Aquino ‘surprised’ by Bangsamoro manifesto
SEVERAL GROUPS of retired military and police servicemen, a number of retired chiefs-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and one retired chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) called for the junking of the peace agreements between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in a published “manifesto” that President Benigno S. C. Aquino III said took him by surprise.
In a “Manifesto of Retired Officers” published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday, the groups urged the Supreme Court to declare as null and void the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), saying these agreements violate the Philippine Constitution.
The 13 groups which signed the call include the following:
* Association of General and Flag Officers
* National ROTC Alumni Association
* Kampilan Peacekeepers Association
* Fraternal Organization of ROTC Reservists and Veterans
* Filipino War Veterans Foundation
* Philippine National Police Retirees Association
* Veteran Generals and Flag Officers Federation
* Cavliers 57
* Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association
* Kapisanan ng Kawal Mindanao
* Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache Association
* Last Watering Hole
* Reform the Armed Forces Movement Foundation
Retired PNP chief Umberto A. Rodriguez also signed the manifesto, together with retired AFP chiefs Efren I. Abu, Dionisio R. Santiago, Generoso S. Sengu and Alexander B. Yano.
Political analyst Ramon C. Casiple said that in the military and police service, retired officials tend to have an influence on their junior officers given the culture and nature of these organizations.
“Within the military and police circles, they are influential in a sense that the active leaders now used to be their junior officers,” Mr. Casiple said in a phone interview Monday afternoon.
“I’m not saying that they can actually command their junior officers but we can say that their influence to them is considerable,” he added.
Mr. Aquino said he was “surprised” by the statement, as he noted several among the signatories used to be part of the security cluster.
“So, I was surprised that their reaction was to that degree and that they have objections,” Mr. Aquino told reporters Monday.
“Maybe what’s good is to have a public dialogue with them... so everyone can see if their position on the matter has sound basis,” he added.
In the manifesto, the groups called for safeguards on the proposed BBL, including provisions stating that the proposed Bangsamoro region is “a constituent part of the Republic of the Philippines.”
Other provisions being pushed in the manifesto include a renouncement of separatism, disarmament of all combatants six months after the agreement’s ratification, and conformity of the proposed Bangsamoro region with the Philippine Constitution. –read more at Business World Online
