FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City ,Philippines – They spoke not a word, but conveyed their message loud and clear through their black t-shirts, emblazoned with the words “Arrogance is not part of my discipline” in red and white letters as they marched yesterday at the Borromeo Field of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) here.
The cavaliers of PMA Makatao Class of 1989 had another message at the back of their shirts: “Be One; Be Makatao,” calling on military personnel to unite and be pro-people.
The statement on arrogance was an obvious dig at former Navy officer and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who openly berated former Armed Forces chief of staff and defense secretary Angelo Reyes at the Senate hearing on alleged corruption in the military and which reportedly caused the latter to commit suicide.
Reyes is Trillanes’ upper classman at the PMA.
Reyes was earlier called as a resource person in the hearing on the plea bargain agreement of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia with government prosecutors.
Former budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa claimed that Reyes received a monthly P5-million allowance and a P50-million pabaon or sendoff gift when he retired.
When Reyes insisted that he be given a chance to question Rabusa, saying his integrity and honor were at stake, Trillanes cut him down, saying that he (Reyes) had no integrity to protect.
“You do not treat a fellow cavalier that way. Those who are without sin cast the first stone,” one cavalier said as he challenged Trillanes to also admit that his mother was once a supplier of the AFP.
Meantime, former Southern Command chief retired Gen. Romeo Padiernos said he, too, is hurting with the way things are turning out, stressing that during his time, no underclass would ever have the courage to challenge a superior officer.
He also said that internal problems in the AFP should be solved from within and not from outside, saying that it would be highly dangerous for the organization to let outsiders solve its problems.
Garcia, of PMA Class ’71; Rabusa, of Class ’81; Trillanes, of Class ’95 and retired Gen. Jacinto Ligot were no-shows at yesterday’s homecoming, but Brig. Gen. Benito de Leon of Class ’81 joined the celebration.
De Leon and Rabusa had a square off at the resumption of the Senate hearing the other day with former AFP chiefs among the resource persons.
De Leon rebuffed Rabusa when he declared before the body that one of them is lying.
Pangasinan second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, for his part, said despite fewer PMA alumni like him going to their annual homecoming yesterday, the event was still considered well attended. – With Eva Visperas