A flustered Vice-Admiral Ernie de Leon couldn’t clarify why, what, or how, or whether Mayuga would still become Flag-Officer-in-Command (FOIC) of the Navy, succeeding him. Had Mayuga been "withdrawn"? Or replaced? Only the President and the Palace could say, it was conveyed to us. But hadn’t the Presidenta-cum-Commander-in-Chief signed Mayuga’s "appointment" (as we had learned Sunday) or had this vanished?
De Leon assumed the "blame," saying the Philippine Navy had – well, miscued. As in snafu’d? Total embarrassment, of course, for poor Admiral Mayuga who had already been quietly outlining his proposed course of action and plans for the Navy. The ships of the line had already been alerted. The "white hats" (officers), sailors, and ratings had already been assembled at Philippine Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard to give the salute. Everybody went home crestfallen. Except, it might be surmised, for the other "hopefuls" whose hopes had been dashed by the designation of Mayuga (PMA ’73). These were the senior officers who had been in line for FOIC.
Among them had been Rear Admiral George Uy, Chief of Naval Staff (PMA ’73, also retiring, like Mayuga on December 2006); Rear Admiral Constancio Jardiniano, Commander of the Naval Education and Training Command (PMA ’73, retiring July 2007); Rear Admiral Alfredo Abueg, Commander of the Philippine Fleet (PMA ’74, retiring August 2007). The chief "suspect", unfairly perhaps as it turned out, was Rear Admiral Tirso Danga, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Armed Forces of the Philippines (PMA ’75, retiring September 2007).
The rumor went all over the coffee shops and military circles, sparked by know-it-alls saying that Mayuga had been scrapped, his name withdrawn, to be replaced by Danga. According to the speculators – and this, GMA must realize is most damaging to her – La Emperadora had "dumped" Mayuga because she had learned from "intelligence" that Mayuga was part of a "plot" to topple her. Sanamagan. And to crown it all, Admiral Danga, as Deputy Chief of Intelligence was "accused" by the rumor-mongers as the culprit who had allegedly supplied the "information" to GMA.
We’re a great country for Conspiracy Theories . . . mainly because we’re so tsismoso, gossipy and malicious. And possibly, there’s a conspiracy every talkative minute. If he was mischievously misconstrued, then poor Danga was victimized by those rumors.
By golly. After all the pain, angst, ek-ek, and dak-dak, it was confirmed by Malacañang yesterday morning (after so many verbal somersaults and word-acrobatics from assorted officials, including Executive Secretary and ex-General Ed Ermita) that Vice Admiral Mayuga was truly, at last, and finally the anointed incoming Navy Chief, the Flag-Officer-in-Command!
The same Turnover Ceremony has been rescheduled for the same hour tomorrow (Thursday) namely 2 p.m. at the PN Headquarters on Roxas Boulevard. Gee whiz. Why then did the President stop, hesitate, waffle, and then decide to go ahead again? Maybe she even did an 180 degree turn.
Think of the agony this incident caused everyone.
Oh well, don’t forget that the seaside boulevard on which navy headquarters stands – Roxas Boulevard – was once named Dewey Boulevard. This was to honor US Admiral George Dewey who commenced the attack on Admiral Montojo’s Spanish "fleet" in the 1898 Battle of Manila Bay by instructing his gunner on his flagship, Olympia, in leisurely fashion: "You may fire when ready, Gridley."
In Mayuga’s case, alas, it was first a misfire. Then, at last, belatedly, a surefire thing. What a way to run an Armed Forces, I’d be tempted to say. But then, I’m not the Commander-in-Chief.
We’re all still wondering: Why did GMA hesitate? And what good did this mysterious postponement bring her?
Our old friend John, who used to be US Ambassador to the Philippines from 1993 to 1996, is Director of National Intelligence and effectively "controls" (the operative word is "supervises") all the 15 agencies that comprise the US intelligence community worldwide, including the most high-profile one, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
When Negroponte’s DNI appointment by President George Bush was "confirmed" by the US Senate last April, Negroponte had declared "our homeland has been attacked, and we have miscalculated the arsenal, if not the intent, of a dangerous adversary . . . Our intelligence effort has to generate better results."
He told the Senate he would impose "fundamental change" including closer trust and cooperation among spies and analysts. A former Ambassador to the United Nations and lately to Iraq, (he went to Baghdad May 2004 to head the biggest "embattled" US Embassy on the planet, with 4,000 staffers). Negroponte had exclaimed at the time he was surprised by the lack of supporting intelligence for Iraq’s (Saddam Hussein’s) weapons program. US Congress voted $250 million to create his Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The report is that John D. flew here direct from Canberra, Australia, aboard his official Director’s jet.
This arrival coincided with the closure of the US Embassy in Manila yesterday owing to "a plausible threat information." Our sources say that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had issued the plausible threat warning. The Embassy itself sent out an advisory that the "temporary" halt in "public operations" include visa and consular services, and services of the Social Security Administration and Veterans Affairs Regional Office.
It reiterated that "as per US State Department Travel Warning for the Philippines issued in March 2005, American citizens are urged to observe vigilant personal security precautions, and to remain aware of the continued potential for terrorist attacks against Americans, US, or other Western interests in the Philippines."
The US Embassy, the advisory stated, would resume operations "when deemed appropriate."
John D.’s jet, when it landed, was immediately wheeled out of sight – in a government hangar, I might add. The arrival of the Chief Texas Ranger in this one-horse town, surely, is a signal that – for the Americans (and everybody else as well, who happens to be in the crossfire or in the crosshairs) that there’s "clear and present danger."
Did you know that in Kuala Lumpur (according to leaked documents) our GRP negotiators – were they led by Chief GRP Negotiator, "former" Secretary Silvestre "Yoyong" Afable? – had signed agreements accepting the MILF’s "ancestral lands" demands and recognizing MILF’s claims on "territory"? Tell me this is not true, GMA.
While Eid did the Peace "song and dance" at the SEAG, did anyone tell La Presidenta that the MILF has escalated its recruitment and training of cadres, and is gearing up for an offensive to take all of Mindanao? Included in their master plan are Zamboanga City, Davao City, GenSan, and all the cities and provinces outside of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Will this big offensive be launched soon, perhaps even this Christmas? C’mon. This is not lurid anti-Islamic propaganda: it’s a warning from deep in the bowels of the insurgency. Examine anew the name of the rebel movement: Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Could anything be plainer?
The MILF aim, for all the peace talk blah-blah, is unchanged: A Caliphate governing all of Mindanao, which the Bangsa Moro claims to be the Muslims’ "ancestral" domain. See the connection?
If this is anti-Muslim "profiling," we may know soon enough. But if the guns begin firing, and the explosions start erupting, it may be too late.
I won’t say this writer helped prod Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Arturo C. Lomibao along. But when we were on the phone yesterday morning, arranging a luncheon meeting in the next few days, I had chided General Lomibao about carjacking and robberies being on the rise, not on the wane, contrary to cheerful PNP press releases. Let’s face it. Armed carjackers barge into private garages to seize vehicles at gunpoint, or force them to the curb, then grab cars or SUVs. One car owner went on a ride with his family in Quezon City. Armed men stopped him and his vehicle, ordered him to hand over his car keys, and he would get "to keep his family." He surrendered his car, so his wife and kids were permitted to get off.
The tales of misfortune just keep on multiplying. Within two hours, Director General Art Lomibao issued a statement that the PNP will "implement tighter security measures to prevent carjacking and robberies during the Yuletide Season."
The Traffic Management Group and the National Capital Region Police Office were instructed to initiate aggressive operations against carjacking syndicates in Metro Manila "where almost 60 percent of nationwide carjacking cases occur."
The anti-carjacking measures will consist it seems of checkpoint operations, strict enforcement of the "No Plate, No Travel" Policy, and "Market Denial" measures for stolen vehicles and parts.
Then an advisory was issued, with 21 "Tips." Here they are:
1. Always lock all car windows and doors before leaving your car in the parking area.
2. Always park your car in lighted areas during nighttime.
3. Park your motor vehicle in secured places.
4. Check the area where you parked against suspicious looking people.
5. Avoid displaying valuables inside your car when parking to avoid temptations.
6. Remove vital parts like "ROTOR" if possible before leaving your car.
7. Install alarm and safety devices when possible.
8. Install hidden master switch.
9. Avoid using the street near your residence as your parking area.
10. Always lock your car windows and doors when traveling in congested areas.
11. Never entrust your car key to strangers to avoid duplicating it.
12. As much as possible, park your car inside the garage and the garage gate must always be secured and locked.
13. Never leave your car unattended while the engine is on and the doors are unlocked.
14. When somebody hit or bumped your car don’t alight from your car immediately. Analyze the situation.
15. Avoid hitchhikers especially beautiful women.
16. When waiting for someone don’t wait inside the car.
17. Investigate and require driver applicants to submit Police and NBI Clearances.
18. Never entrust to prospective buyers the car you are selling for testing purposes without escort.
19. Never entrust your car key to anybody except to the management when turning over your car for repair.
20. For PUVs, don’t bite for huge sum that the passengers are offering to bring them in certain areas unless you know personally the one offering.
21. Take note of the plate numbers of the suspected vehicles tailing that hit you. Then report it immediately to the Police.