Heavily guarded GMA attends Esperon’s installation

As snipers kept watch on rooftops, Presidential Security Group (PSG) troops in full battle gear surrounded President Arroyo while she formally installed Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon as the new Armed Forces chief in ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City yesterday.

Heavily armed PSG soldiers guarded all streets leading to Camp Aguinaldo.

Reports said military officers set to face a military trial over their alleged role in the supposed failed coup last Feb. 24 had planned to come out in public and air their grievances while Mrs. Arroyo was in Camp Aguinaldo.

The STAR learned that the officers, mostly from the First Scout Ranger Regiment and the Philippine Marines, met yesterday morning to discuss plans of their coming out in time for the turnover of command rites for Esperon and outgoing Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga.

However, the proverbial cooler heads reportedly prevailed.

The military officers are denouncing the recommendation of an ad hoc investigation committee for them to face military trial and possible dismissal from the service.

Chaired by Rear Adm. Rufino Lopez, the ad hoc committee has recommended that 15 Marine and 25 Scout Ranger officers, along with 125 enlisted personnel, be tried in a military court.

Among the senior officers to face trial are former Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, former Scout Ranger brigade commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, former 1st Marine Division commander.

PSG troops barred a veteran defense reporter from proceeding to the media coverage area in front of the military grandstand.

"Ngayon lang nangyari to, sa dami-dami ng mga command turnover ceremony ang na-attend ko (This is the first time this has happened in the many turnover ceremonies that I have attended)," the defense reporter said.

On the other hand, a television cameraman said: "Natural lang na may mga PSG kung saan si President, pero ito halos kalahati na ng puersa ng PSG ay andito ngayon (It’s natural for the PSG to be there when the President is in a particular place, but almost half of the PSG force is here right now)."

A military insider claimed that while the turnover of command ceremonies were held at Camp Aguinaldo, the protesting military officers were having a bull session somewhere at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

"Wala rin namang nangyari, naglabasan lang pala sila ng mga sama ng loob (Nothing happened, they just voiced out their grievances)," he said.

However, the insider said there was a point during the bull session that some officers suggested that they call a press conference to announce their defiance of the country’s leadership.

Two officers among the group reportedly prevailed over the others not to push through with their plan of coming out in public to air their grievances.

In front of the grandstand, a PSG soldier stopped and checked a man sporting the same long sleeve barong he was wearing, complete with PSG signs and counter-signs.

The man in question turned out to be another PSG soldier detailed as a security aide of a government dignitary attending the command turnover ceremonies.

"Kilala mo ba yong katabi mo kanina (Did you know the person beside you)?" a PSG personnel asked The STAR, referring to the other PSG personnel who had mixed themselves with reporters in the designated media security area.