On Tuesday, December 21, 2010 the AFP got some additional holiday cheer as President Aquino unveiled his new anti-coup measure (sarcasm).The life-long bachelor's brainstorm was revealed during the 75th Anniversary of the AFP festivities at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City,Metro Manila.During the President's speech he revealed that just the day before he had signed an Amendment to Executive Order #658 which will raise the Combat Bonus from 240 Pesos a month ($6) to 500 Pesos A MONTH ($11), which ends up coming to 2.65 US Dollars A WEEK to dodge bullets, RPGs, IEDs and abductions, oh goody.The bonus,which is doled out on the 15th of the month,hadn't been raised since March 22, 1985.Yep, that is correct, under Marcos (via EO #1017).
The good news (though it is seriously a tragedy if you think about it,is that almost 70% of the AFP will get the raise. OK, you still can't figure out the tragedy? More that 110,000 soldiers,sailors,marines and airmen are in combat situations.In any event,it will be effective as of January 01,2011 and will be funded via outlay from Personnel Service savings for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011.Alhough President Aquino is being credited it actually arose out of the Senate's Committees on Defense and Finance"Joint Resolution #8."
Last Summer (July,2010) Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue was given a technically lateral transfer from Command of NCRCOM (National Capitol Region Command, aka Manila) to WESCOM (Western Command, HQd in Puerto Princessa,Palawan,not to be confused with WESMINCOM,aka Western Mindanao Command HQd in Zamboanga City on Mindanao).Angue is a Rear Admiral,a 2 Star Rank.NCR is a 3 Star Command.WES is a 2 Star Command.Angue,who never received his 3rd Star saw that he was being transferred to a 2 Star Command,meaning that getting a 3rd Star would have to wait at least 1 more rotation.
Technically, as I have noted, Angue was getting a lateral transfer,neither up nor down,simply a 2 Star Officer going to a 2 Star Command.Angue however felt it was about time that the AFP recognised what he's made of and so he did the unthinkable (for a career officer),he ran to the media and blamed his Superiors for politicking (meaning they were playing "personality" over "potential").Then he quickly went one further and inferred that Superiors had connived with former President Arroyo in her manipulation (let us be honest, STEALING ) of the 2004 Election when he was deployed on Tawi Tawi. He also accused Superiors of doing the same in the 2010 synchronised Local/National Elections (May 10, 2010).
The consequences were predictable.The Navy deployed a 4 man panel to conduct a preliminary investigation to help determine whether-or-not Angue should face a General Court Martial.The panel was Chaired by former Vice Commander of the Navy(Retired) Rear Admiral Roberto Estioko who over saw the 3 members:
I) Naval JAG (Judge Advocate General, equivalent to a Chief Prosecutor in the non-military justice system),Col.Al Pererras
II) Naval Deputy JAG,LTC.Jose Feliciano Loy
III) Naval Provost Marshal (CO of MPs,aka Military Police) , Col.Antonieto Ga
The panel made its determination in early November and recommended that Angue...BIG SUPRISE (not by a long shot) face a General Court Martial (though technically they can only recommend that a Second investigation take place,in reality that Second Investigation will absolutely come back recommending that General Court Martial).
Specifically they found grounds for 3 charges:
I) Article of War #65 (Insubordination)
II) Article of War #97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline)
III) Military Code of Ethics, exact determination not made (for running his insolent pouty mouth to the demon known as the media)
Not long before the panel submitted its findings,WESCOM the Command Angue whined about,ended up being handed to Major General Juancho Sabban (formerly the Marines CO,who was replaced in that Command by Brig.Gen.Rustico Guerrero after Brig.Gen.Alvio was passed over for being physically unfit).Angue's former Command,NCR,was given to Major General Arthur Tabaquero.Tabaquero only held it for a short while though,before getting WESMINCOM which itself had been vacated upon Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino's retirement from service (which I discussed in another current"AFP,Last Quarter 2010"entry).
Ironically Angue had only held Command of NCR since March,2010.Not only did he hold NCR for a mere 96 days before receiving this transfer,he knew that with former President Arroyo maxing out on her term limit that a change in Administration just wasn't probable,it was guaranteed.Unlike militaries in more stable nations,the AFP undergoes a thorough re-shuffling when Administrations change to try and stave off mutinies and coup attempts.How much more so when NCRCOM plays the top dog in guarding against military related threats to the Presidency?Total stupidity on Angue's part although I really do see his point on politicking,the 2004 Election and most of all his complaints (that I haven't touched upon) with regard to current Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin.Gazmin has been shuffling his former cronies (from his time in the AFP) to the top of the deck.In the AFP personality and connections (patronage) are everything.That is why the AFP,for the most part,is the most inept military in SE Asia.
On November 11, 2010 the 4th Special Forces Riverine Battalion,currently headquartered in Zamboanga City,took receipt of 13 Light Support Craft.The Riverine Force is comprised of soldiers specially trained for operating in estuaries,marshes and mangroves.The craft were locally made by Bajao and Sama (Samal) Tribesmen as part of the AFP's Oplan Condor (the AFP just can't get enough of those silly labels).Although the label is silly the plan itself is actually very intelligent. Utilising the skills of the nation's best boat builders who also happen to be among the country's most marginal of ethnicities the military comes off with a win:win situation.Empowering the poorest of the poor while engaging them in pro-government activities they do a whole lot more than the Basilan Circumfrential Road (a CMO Hearts and Minds Project that utilised 0% local labour and services thus far). Although Bajao aren't a demographic associated on the shooting end of insurgencies they ARE the epitome of a"Mass Base of Support."Sama on the other hand are sometimes found in the MILF and a whole of them were MNLF (some still are).
At the same time the AFP has saved a tonne of cash.Those 13 boats cost the army 10.56 Million Pesos ($220,000),roughly 10% of what the PA (Philippine Army) could expect to pay for commercially manufactured craft.Indeed,
the entire tab would have covered a single commercial Support Craft with a 25 man payload.The 22 artisans contracted received the order in early September so that time was also a huge advantage in the order.24 months would not be unusual commercially.12 of the boats are just short of 6 meters long and powered by 115hp inboard engines with a maximum speed of 39 knots.The 13th craft is nearly 18 meters long with a 250hp inboard engine with a maximum speed of 24 knots.Carrying a 5 man crew and up to half a Company (50 soldiers) it will serve as a Support Craft for the other dozen.Each of those 12 boats will carry a 2 man crew and 6 soldiers and function as Scout Craft.
A Riverine Force would seem to be a natural element for a nation spread out over 7,107 tropical islands but then a lot of obvious things seem to slip right by the powers that be in the AFP.It wasn't until early 2007 that this no brainer took shape.Utilising the 11th Anniversary of SOCOM (Special Operations Command) on June 01, 2007 to officially announce the formation of the first Riverine COY,analysts were suddenly optimistic that the AFP was finally going to try and re-shape itself into something more than just a police force.It is amazing how just a single sensible idea could make so many people buy into a false sense of expectation.Still,positivity should be acknowledged and re-inforced.In fact the PA did already have 2 Riverine COYs-at least in name:
1) COY 11
2) COY 18
also attached to SOCOM but de-activated during the SOCOM re-organisation that took place in 2004.Those 2 de-activated COYs only operated in Central Luzon which is about as asinine as it gets considering that the minimal insurgency taking place there (3 communist forces, only 1 of which,the NPA ranks above typical Peace and Order Operations,and THEY were NOT doing it in mangroves).With the 2007 formation a COY (designated 12th) would finally operate down south where it was actually crucially needed.
Speaking of SOCOM,Deputy CO (Commanding Officer),Col.Nicanor Dolojan was given the concurrent Command of TF Basilan (Task Force Basilan).The TF has recently been thoroughly re-organised as the Basilan Theater has been stripped of its Fleet-Marine Doctrine.Though Fleet-Marine HAS certainly shown improvements over the previous hydra of a pseudo-doctrine that held sway on that island province,it still wasn't able to do anything more than offer a more visible presence. The SOCOM TF,the new TF Basilan was specially created to pick up the slack once the Marines 1st Brigade rotated out.Making up the new and improved TF is the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne, as if PA soldiers will ever need to parachute somewhere),4th Scout Rangers Battalion (a newly raised battalion), and a single IB (Infantry Battalion), the 32nd.The re-deployment out of and into Basilan was supposed to have been completed within the 2nd week of November (after the earlier deadline of September 31st came and went without anyone blinking).Of course things being what they are in the Philippines it still hasn't been completed and New Year is upon us.Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz,newly installed CO at SOCOM was schedualed to preside at the Turn Over of Command Ceremony but instead merely oversaw the Activation of the afore mentioned 4th Scout Rangers Battalion.I also need to credit Lieutenant General Ortiz as the primary mover and shaker behind Oplan Condor.IF this is what the man is made of maybe SOCOM can have a reason to swagger.
The Marines aren't saying a thing but the Fleet Doctrine didn't pan out too well.Neither are they saying why they quickly rotated the Marine 1st Bde into 6ID (Infantry Division) AOR.Beginning with the Summer 2010 kidnapping of 2 Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) in Cotabato City,LGU (Local Government Unit,aka"municipal") executives there began screaming for another Marine deployment on to Central Mindanao (6ID AOR).Officially the shuffle was to take place on Sunday,September 31st, but as I mentioned above it is evidently taking longer than anticipated.MILF Spokesman (now "ex" since Eid Kabalu has been brought back) Von al Haq says that the MILF CCCH (a Ceasefire entity I have discussed in my MILF entries) will file an official complaint since according to the CCCH MoA (Memorandum of Agreement),any troop movements or rotations in or out of MILF AOR must abide by the terms spelled out in that bilateral agreement.According to al Haq the AFP hasn't said a word (via the GRP CCCH Panel (GRP being"Govt.of the Philippines") whose task it is to do so).Of course the MILF is always looking for problems where there aren't any.The MoA is supposed to address re-deployments over land so that there isn't an accidental Ground War when AFP and MILF elements physically trip over each other.This is besides the fact that the rotation was 4 months in the making,get a grip.
Most Filipinos are unaware but boxing champ and Mindanowan Congressman (Sarangani Province) Manny Pacquiao is ALSO an AFP Army Reservist.Holding the rank of a Master Sergeant,Manny brings great pride to the military,so much so that on November 14,2010. (Wait... I am trying to do a serious Blog...OK, thanks, back to our show) Col.Antonio Parlade Jr.,AFP Reserves Spokesperson revealed that just as soon as Pugilist cum Congressman slash Master Seargent of the Reserves Pacquiao returns from his sojourn to Mexico,the AFP will lobby for Mindanao's own Renaissance Man to gain a slot on the GRP Peace Panel. Of course Col.Einstein,I mean Parlade Jr,didn't deign to reveal WHICH Peace Panel Manny should sit on.Look, I am not a Filipino and even I beam with pride when Manny waxes some Mexican's as* but "Peace Panel?"
Of course the comment (or revelation) came almost immediately after the Congressman from Sarangani won his 8th World Title against Antonio Margarito so let's just do the good Colonel a favour and chalk it up to patriotism and booze,never a good combination but hey,better than the alternative (which would be complete and utter mental illness).
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