LAWMAKERS
MANILA, MARCH 11,
2012 (STANDARD) by Maricel Cruz - THE
conflicting statements on the alleged coup plot against President Benigno Aquino
III have prompted several lawmakers to call for a review of how the Armed
Forces, the National Police, and the Office of the President have been using
their multi-billion-peso intelligence funds.
The lawmakers find it "strange" that while the Armed Forces has dispelled the
coup rumors, President Aquino on national television last week revealed there
was threat to his life, a claim that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (photo at
right) and Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said was for real.
"With the [Armed Forces] not affirming PNoy's [Aquino]'s statement, the
perception arises that one of them is paranoid or the other is inept," Rep.
Milagros Magsaysay said.
Meanwhile an Army colonel assigned to Mindanao says President Aquino's
vindictiveness against the military has been frustrating senior, middle-grade
and junior officers and enlisted personnel who have been discussing it among
themselves.
"When some active officers and retired generals gather to talk about what's
happening in the organization, does that mean they are cooking up something like
a coup to overthrow a vindictive President?" the officer told the Manila
Standard.
"Those floating a coup plot are obviously soliciting political mileage for
their own interest."
Pro-administration Rep. Teddy Baguilat says reliable intelligence work is
crucial to protecting the life of the President and preserving the nation's
stability and security.
"It is ridiculous and shocking to know that we cannot rely on the credibility
and veracity of the reports coming from military and police intelligence forces
on the recent coup reports despite the gargantuan intelligence budget allocated
annually for these agencies and their operations," Magsaysay said.
The Armed Forces have an annual intelligence budget of P124 million,
and the police P270 million. The Office of the President has P600 million in
intelligence funds for 2012 --- almost double the combined budget of the Armed
Forces and the National Police, official records show.
"The intelligence services have been given hefty increases, in fact double
what they got the previous year. And all we got in terms of intelligence reports
are conflicting statements that have led to more confusion," Magsaysay said.
"The fact that the [Armed Forces] denied the coup rumors while the President
confirmed that there indeed were threats to his life shows the pressing need to
review the intelligence finds being used by the [Armed Forces AFP and the
[Office of the President].
"And since the President is the commander in chief, he should be the first to
know what is happening in the country given the huge budgets and resources at
his command."
President Aquino earlier confirmed that unnamed parties were seeking to oust
him as a result of his anti-corruption campaign.
But Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda played down the coup
rumors.
Presidential Security Group head Col. Ramon Mateo Dizon said "nobody joined
that alleged recruitment if it really happened."
Earlier this week, Trillanes, a former military officer who led a failed coup
against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo twice, warned Malacañang of a
brewing attempt to overthrow President Aquino, saying the plotters were using
the "red scare" to recruit soldiers. But the Armed Forces described the threat
as non-existent.
Biazon, another former military officer, validated the coup reports.
Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said the conflicting
reports on the coup and the President's admission of the threat to his life
should compel Congress to "perform wisely its power on appropriations by
examining proposed budgets and purposes."
Baguilat said the coup talk was inevitable given the "volatile political
situation" brought about by recent political developments like the impeachment
trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, the government's pursuit of corruption
charges against the past administration.
He said the administration seemed to be fixated on its anti-corruption
campaign while less focusing on the more important concerns. With Florante S. Solmerin
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved
PHILIPPINE
HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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