Philippine Defense Chief Receives Rebel Weapons, Tells Stories To School Children In Mindanao

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro receives an M-16 rifle from a suspected New People’s Army rebel who surrendered to the Philippine Army in Davao City in the southern Mindanao Island on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Teodoro also told stories and distributed books to school children inside the Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters. (AKP Images / Keith Bacongco)

Defense chief Teodoro seeks Arroyo nod for 2010 polls

MANILA, Philippines - The head of the Philippines' defense establishment, who belongs to one of the country's most powerful clans, said on Tuesday he wants to become the next president, following in the footsteps of two of his predecessors.

But before throwing his hat in the ring Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro wants to secure the endorsement of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her dominant Lakas-Kampi coalition.

"The president's endorsement is very important, being my direct boss," said Teodoro, a nephew of former President Corazon Aquino and of Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, chairman of San Miguel Corp.

"That's the best way to go," Teodoro told Reuters at his office at the main army base in Manila.
"I have to really wait for the political process that will decide who will be the ruling party's standard-bearer in the next presidential election."

Elections will be held in May 2010 and several senators have already said they will contest. But it was the first time Teodoro has indicated he could also be a candidate.

He is also the first candidate to openly court Arroyo's support. Almost all others are keeping a safe distance from the president because of allegations of corruption in her regime and her dismal showings in popularity polls.

"If I run independently without the machinery and without the commitments, that's a 'La Mancha' type of scenario," Teodoro told Reuters, referring to the play about Don Quixote, whose dreams were out of touch with reality.

He said he was confident he would be endorsed by Arroyo and her party.

"They would not have not given me the job of secretary of national defense in the first place if they had not trusted me," he said.

His wife, who used to be a commercial model, took over his Congress seat when Arroyo appointed him as defense secretary in 2007.

The former lawyer and three-term congressman aims to duplicate the political careers of two former presidents -- Ramon Magsaysay and Fidel Ramos -- who rose to the top after successes in the defense department.

Magsaysay, the first defense chief to be elected Philippine president, succeeded in breaking the back of the agrarian-based Huk rebellion in the early 1950s.

Ramos, a bemedalled retired general, was hailed as a hero of a popular revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos from power in 1986. Six years later, he became the second defense chief to win the country's highest political post.

An air force colonel in the reserve force who flies light planes and keeps himself fit with daily shadow boxing, Teodoro is hoping his crackdown on Muslim and communist rebels will boost his image. He has been a vocal champion of more investment in defense.

For the election, he is also counting on the backing of his uncle Eduardo Cojuangco, who heads cash-rich San Miguel and is one of the wealthiest men in the country.

But Teodoro said he is "on leave" from his uncle's Nationalist People's Coalition. The group is allied with Arroyo, but some party members are among the president's staunch critics, including popular Senators Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero, both of whom have also said they will run for president.

Teodoro shrugged off criticism about his low popularity.

"As far as I know, I am the only person who has spoken concretely about what we need in the future," he said.

"I have proven the capacity to stop corruption within the organization. I have the leadership to make things work and I have the vision forward. (Manny Mogato, Reuters)

Photo: Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro visits Sarangani province in the southern Philippines on Monday, December 1, 2008 where he is welcomed by Governor Miguel Dominguez. Teodoro and Dominguez led the ceremonial repair of school buildings in Maasim town as part of President Gloria Arroyo’s "Laban sa Kahirapan Project." (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion)

Defense Chief Orders Military To Help Refugees Return Home In Mindanao

Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro, Maj. Gen. Nehemias Pajarito and Col. Benito de Leon in Lanao del Norte province in southern Philippines on Sunday, November 16, 2008.

LANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 16, 2008) – Filipino Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro has ordered the military Sunday to hasten the return to normalcy of the communities affected by the deadly rampage of Moro rebels in Lanao del Norte province.

Rebels, led by Abdullah Macapaar, launched simultaneous attacks August 18 after the failed signing of the ancestral domain deal between the MILF and government peace negotiators that would have granted more than a separate homeland for more than four million Muslims in Mindanao.

Teodoro, accompanied by army commanders, made surprise visits at refugee shelters in the towns Munai and Poona Piagapo, all in Lanao del Norte, to check on the conditions of the refugees.

Teodoro took time to find out the concerns of the refugees and spoke with them about their plight and vowed to bring these to the attention of concerned government agencies. Among the problems in refugee shelters were the lack of medicines, food and potable water system.

Teodoro also noticed the poor road conditions, inadequate schools and security assurances during military operations against lawless groups. He also assured the locals that authorities would similarly run after groups that threaten their safety in the same manner the military is now hunting down Macapaar.

"We are here to protect all of you," he told the refugees, who cheered Teodoro.
Maj. Gen Nehemias Pajarito, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, who accompanied Teodoro, instructed Col. Benito de Leon, of the 104th Infantry Brigade, to help the refugees return to their homes.

Pajarito also appealed to the locals to help authorities in maintaining peace and order by reporting the presence of lawless groups. “This is important to ensure the safety and the restoration of peace in the communities,” Pajarito said.

De Leon said the communities are now secured from the lawless MILF groups after noting the absence of any atrocity for quite sometime as well as the successful conduct of special events and the smooth trips of visiting dignitaries.

Arroyo recently inspected a road project in the hinterland town of Nunungan. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)

New RP Defense Chief Visits Troops In Frontlines Of War In Volatile South

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Basilan Clash Adds Crack On Already Fragile Peace In Southern Philippines

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Dating Security Adviser, OIC Defense Chief Na; Bumanat Agad!

QUEZON CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 02 Jul) – Aminado ngayon ang kaluluklok na Officer-in-Charge ng Department of National Defense (DND) na si National Security Council (NSC) Adviser Norberto Gonzales na tagumpay o nakalalamang ang mga kalaban ng Estado sa mapanirang propaganda.

Isinagawa kanina ang turn-over ceremony sa Tanggulang Pambansa na pansamantalang pangangasiwaan ni Gonzales sa loob ng isang buwan bago maupo si Tarlac Rep. Gilbert Teodoro Jr. sa Agosto 3.

Ang dating kalihim na si Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., ay ibinalik sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) matapos ang limang buwang panunungkulan sa DND. Sa kanyang talumpati, sinabi ni Gonzales na tuluyang nadidiin ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa usapin ng extrajudicial killings dahil sa kampanya ng mga kalaban tulad ng Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

"Enemies are successful in showing that we are wrong. This cannot be allowed to happen. The communists is using the killings as propaganda, unnecessarily blaming the government," ani Gonzales.

Sa isang buwang magiging pag-upo ni Gonzales ay tiniyak nito sa mga miyembro ng AFP na hindi na magagamit ng mga rebelde at terorista ang black propaganda upang linlangin o papaniwalain ang taumbayan.

Pinayuhan rin ng kalihim ang militar na isakatuparan ang trabaho nang matahimik.Nais ni Gonzales na maipursige ang mga pagsisiyasat sa pagkakadawit ng militar sa political killings at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga kaanak ng biktima na makapagsalita para sa panig nito. (Juley Reyes)

UN Rapporteur Tinawag Na Bulag, Pipi At Bingi!

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 21 Mar) – Maituturing umanong bulag, pipi at bingi si United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston habang walang tigil ang mga opisyal ng pamahalaang Arroyo na batikusin ito dahil sa kanyang pagkakaugnay sa militar sa patuloy na extrajudicial killings sa bansa.

Ipinahayag ito ngayon ni Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane sa paniniwalang hindi rin papansinin ni Alston ang paglutang bilang mga buhay ng dalawang sinasabing biktima ng political killings base sa listahan ng grupong Karapatan.

Wala aniya silang magagawa kung sarado na rin ang utak ng international community at ni Alston sa rekord at akusasyon ng mga militanteng grupo sa bansa.

"Ayaw pansinin ni Alston yun (listahan). Pagka-ganun ang pinapabigay mo kay Alston, ano sya, bulag, pupi, bingi. Wala tayong magagawa," ani Ebdane.

Binanggit nito na nagbago rin ang paniniwala ngayon sa international community, ang isang tao aniya ay idedeklarang guilty hanggat hindi napapatunayang inosente.

Samantala, naniniwala si Ebdane na hindi naging epektibo ang propaganda ng mga maka-kaliwang grupo matapos na iabswelto ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) si retired Major General Jovito Palparan at ang kanyang mga dating tauhan hinggil sa political killings. Gayunman, hindi pa nababasa ni Ebdane ang report ng CHR.

Sinabi naman ni Defense Undersecretary at department spokesman Ernesto Carolina na hindi nito pinagdudahan si Palparan sa harap ng kaliwat-kanang pagdidiin sa kanya.

"We never doubted General Palparan… Has he not retired, he would still be serving now in the same area," ani Carolina.

Una nang inulan ng paratang si Palparan hingil sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao mula sa kanyang pagiging lider ng militar sa Mindoro, sa Eastern Visayas hanggang bilang kumander ng 7th Infantry Division sa Central Luzon.

Kaliwa’t-kanan kung tirahin sa Alston dahil sa kanyang pahayag, ngunit hindi naman mababago ng mga batikos ang kanyang finding ng magtungo sa bansa nuong upang imbestigahan ang political killings sa Pilipinas. (Juley Reyes)

Ex-Philippine Police Chief Is New Defense Boss

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 31 Jan) – President Gloria Arroyo named Wednesday Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane as new Philippine Defense chief.

Ebdane, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, replaced lawyer Avelino Cruz, who resigned last year after criticizing Arroyo’s political allies over a proposed change in the Constitution that could prolong the president's stay and her allies in power.

Arroyo’s spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said the President has full confidence that Ebdane can implement the Defense Reform Program, which was strongly pursued in the past by former Philippine military chief Narciso Abaya.

Abaya, president of the government’s Bases Conversion Development Authority, was previously thought to head the Department of National Defense after the Philippine media reported that he would replace Cruz because of his clean and untainted records as a military man.

Ebdane’s Under Secretary Manuel Bonoan has been named as acting Public Works chief. Ebdane, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1970, was PNP chief from 2002 to 2004.

Many soldiers and military officials were unhappy over Ebdane’s appointment as Defense chief because of his alleged links to poll cheating in the May 2004 Presidential elections that won Arroyo a new term.

“We don’t want him in the Defense (Department). We want somebody like Secretary (Avelino) Cruz or perhaps General (Narciso) Abaya, who is one of the most respected in the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) organization. We want somebody whose integrity is unquestionable,” an army sergeant, who asked not to be identified, told the Mindanao Examiner in Camp Aguinaldo, the main military headquarters.

There was no evidence or charges against Ebdane in connection with the allegations of poll cheating. (Mindanao Examiner)

Arroyo Defense Chief Resigns

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Nov) - Filipino Defense chief Avelino Cruz has resigned from his post, but the former chief legal counsel of President Gloria Arroyo did not give any reason for his sudden decision.

Cruz, who was named Defense chief in August 2004, submitted his irrevocable resignation to the President on Sunday and this takes effect on November 30, his deputies said.

His resignation came just days after he criticized the failed people's initiative for charter change and even branded its supporters "hare-brained."

The Supreme Court declared the people's initiative illegal, despite Arroyo's persistence to change the Constitution to allow important amendments and shift to Parliamentary form of government that opposition politicians claim would prolong her term and allies beyond 2010.

Just recently, Cruz claimed that at least three cabinet secretaries wanted him out after he publicly assailed the people's initiative.

Cruz has urged his successor to continue a multi-billion modernization project for the Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of the Philippine Defense Reform Program to effectively fight terrorism. He also wanted the military out of election duties to prevent soldiers from being used by politicians for their own motives.

It was not immediately known whether Arroyo accepted the resignation. (Mindanao Examiner)