AFP chief: No plan to abolish Marines

Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga assured his troops yesterday that the Philippine Marines Corps will remain an integral part of the military.

"There is no proposal in the AFP to abolish the Marines," he said.

"The Marines is a very big part of the Armed Forces. We are not thinking of anything like that at all. It will always be a part of the Armed Forces."

Senga denied newspaper reports that a proposal was being studied to abolish the Marine Corps.

"Actually, what we are discussing is the implementation of what is called the Fleet-Marine concept, especially in the island provinces in Southern Philippines to make the operations of the Navy fleet and Philippine Marines more efficient," he said.

Senga said the Fleet-Marine concept involves the deployment of Marines and Navy personnel to Mindanao.

The program would incorporate the battalion excellence program of the Marines, he added.

Senga said under this program, Army infantry and Marine Battalion Landing Teams would be trained jointly.

"We will provide them with new equipment and other materials that they will need so that they (can) better perform their missions and duties," he said.

Rumors that the Marines would be dismantled, allegedly due to discontent among certain officers who have been linked to coup plots, have already triggered some discontent among the Corps.

One officer said if the Marines were to be abolished, and its functions shifted to its mother unit, the Navy, he would choose to resign from the service.

His sentiments are apparently shared by other Marine officers.

In Zamboanga City, Lt. Col. Archiles Segumalian, 2nd Marine Battalion commander, said yesterday that deactivating the Marine Corps will not solve the problem of restiveness within the Armed Forces.

Segumalian, who was involved in the recent standoff at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, said instead of abolishing the Corps, the military brass should charge all those suspected of trying to overthrow the government.

"If they found there are some officials who are involved in the destabilization then they should punish those whom they believe to be erring officials and soldiers, but not the unit," he said.

Segumalian is listed among the 38 officers of the Marines and Army Scout Rangers, among them former Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Col. Ariel Querrubin, erstwhile Scout Ranger commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and 27 enlisted personnel, in the investigation document leaked to the media.

Instead of dismantling the Marine Corps, he said, "I am ready to face court-martial if they find me to have joined any destabilization plot."

Segumalian and the 2nd Marine Battalion took over security in Tawi-Tawi last Friday.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Christie Datu said yesterday that the Marines "will not be removed" amid reports that the National Security Council (NSC) is "discussing" the possibility.

In an interview yesterday, Datu said the Armed Forces would be "crippled" without the Marines which he described as "the most disciplined" branch of the military.

"The Marines is a unit under the Navy which has proven itself as a force multiplier in the insurgency problem and in the secessionist (movement) in Mindanao," he said.

"We will be crippled (without the Marines). They are trained and professional soldiers with much experience."

In Congress yesterday, two pro-administration lawmakers denounced reports that the Marine Corps might be abolished.

House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Cerilles and Malabon-Navotas Rep. Federico Sandoval said the reports aim to demoralize the officers and men of the Armed Forces and make them susceptible to provocation from political adventurers.

"Generals come and go, but the rank and file of our Marines have remained professional in their duty to protect our people," said Cerilles.

"We appeal to those spreading disinformation and playing mind games with AFP officers: please spare the people from further anxiety and restlessness.

"For that matter, politicians should leave our men and women in uniform out of politics. They are not meant to be pawns for us in a power grab, but should remain the professional guardians of Philippine democracy," said Sandoval. — With Roel Pareño, Ding Cervantes