Gringo: Coup unnecessary

ANGELES CITY — Opposition Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan said here yesterday any attempt by the military to destabilize the government and seize power at this time would be "totally unnecessary."

Honasan, however, warned that regardless of who emerges the winner in the May 10 presidential race, the country would remain "ungovernable" unless the people take initiatives in "healing the wounds" of dissent.

Honasan, a former Army colonel who led seven failed coup attempts against former President Corazon Aquino in 1987 and 1989, stressed any coup attempt against the Arroyo administration would be "totally unnecessary, uncalled for."

"It (coup attempt) will be definitely counter-productive," Honasan said.

The opposition lawmaker, who was also implicated in the July 27 failed mutiny last year, said he personally does not favor any military takeover to postpone or altogether scrap the holding of the May elections.

"The campaign period has started, so we will have to ask the Filipino people to decide. Right now, they (Filipinos) are already fixated on the election mode," Honasan said.

Accompanying the caravan of actor and opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. here, Honasan told The STAR that his greatest fears revolve around post-election developments.

Honasan said even if Poe emerges the winner in the presidential race, the new president will have his hands full in governing a politically divided constituency caused by the prevailing fractiousness in the run-up to elections.

"My worry is (about what could happen) after the elections. The wound is getting deeper and deeper. Regardless of who wins (as president), this country might be ungovernable if we do not start healing the wounds now," he said.

Honasan noted that at this early stage of the campaign period, people have started to separate into markedly diverse political preferences. He said political leaders are to blame for the divisions which they have created.

"In other words, even during the campaign period, all should avoid hurting each other," Honasan said.

Honasan figured in a controversy for his National Recovery Program (NRP), in which he had criticized Mrs. Arroyo’s "inconsistent peace policy" in Mindanao.

The outgoing senator claimed Mrs. Arroyo has failed to address the root causes of rebellion in the region — mass poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment.

Honasan, chairman of the Senate committee on peace, unification and reconciliation, espoused the NRP as a manifesto containing the immediate concerns, demands and aspirations of the Filipino people. He said NRP’s primary objective is to arrest the rapid spiraling descent of the country.

Honasan’s NRP was used as the "bible" of the Magdalo faction of officers and men who staged the July 27 mutiny last year, during which they seized a ritzy apartment complex in Makati City and rigged the place with explosives.

Honasan went into hiding for several weeks after he was implicated in the foiled mutiny. The opposition lawmaker later resurfaced and denied all the accusations against leading the conspiracy to topple Mrs. Arroyo.

Asked whether any coup attempt could again be hatched against Mrs. Arroyo, Honasan stressed here yesterday that it could not be possible at this point since the people are already "in the election mode" and all geared up for a possible change in the administration, with Poe running under the opposition banner and having a good chance of winning if he is not disqualified.

Honasan also talked on threats to Poe’s security. He expressed confidence that Poe’s security is not under threat amid surveys showing him leading over other presidential contenders, including Mrs. Arroyo who is seeking a full six-year term on May 10.

"There are accepted risks in a political campaign, but I have a very positive attitude. I trust in the better nature, the compassion, the humanity of the Filipino people," he said.

"If we have to talk about security, where can you find so many security people? They (supporters of Poe) number in the millions throughout the country," Honasan said.

Honasan is accompanying Poe and his erstwhile boss, former defense secretary and opposition senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who is seeking re-election under Poe’s Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP).

Honasan said such threats against Poe should not be taken very lightly. "If you are in the business of security as I have been for 20 years, you will not take any such threat lightly," he said.

"All you can do is prepare in the best of your ability and to pray that it (threat) is not inflicted not only on the candidate, but also on the Filipino electorate," he said.

Honasan submitted himself last year as a nominee for the united opposition in its selection of standard-bearer, but later expressed his support for the candidacy of Poe.