EDITORIAL – Lessons for the Filipino soldier

The usual bunch of retired military officers with too much time on their hands came out yesterday to express support for Marine Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani and Lt. Col. Alexander Balutan, who face court-martial for defying an order from their commander-in-chief. The usual bunch of young military officers without the guts to identify themselves also expressed their support, although a statement to the contrary will probably be issued by another faction.

The retired officers, a number of whom are closely identified with deposed President Joseph Estrada and even the late Ferdinand Marcos, at least conceded that the two Marine officers would have to be punished for defying an order from their commander-in-chief.

Gudani and Balutan have been sacked from their posts for appearing at a Senate hearing without getting clearance from President Arroyo. Gudani’s desire to expose cheating in the 2004 presidential election is admirable. Who doesn’t want to know the truth about poll fraud? Who doesn’t want to see cheaters punished?

His testimony, however, was hardly the smoking gun that would pin down anyone for vote rigging. And his allegations would have been more useful last year when the opposition candidate he is accused of supporting, Fernando Poe Jr., was still alive and contesting the results of the presidential race. Stories of Gudani’s partisan political activities, now being told by politicians in Mindanao, are undisguised attempts to discredit him. But the stories also have a ring of truth and taint his testimony.

Gudani’s effort to tell what he knows about purported vote rigging, however belated and politically tainted, deserves commendation. But he will have to face the consequences of his actions and subject himself to military discipline. That discipline is rigorous; a soldier’s respect for the chain of command and obedience to a superior’s orders are vital to the survival of any army. Any soldier who cannot take the discipline must leave the military. Then he can call a press conference and hurl his worst accusations against his former commander-in-chief.

The fate that befell the Oakwood mutineers discouraged other soldiers from styling themselves as saviors of the Filipino people. The prosecution of military generals led by Carlos Garcia has sent the message to soldiers that corruption does not pay — not always, anyway. Now the punishment of Gudani and Balutan should serve as a lesson in military discipline and the consequences for soldiers of dabbling in partisan political activities.