The failed putsch

the failed military rebellion in Makati last Sunday was an event waiting to happen. Corruption in the military (and even in the police) organization is public knowledge and the demoralization of young officers and enlisted personnel in these organizations is also widely felt. That these wrong doing had to be confirmed by the young and idealistic military officers by staging a rebellion is very unfortunate.

The organizers of the failed putsch knew all along that what they did was bound to fail. Perhaps, they did not really aim to topple the present administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. What they really wanted to do was simply to shout to the whole world that there was something very wrong in the military organization where they all belong. And they did. Successfully.

Why they aired their grievances that way is a question only they can answer. As somebody had suggested during the standoff, these young military officers could have just gone to the media or to their immediate superiors to air their grievances.

But maybe these young officers also knew that if they complain the conventional way their grievances will just fall on deaf ears and will simply be dismissed as fabricated charges. Worse, they could even be charged of politicking.

By staging the rebellion, everybody was all ears to everything they had to say. At the end of the crisis Sunday night, the government had committed to look into all the issues the young officers had raised.

Let us hope that the government will honor its commitment to these young military officers and not just belittle what they have aired. There has to be results and reforms. And fast. The people can no longer be left waiting in the cold until another rebellion will take place in the near future with the same issues.

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While waiting for my wife and the kids at the atrium of CSI The City Mall last Sunday afternoon, I chanced upon former Binmaley Mayor Joe Fabia, who was also president of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation after his brief mayoralty stint.

Over a cup of brewed coffee, I learned that he now heads a consultancy firm doing studies and strategic plans for various government, non-government and private organizations and agencies in the country.

I do not really know Mayor Fabia that much. I first met him when I was a correspondent of a national daily and I remember that one running story I wrote was his denunciation of a treasure-hunting in his town being done by police officers. I was castigated in a press conference by the provincial police director at that time for my stories.

Anyway, my impression about Mayor Fabia has not changed a bit. I still see him as a straight and righteous man, who will have no qualms about giving his all, just to be able to serve the people. This is the reason why he is well-loved in his hometown and people would always look back to his administration, as the best so far.

He was candid enough in telling me that he has no plans to join Binmaley politics next year. Mayor Lan Domalanta is now in his last term and the emerging mayoralty contenders are incumbent Vice Mayor Jose Carrera Jr. and my friend, Sammy Rosario. I can almost see an exciting electoral fight if Mayor Fabia joins the fray.

And if he becomes mayor again, I can almost see Binmaley as the fastest growing town in the province.

ENDNOTES: Last Sunday, DZRH-Dagupan finally moved to its new studio in Galvan St. as scheduled. Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, who was supposed to be the guest, understandably did not make it to the planned celebration, which was cancelled last-minute by DZRH-Dagupan manager Nolan Sison due to the crisis at the Ayala Center in Makati. With its new location, DZRH-Dagupan is now more accessible to the public than where it was in the past 12 months.

QUOTE: When one door closes, another one opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the ones which have opened for us. – Alexander Graham Bell