Gringo a ‘traitor’ — Guardians

Members of the Guardians International Inc. vowed yesterday to resist any attempt to destabilize the government.

Speaking to reporters in San Juan, retired Col. Manuel Rimando called outgoing Sen. Gregorio Honasan a "traitor" to the Guardian brotherhood.

"He is a traitor to the organization and the state," he said.

Rimando is one of the founding leaders of the Philippine Guardian Brotherhood Inc., a party-list group headed by Honasan.

Retired police Director Nestorio Gualberto, chairman of Guardians International, said they are completely behind the duly constituted authority.

"Any who purportedly claims to speak in behalf of the Guardians espousing positions or views contrary to the principles of our founding fathers, is a traitor to our cause," read their manifesto.

The Guardians International called on Congress to perform its mandate to speed up the canvass of votes for president and vice president and proclaim the winners on or before June 30.

On the other hand, the Philippine Guardian Brotherhood supports the public outcry against the alleged massive fraud during the last elections.

However, Ernesto Macahiya, national spokesman for Philippine Guardian Brotherhood, said they will not take part in protest rallies to avoid being tagged as "destabilizers" by authorities.

"People’s intelligence and patience is growing thin and restless, and no one is sure of the nature and direction of our people’s wrath that may soon be unleashed," he said.

The manifesto of Guardians International was signed by Gualberto, Rimando, Commissioner Muhammad Isa Vergel de Dios of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Director Ruben Cabagnot of the Philippine National Police internal affairs service, Chief Inspector Leborio Jangao, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Jesus Dureza, retired police generals Enrique Atanacio and Rodolfo Caisip, Col. Bernard Corella, Rey dela Cruz, and Henry Nagaño.