‘Hello Garci’ witness: Bombings done to create civil unrest, justify emergency rule

Bomb scare work of GMA—ex-Isafp

By Angie M. Rosales

07/02/2009

By Angie M. Rosales

Yet another scenario of civil unrest through bomb scare tactics is being created by the administration of President Arroyo, specifically her military, to justify the presence of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and pave the way for a declaration of emergency rule by Mrs. Arroyo.

The Senate witness in the “Hello Garci” tapes scandal, former Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) T/Sgt. Vidal Doble said this yesterday, stressing that the new round of bomb scares can only be the handiwork of the Arroyo administration with her military in particular.

“There are telling signs, in the way the bomb scare tactics are being carried out — in one incident an explosive device was found but was not set off by the perpetrators — that have the signature of the AFP.

“That has been done in the past, just so they (the government) can create a scenario of civil unrest and justify the presence of the military. And if there will be chaos in the streets, this will pave the way for the declaration of state of emergency,” Doble said in a chance interview with reporters at the Senate.

Doble said it could likely be part of a plot of a no election (NoEl) scenario.

A bomb threat suspended office work at the Office of the Ombudsman, which was subjected to an explosion over the weekend.

Noting that the incident came amid reports on the current mess on the computerization of the 2010 elections involving the winning bidders, Doble said it is likely that a new round of bomb scares is related to the coming national polls.

He urged the public not be easily swayed by allegations from the Palace and the military, attributing these incidents to the ranks of the opposition or militant groups.

“Don’t believe that this is the handiwork of the opposition or the militants. It is only months that we have to wait for Mrs. Arroyo to leave Malacañang, which is why there should not be any trouble created,” Doble stressed.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said he is no longer surprised to hear of the bomb scare, stating that this is again another futile attempt of the government to sow terror in the country.

“That’s an old story. Whoever is trying to set the country up for the imposition of martial law or national upheaval should be a little more innovative. People see through that as a ploy to make trouble for the country and subject it to more trouble to justify repressive rule and increase the importance of some Palace insiders who want to please the incumbent for their own personal agenda,” he said.

Although the authorities said they do not know the authors of the bombing and the bomb plants, they also denied that the suspicious occurrences were the result of a destabilization plot, Sen. Loren Legarda said. “It is however suspicious that such bombings and attempted bombings are occurring during a state of high political tension, as it has happened in the past.

“This has thrown the public into a higher state of tension. It would help if the administration itself should defuse the political tensions arising from its own acts of commission or omission, such as pushing through the Charter change and keeping secret its political plans for 2010,” she said.

But Malacañang yesterday laid the blame on elements of the opposition and not on the usual terrorists, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front insurgents and the Abu Sayyaf, saying these are the forces behind the destabilization attempts during the past days.

“We should not be cavalier about this. We have to look at this with focus,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said, pointing out that it is not for the first time the government has confronted destabilization attempts.

Ermita said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Capitol Region Police Office (NCRPO) have been conducting investigations on the bombing incidents that occurred in the offices of Ombusdman and the Department of Agriculture.

“This is not the workings of the usual terrorists but of the detractors of government to create a scenario while the Sona (State of the nation address) nears. The government will be on its toes on these occurences,” he stated.

“We do have oppostion elements, I am not only talking of the political opposition,” Ermita noted.

No report has been received on how well-funded these opposition forces are, according to Ermita but he clarified that an ongoing investigation focuses on “whose signatures come from these activities” including the bombings.

“We are looking at the signatures of the bombs that were exploded,” he said.

Malacañang said the general condition in the country is stable. “We are very stable other than attempts to have a destabilized environment. But that is not that bad. We know that the PNP is closely following them up,” Ermita said.

Meanwhile, the Palace described the report on August Moon as the product of political intrigues.

Oplan August Moon is meant to perpetuate Mrs. Arroyo beyond 2010 by placing generals loyal to her in key military and police posts in position, concerned members of the AFP reportedly disclosed.

On the Oplan August Moon, Ermita claimed that “everybody can always concoct his scenario. The loyalty of those officers of the Armed Forces and men in uniform is solid. The mandate of the armed services is to preserve the Constitution and safeguard its integrity. Hopefully, they (opposition forces) will not disturb that setup,” he said.

“I have conferred with intelligence community because of this question on destabilization plot and this destabilization report. This is seasonal. Everytime there is a big event like Sona, this happens,” Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Tuesday.

The opposition, representing the unified rightists and leftists and including the extremists are mostly behind these destabilization plots being circulated through media reports as well through manifestation of destabilization by bombing government offices, he explained.

“That is the time they will release these reports on destabilization and the intelligence community was saying that the use of C4 or military type the bombs use in the bombing of the Ombudsman and Agriculture offices was done to blame the police and military and this is the handiwork of the united rightights and leftists,” Remonde stressed.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. meanwhile maintained that the AFP remains solidly behind the Constitution amid the supposed destabilization plot, dubbed Operation Plan August Moon, aimed at creating division in the military establishment.

“We have seen once again some sinister attempts to create division and disharmony among our ranks, pitting brother officer against brother officer. We appeal to those who are doing this for their selfish or pity ends – chose another playground to play your games with,” said Teodoro, during the 62nd anniversary of the Air Force at Villamor Air Base.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is solidly behind the Constitution. Its dignity will not allow itself to be wrath by division, by intrigues. We will remain solid, united under principles of constitutionalism and dignity and honor of the armed services. That is what we promise our Filipino people and we hope that these sinister attempts to divide us will stop because they shall never succeed,” Teodoro added.

The AFP leadership has already denied the existence of Oplan August Moon.

“There is no truth to that plot. We know the need for a solid Armed Forces of the Philippines which is insulated from politics. What they are doing is politicizing the Armed Forces by rumor-mongering, sowing intrigues,” said Teodoro.

According to Teodoro, they are still clueless as to who or what group is behind the attempt to drive a wedge among top AFP officials, saying “we don’t know but there is a person or are people behind the coming out of this supposed oplan August Moon.”

Teodoro, at the same time, challenged those supposed “disgruntled sources” in the AFP to come out.

Asked if he sure that the AFP is solidly behind him, Teodoro replied “behind the Filipino people, behind the rule of law, behind the Constitution. Its not to any person, it is to the institutions. The brains behind this August moon want us (in the AFP) to fight each other for whatever motive, we do not know.” With Riza Recio and Mario J. Mallari

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