training exercises with the US is very, very crucial not only because it will combat terrorism but it will also help maintain the standards of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)," he said.

He said it is a painful reality that not only the PMA but also the AFP remains ill-equipped, which, he said, is in stark contrast with the dedication, professionalism and bravery of the Filipino soldier.

"Because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks... we (Class 2002) are very supportive of whatever the government has and are willing to implement to stop terrorism," he said.

Inumpa’s "reward" was actually for the "privilege" speech he delivered at the prompting of his "mistahs."

His rambling emotion-filled speech was somewhat out of character, coming from an "inefficacious and fruitless member" of the class, which was how he described himself.

Inumpa, who graduated the last in his class, was entitled like past goats to perform an antic at the commencement exercises.

But little did PMA head Maj. Gen. Rufus de Veyra realize that it would be a departure from past goat antics that were short and sweet, like breakdancing.

In fairness to Inumpa, he started out by asking Mrs. Arroyo’s permission to "deliver a few messages."

"We have produced a new method of a privilege for the goat and for his very unusual use of his privilege," Mrs. Arroyo told a crowd of parents who may have wished that their children not be sent to the South.

She said Inumpa’s assignment in Lantawan was "actually not a reward but a punishment" for "surprising" her, the PMA superintendent, and Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

After Inumpa’s speech, the President delivered her own relatively short address where she called on the new soldiers to "go to the battlefields, go to your civic action ... go and serve the nation."

Armed Forces chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva told The STAR the newly commissioned officers will be "spread out" all over the country for their first assignments, "but definitely one will be going straight to Lantawan, Basilan."

But Inumpa may not be deployed to the country’s fightingest area just yet because he has to go through further training. "Mag-schooling muna sila," Villanueva said.

Inumpa’s father, an enlisted personnel now stationed at the PMA, beamed with pride as he embraced his son at Borromeo Field after the siakus were thrown into the air.

Army M/Sgt. Greg Inumpa, who has spent 30 years in active military service, said he knew his son would be the class goat. "I have been monitoring his low grades," he said, in particular algebra and calculus.

The elder Inumpa said he felt scared about his son’s new assignment straight into the lairs of Muslim extremists, but this was part of a soldier’s life.

"The country needs my son," he said.

Two other graduates had caught the President’s attention, both of them female.

The President, dubbed "Asia’s Iron Lady," cited the lady cadet who was earlier described by De Veyra as "the PMA’s strongwoman."

For the first time in six years that the PMA has been graduating female cadets, Tabuk, Kalinga’s Jessie Rose Cabacsan Ducalen obtained what has been thought to be a traditionally male award – the Athletic Saber award.

Mrs. Arroyo also cited the No. 10 graduate, Jean Alia Yasin Robles of Baliuag, Bulacan, whose mother is a Muslim.

Robles, the lone female in the PMA Top 10 this year, said she wants to serve down South. — With Paolo Romero, Aurora Alambra