‘Reds in Duterte gov’t to draw massive demoralization in military, police ranks’

From the Daily Tribune (May 28): ‘Reds in Duterte gov’t to draw massive demoralization in military, police ranks’

A former high ranking police official has cautioned the incoming Duterte government of demoralization among the ranks of the police and the military following its decision to include Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the Cabinet.

“That is a big mistake. It will demoralize the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and that will be very dangerous,” former Constabulary chief retired Maj. Gen. Ramon Montano stressed.

“The military and police ranks will surely react negatively to having communists in the government. They have been putting their lives and limbs fighting the insurgents, many lives have been lost,” he told the Daily Tribune.

Montano, who fought the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) that launched several military uprisings against the late President Corazon Aquino, stressed Duterte may face a similar situation if he appoints communists in the government.

Then led by Lt. Col. Gregorio Honasan, the RAM and the Young Officers Union (YOU), then headed by Capt. Danilo Lim, tried several times to overthrow the Cory Aquino administration.

“That is very dangerous. Remember that former President Cory Aquino was faced by several military uprisings after giving amnesty to Joma (CPP founder Jose Maria Sison),” warned Montano.

“He (Duterte) should be very careful in dealing with the communist,” he said, adding “their (communists) main goal is to topple government.”

Montano expressed hopes that Duterte would reconsider his pronouncements.

“We are seeing very divisive pronouncements by Digong. I just hope that he would reconsider those for the country to move forward under his term,” he stressed.

The former Constabulary chief stressed he is advocating “peace to all” but maintained that such should be done without sacrificing the morale of the uniformed services.

Casiño, Mariano on Reds’ shortlist

Former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño confirmed that he is on the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) list of nominees for Cabinet posts in the Duterte administration.

“All I know is I am being considered for something... It is very good that President-elect Duterte is very open-minded and for sure, he knows our track record when we were still the at the House of Representatives. We are incorruptible and principled men,” he told a radio interview.

According to Casiño,  he will carefully consider the policy direction of the incoming president, especially if he is offered a position in the Duterte Cabinet.

Duterte, a self-proclaimed socialist, has earlier offered four departments to the Communist Party of the Philippines: Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE).

Casiño said he believes Duterte will pick members of his official family “based on the integrity and competence of the appointee.”

Meanwhile, the NDF has also nominated former Anakpawis partylist Rep. Rafael Mariano as DAR secretary NDF spokesman Fidel Agcaoili yesterday confirmed.
Mariano is the chairman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), a militant farmers’ group.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas welcomed the NDF nomination of Mariano, saying it “is based on KMP’s resolute and militant struggle for genuine land reform.”

KMP secretary general Antonio Flores stressed that in the absence of land reform law, “Duterte should seriously consider the NDF’s nomination of Ka Paeng (Mariano) to effect significant policy changes in the agrarian front.”
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/reds-in-duterte-gov-t-to-draw-massive-demoralization-in-military-police-ranks