There’ll be no coup — Honasan

There will be no military coup and the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) is not for the resignation of beleaguered President Estrada, Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan said yesterday.

Some retired generals, notably Gen. Fortunato Abat and Ramon Montano, have warned that there would be military intervention if Mr. Estrada refuses to step down.

The "faceless" retired generals finally came out in the open yesterday and joined several other groups calling for the resignation of the President.

Honasan, leader of RAM that launched numerous failed coups against then President Corazon Aquino, said that there is no demoralization in the armed forces so those talking of an imminent coup are engaged merely in wishful thinking.

He also denied reports that the RAM is completely for the resignation of the President. Retired Col. Proceso Maligalig and retired Commodore Domingo Calajate have been very vocal in calling for the resignation of Mr. Estrada. They have also launched a signature campaign to validate their call.

"Maligalig speaks only for the cooperative and foundation (of RAM). I speak for RAM and the Guardian," Honasan said.

He contended that what was stated were mere individual stands of RAM members, and that RAM is neither for nor against the President.

He appealed to all parties to remain calm and to engage in sober and rational discussion of the impeachment charges against the President. He lamented that things are now becoming too personal, with a lot of mudslinging and black propaganda from both sides.

He expressed fears that if this persists, it would be very difficult to heal the wounds after the impeachment trial.

"Tension is now high. Some groups, especially the terrorists, might take advantage of this situation," Honasan added.

Abat warned yesterday of possible military intervention if Mr. Estrada refuses to heed the people’s call for his resignation.

The warning was aired live in a radio interview over dzMM during a People’s Consultative Assembly at Club Filipino in San Juan, attended by a group of retired police and military officials.

Abat said a faction in the military and police hierarchy is closely monitoring the impeachment proceedings, as well as protest rallies by anti-Estrada groups.

Among those who attended yesterday’s meeting were cashiered police Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, former PNP chief Roberto Lastimoso, retired Gen. Jose Almonte, and recently sacked Chief Superintendent Steve Cudal.

The Association of Generals and Flag Officers led by retired Gen. Jaime Echevaria supported the People’s Consultative Assembly in its call for Mr. Estrada to step down.

For his part, Almonte, a former national security adviser, pointed out the impeachment process –whether or not it finds the President guilty –will not restore Mr. Estrada’s moral ascendancy to govern.

Meanwhile, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said that any order by the Senate sitting as impeachment court for an ocular inspection of the alleged mansions of the President’s common-law wives should be directed at the registered owner, not to the President who has denied ownership.

The prosecutors have called for the ocular inspection of the mansions, a move opposed by the President’s lawyers and Santiago.

"What is apparently at issue is not the existence of the property but its ownership. If so, then what is proper would not be ocular inspection but authentication or proof of documents, particularly the certificates of title," Santiago said.

She also warned that ocular inspection might delay the trial, and that a photo or video might serve the same purpose.

Former congressman Edcel Lagman, on the other hand, contended that ocular inspection is a mode of discovery provided for under the Rules of Court, which has supplementary application in the impeachment case.

"The President’s evasive answer runs counter to his repeated vow to traverse point-by-point all of the accusations contained in the Articles of Impeachment," Lagman said. – With Nestor Etolle, Christina Mendez