Army general Jogy Leo Fojas yesterday downplayed a text message being circulated by what he called "enemies of the state" stating that 80 percent of the military's junior officers will take arms against the government.

It is an attempt to create "divisiveness" among members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Fojas, commanding general of the Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade, said.

He described the text message as "plain and simple propaganda" by those who want to destabilize the government.

The text message says "almost 80 percent of the company commanders and platoon leaders are ready to revolt anytime. They don't want to follow the generals and if that happens, it might be bloody coz Gloria might choose to fight it out".

Fojas said the military in Negros remain loyal to the duly-constituted government and will strictly abide by the chain of command. Maj. Lyndon Sollesta, spokesman of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, called on the people to remain calm, provide information and cooperate with the military for the immediate arrest of the four fugitive military officers, involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

The manhunt operations against Capt. Nathaniel Rabonza, ILts. Lawrence San Juan, Sonny Sarmiento and Patricio Bumindang who escaped from the maximum security compound at Fort Bonifacio, has already expanded to the Visayas area.

In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines yesterday congratulated the four junior officers for "successfully freeing themselves from the oppressive prisons of the Arroyo regime to be able to more freely and effectively pursue the fight to end the bogus, corrupt and brutal regime, and help set up a new government."

Dismissing the text message as a "hearsay", Acting Bacolod Mayor Renecito Novero said "I do not believe that the people are ready for another coup, or another destabilized period in history, where we will all be losers".*GPB/CGS

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