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================= Details of the Military Report of the Feb. 24 Plot ================= ================= The February "Coup d'Etat" and the Left's Alliance with the Militay ================= Miriam Grace A, Go, Aries Rufo, Carmela Fonbuena, Newsbreak ================= Chronicle of the July and February Days in Manila ================= Coup de Main, Coup d'Etat or Coup de Theatre ================= ================= Intrigues, Kindness, Rock Music Wear Down Madalo Detainees ================= ================= ================= ================= ================= Coup VirusThrived in Flawed Democacy =================
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Rebels to Senga: Lead the Coup Glenda Gloria, Newsbreak
Rebel officers involved in the failed coup in February had indeed asked Gen. Generoso Senga, the outgoing Armed Forces chief of staff, to "provide leadership" to the mutinous troops who had planned to march on EDSA in the morning of February 24. In a report of military investigators led by Rear Admiral Rufino Lopez, the AFP Inspector General, it was clear that as early as the morning of February 23, somebody arranged a meeting between Senga and rebel officers Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Col. Ariel Querubin. The report failed to identify who had set the meeting. It just said that Lim, while meeting with Querubin and then Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda at the latter's office, got a phone call that prompted him to tell Miranda, "Sir, it's confirmed...somebody arranged the meeting with the CSAFP (chief of staff, AFP)." Senga met with Lim and Querubin at 7 p.m. that day at the chief of staff office in Camp Aguinaldo, a meeting arranged no less than by the deputy chief of staff for intelligence (J2), Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang. It remains unclear why the two rebels had chosen Maclang as their conduit to Senga. Senga spoke with Lim and Querubin for 45 minutes. After this, the chief of staff scheduled a meeting in his quarters with his major service commanders. When the commanders arrived, it was Senga himself who informed them about the rebels' plan and sought their comments on it. Below are excerpts from the investigation report, which was obtained by NEWSBREAK, regarding the events surrounding the meeting (military acronyms and terms have been appropriately translated). Marked confidential, the report was not yet signed by the members of the investigating committee because it was reportedly sent to Senga first for approval: GETTING A CONDUIT "On or about 5 p.m., Querubin picked up Lim in Makati in front of Rustan's Supermarket to proceed to Camp Aguinaldo. At about 6 p.m., Lim called up Maclang (the J2) through his cell phone to seek audience and [said that] Querubin was with him. They were picked up at the parking area of the main headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo and were brought to the compound of the Intelligence Service of the AFP, where the J2 holds office. It was then that the plan of the officers to join the mass action was disclosed to Maclang. Upon such disclosure, Maclang called up Senga. Thereafter, on or about 7 p.m., Lim, Querubin, and Maclang went to the office of Senga. The two told Senga what they said to Maclang, that there were junior officers who were planning to join the mass protest action the following day, February 24." "On or about 7:45 p.m., Senga called up Lt. Gen. Jose Reyes, Air Force chief, for an emergency meeting in Senga's quarters in Camp Aguinaldo. At about 8:30 p.m., Esperon was likewise called to the same meeting." "On or about 9 p.m., Reyes arrived in Senga's quarters. Senga informed Reyes that the units of the Marines, Rangers, and the Special Action Force (SAF) of the National Police would join the mass rally on February 24 on EDSA. It was likewise mentioned by Senga that the men of these units will be marching with the muzzles of their firearms pointed down. Reyes averred that the participation of the military and police in the mass protest action should not be allowed as it might have a snowball effect on the military. Maclang later joined Senga and Reyes." "By about 9:30 p.m., Esperon arrived [in Senga's quarters]. Senga likewise informed Esperon of the planned movement that will be participated in my multi-sectoral groups. Senga informed both Reyes and Esperon that Lim and Querubin had earlier been to his office. Accordingly, Lim and Querubin will be leading their officers and men to join the mass protest actions in their uniforms. That after converging with civilians, Lim will come out and declare his withdrawal of support from President Arroyo. Moreover, according to Lim and Querubin, the move to join the mass protest action had the blessings of Chief Supt. Marcelino Franco of the PNP-SAF and Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, commandant of the Marines. After being briefed of the situation, options on how to prevent the plan were discussed. One of the options was to talk to Lim and Querubin and convince the two not to push through with their plans. Esperon suggested that they call to the meeting Franco and Miranda, to which Senga agreed." UNSTOPPABLE SAF "At about 10:20 p.m. Esperon called up Franco on the phone. He readily agreed to come to Aguinaldo. Esperon also contacted Miranda [the three are classmates at the Philippine Military Academy, 1974], who at the time was with Navy chief Vice Adm. Mateo Mayuga, who was hosting a dinner for the Indonesian Navy chief. Miranda was instructed to join Mayuga in proceeding to Aguinaldo." "Franco arrived at about 10:30 p.m. He confirmed that the SAF will be moving and that he cannot [control] his troops, particularly the junior officers as they were determined and committed. Franco likewise confirmed the participation of Senior Supt. Benjamin Magalong. Franco further added that the success of the march will depend on Senga's concurrence and that they, too, did not want bloodshed." "On or about 11 p.m., Mayuga and Miranda arrived at the conference. The same questions given to Franco were also asked of Miranda. Senga asked Miranda if he could stop his men. Miranda replied that he was "for the Constitution and for the chain of command but will follow the will of the people." "Lim and Querubin were then called by Senga to join the meeting. Lim and Querubin, who were held in Senga's meeting all throughout the time that Senga was meeting with his commanders, arrived in Senga's quarters at 11:30 p.m. [By this time, text messages from rebel sympathizers had circulated saying that Senga had defected to the rebel side]. VIDEOTAPE CONFIRMED "Senga asked Querubin
and Lim to explain their plan to join the mass actions. Both explained that: "Lim, Querubin, Miranda, and Franco were told by Senga to stop their plans. Both Lim and Querubin again said that they could no longer [stop] their men." "During the meeting, the following discussions took place between Lim and Senga: Lim: "Sir...hindi magkakagulo kung maging solid tayo...kung gusto nating solid, we might have to do it on our own and probably the chief of staff can provide the leadership (let's avoid bloodshed and be united...perhaps Senga can provide that leadership)." Senga: "I don't think so. Kung gagalaw kayo eh di magkakagulo tayo (If you will move then the military will be divided)." Lim and Querubin: Sir, hindi tayo magkakagulo kung magkakaisa tayong lahat. The Armed Forces will join together and make the unity move under the chief of staff. Kung magkaisa tayo, magkakasama tayo. You provide leadership para huwag tayong magkagulo (You provide leadership to avoid divisions.) ‘WE WILL LOSE FACE!' "It was at the time that Lim said, ‘Sir, hindi na kami makakaatras. Mawawalan na kami ng mukha (We can no longer back out. We will lose face). To such statements, Esperon replied, "Bakit, kayo lang ba ang may mukha? (Why, how about us?)" "The same is corroborated by Lim, who affirmed that "I told the chief of staff that being the chief of staff it was incumbent upon him to act and ensure that nothing untoward happens, to ensure that no violence happens. So basically we reported this thing to him so he would act." "Senga, Reyes, Esperon, Mayuga, and Maclang almost gave the same/similar lines that the moves of Lim, Querubin, Miranda, and Franco will not be supported." "At about past midnight, Senga gave his final words for Lim, Querubin, Miranda, Franco not to push through with their plans. Should they march, they will be met with counteractions. Senga's final instructions to them were: Your plan must not push through. Tell the men of its repercussions while there is still time. If you do, I will just give you one order, go back to barracks. If not, you have drawn the lines of battle." =====================================
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