AFP vows no repeat of February 2006 coup

MANILA, Philippines - On the third anniversary of the February 2006 failed coup attempt, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured there would never be a repeat of the political upheaval.

AFP Civil Relations Service Brig. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan said the soldiers over the past years have focused more on their mandated duties than risk their careers dabbling in politics.

Pangilinan said in an interview with dzBB radio that the military organization is confident that nobody from among its ranks would join any attempt to grab power after seeing the “real intentions” of coup leaders behind past destabilization efforts.

“Their real intentions have been revealed. It’s not really for the country but for themselves, for selfish intentions also,” Pangilinan said.

“It could have been good if we saw a good direction, but even they do not agree on what to do,” he said, referring to the disgruntled military officers now facing trial for the failed February 2006 coup plot.

The group of officers led by former Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Col. Ariel Querubin, who are now facing trial before the military court-martial, were accused of leading their troops to join anti-government forces during the commemoration of EDSA People Power 2.

“Right now we are not worried about that, the Armed Forces is intact today, we go on with our activities… it would probably take a long time before they could destabilize, but for now we are confident that there are none of that sort and our armed forces is focused on its work and we won’t involve ourselves in such kinds of activities,” he said.