12 units of cowardice at the
Philippine Military Academy
By Rep. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.
Philippine Military Academy
By Rep. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise on a matter of collective privilege. This morning, this representation read in the newspapers that Navy Vice-Commander Rear Admiral Amable (meaning amiable) Tolentino admitted that the Philippine military is inferior to the militaries of other countries. Yes, even before any fight, he said declared the Filipino military will always lose.
But in what respect is the Filipino so inferior as to guarantee his inevitable defeat in any conflict. How indeed is the Filipino inferior to other countries?
The vice commander’s succeeding remarks show in what respect.
He said, and I quote, “From a student of regional security (who enrolled this asshole? And paid his tuition?), diplomacy is still best. We avoid war as much as possible. Exploitation of resources by each country, once it overlaps your jurisdiction, there is a possibility of war. So if you have diplomacy, you have dialogues. That is better than going to war.”
But that, he said, is only his personal opinion. What a relief!
But, excuse me, who asked for his opinion? More to the point is he even entitled to have one while he is serving in the armed forces?
The tradition is that a civilian opinion by a military individual comes only after their retirement or resignation, as in the case of many distinguished US commanders regarding the Iraqi War. And more importantly, can he, as serving officer give as his considered opinion that our armed forces couldn’t put up much of a fight if it came to one?
Worse, why is he saying this and expressing a partiality for diplomacy rather than combat. He has expressed the view that the armed forces will not fight since, according to yet another officer, a certain Lt. Col. Calicutan, the armed forces will always prefer to talk rather than fight over the Spratlys. Calicutan also said that the entire military is supporting the joint exploration of the Spratlys as the win-win situation.
Mr. Speaker, this is not treason, but it will be when it comes to war and such statements give clear comfort to the enemy and abet, not to say encourage, his aggression.
Mr. Speaker, this is not yet treason indeed, but it is very much a present cowardice.
The military exists not just to fight but to declare it is prepared to fight, and not just to fight when it is sure to win, but to fight whatever the odds against victory and the certainty of defeat when the territorial integrity of the Republic is at stake.
What is our military taught these days? Is there a 12-unit course at the PMA on talking instead of fighting? On cowardice rather than courage? That it is better to sell out our country than fight for it? What does the Philippine military think our country is, a broadband deal?
The value of a military is as much in its willingness to fight as in actual fighting. Now tell us, Mr. Speaker, what is the deterrent value of a military that admits it will lose before it fights, that it would rather talk than fight, that in any case it WILL NOT FIGHT.
The value of such a military is as zero as its courage and fighting capability. No wonder his name is Amable. But what we need is not amiability but ferocity in our officers, the kind of ferocity our military regularly show our disagreeable brothers and sisters in the streets and in the hills.
I hate to say this, especially about someone my father opposed so much, but when President Marcos was presented with a similar situation regarding another piece of Philippine territory, my father took me to Malacañang, so I could see and hear and remember, Marcos and his generals discuss plans for a full-scale military option together with our old and dependable ally Indonesia for a final solution to the Sabah problem. Those were generals, that was a commander-in- chief. Not these cowards today.”
(End of speech)
Last March 25, AFP Chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon stated that he too prefers a diplomatic approach to settling the Spratlys issue. Knowing his total servitude to his Commander-in- Chief, Esperon was obviously mouthing the Palace line.
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I really hate digging trenches!
cocoy826
Morality, courage and self-respect is what we read in the other thread. And sadly, it’s what the high echelon in the AFP sorely lack.
The speech by Teddyboy Locsin should not be ignored by his fellow congressmen for it clearly betrayed the thinking of a certain military officer apparently following a cue from the Chief of Staff.
And before I forget, the Chief of Staff is clearly mouthing what Malacanang spinmasters have been saying, diplomatic approach.
It could only mean that the AFP Chief of Staff and his amiable officers has the script on what the Department of Foreign Affairs should be saying.
It’s queer to observe that up to this point, nobody from the AFP has taken issue with Rep. Locsin on his speech calling them cowards. We are not saying that they are really cowards but it was a congressman who said that and his privilege is a public document and on record.
soldiery is a noble profession. To some it is the meanest profession, further labeling them as “Sundalong Kanin” because it emerges from the need to survive and to feed the family. Others say that, with the minimum educational qualification of “hayskul pinis” or “hayskul gradweysyon”, anyone who is “basta marunong bumaril” can qualify for Candidate Soldier. Once a soldier, he is expected to function as a “Jack of all Trades” and purposely ignoring whether he will become a master or not of what not. In whatever conception of the word, the fact remains that soldiery is life itself, the most precious and irreplaceable human life offered for one’s country and fellowmen in pursuit of peace and security. Objectively, the perception of soldiery is dependent upon the degree of what and how the perceiver has been exposed to the profession.
With the current situations in the external and internal security operation, the impassive soldier of the AFP evolved to assume a more defined role. Several efforts have been done to professionalize soldiery, to keep it abreast with the constantly changing demands of the society. Individual skills were developed through continuous, rigorous training, which is most of the time, backbreaking and utterly rewarding, mental alertness and reflexes were honed to the fullest. Survival through evasion techniques, through proficiency in the basic skills of soldiery, through successful infiltration and exfiltration from enemy lines, plays a highly important role in the accomplishment of operational objectives and much more in the pursuit of peace.
Considered as a partner in the pursuit of peace, the soldier provides security and are very instrumental in the neutralization of enemy forces, conducts ground and reconnaissance operations, operates in an economy of force role in offensive, defensive and delaying actions, supports infantry division/brigade/battalions, engage in stability operations and conducts home defense and other allied activities.
NO HONOR—During a battle, a Captain observed that one of the soldiers of his regiment was not shooting at an enemy soldier that had dropped his musket and was running away. When the battle was over the captain sought out the soldier and asked him why he did not shoot at the retreating enemy soldier. He replied, “When that soldier decided to run away, he marked himself as a coward and has to live with the decision all his life. If I had shot him I would have shortened his burden and also there is no honor in shooting a man that is not facing you.”
There are some good soldiers.PMA cannot be held responsible for the moral failures of some of its graduates decades after their graduation.
I think it more reasonable to say that the frictions of real life desensitizes even PMA graduates ethically—particularly as they grow older.
How long do you imagine youthful ideals of “courage, integrity, and loyalty” will last when confronted with the harsh realities of the dog-eat-dog world into which cadets are plunged after leaving the Military Academy?
Nainsulto ng husto si Esperon.
my (deleted) comment in ellenville re esperon’s inhumane treatment of the honorable soldiers where col querubin was rushed to the hospital due to short of breathe:
esperon, tapang mo talaga!
ganyan nga. yakang yaka mong pabahagin ang buntot ng mga battle tested na mga opisyal na ‘yan! wala silang magagawa sa iyo habang ikaw ang may hawak sa armed forces of the pidals, kaya sige lang. matitibay ‘yang mga ‘yan. kumakain ng bala ‘yang mga iyan. kulang pa nga ang ginagawa mo, eh.
tutal, hindi sila makakalaban sa iyo, basagin mo na lang ang mukha ng mga ‘yan, lalo na sina col querubin at ltcol parcon na parehong valor medalists. biro mong sila eh merong highest award samantalang ikaw ay wala? unfair, di ba?
kaya, sige upakan mo pa sila. dapat nga ingudngod mo pa mga nguso nila sa sementadong sahig para matuto sila kilalanin at saluduhan ang walo mong estrelya sa balikat.
bah, hindi birong SIPSIP ang ginawa mo para lamang maging SHIT of staff ng armed forces of the pidals at hindi nila kayang gawin ‘yung mag-iiyak kang parang baklang supot sa harap ng media noong sinabi ni goyang na hindi na siya kakandidato na kung natuloy ay sa taniman ka ng kamote pinulot.
hindi rin nila kayang gawin ‘yung magmakaawa para ma-extend ang termino bilang SHIT of staff kahit parang tae ka nang pinandidirihan.
sige pa. magpakasawa ka sa panghihiya sa mga opisyal na ‘yan. hindi sila lalaban sa iyo.
pero, k’widaw ka, hindi habang panahon ay nandiyan ka, gago!
kapag wala na si goyang sa malakanyang, magtago ka na kahit sa tupi ng saya ng nanay mong kung nabubuhay pa ay siguradong isinusuka ka na ring hayup ka!
supot!
pustahan tayo, kung tunay na laban lalo’t sa dayuhan, unang unang tatakbo sa panig ng kalaban ang anak ng putang duwag na almoranas esperon na ito!
palibhasa ay hindi nakaranas matulog sa gubat sa paghahanap ng kalaban at hindi naranasan kung papaano lumaban sa mga kaaway.
Duwag kasi si Esperon.Pinasok na ng mga intsik ang Spratley wala siyang ginawa at hinayaan na lang sila.Ganyan ba ang tagapagtangol ng bayan,lagi na lang kasing nakahawak sa saya ni Gloria.
kutsara,
hindi nakahawak sa saya ni gloria kundi hinihimas ni gloria ang bayag niya kaya tirik matang sinusunod ang mga utos sa kanya.
when the graduates of the academy began performing their sworn commission, get promoted to field grade ranks most of them began to turn to political patrons for help to achieve their much salivated dream, reaching the star which in turn is exploited by the vultures to protect their illegal activities.
others who stick to their principles are left behind the line.
Nakakahiya naman itong mga heneral na duwag,dapat ay maghubad na sila ng unipormi.
kumander pipi,
kapag pinaghubad mo si es-PWE-ron ay lalong mabubulgar ang kanyang lihim.
ang ginagamit kasi niyang pang-ilalim sa pang-itaas na uniporme ay half kamison na parang nighties at ang pang-ibaba naman ay bikini panty na T-back.
gumagamit pa nga ‘yan ng sanitary napkin dahil baka daw siya tagusan.