Whose tank was it?

You have to give it to La Presidenta, she knows how to use body language, and is very successful at it. Saturday morning, she went on a round of business establishments, greeting people who surely must have been awed at this seemingly fearless woman who does not look as if she had been the object of a coup attempt just two days ago. And then there she went, off to Spain , France and the United Kingdom , three of the biggest, most historic and most successful countries in Europe .

* * *

What can we make of that body-talk but: “See? I don't let silly incidents like ouster tries bother me. If I say I'm going to France , then to France I will go. And you can say, or write, what you make of that”. That is because she does not believe she has any problem like what hounded Thailand 's Thaksin Shinawatra about two years ago. He went to Europe and had an extended vacation. When he wanted to go home, his people wouldn't let him, that is, the military officers who had seized power, and continue to do so. As for Shinawatra, he just bought himself a football team in the UK , and every now and then, tries to return, or sneak into the country.

* * *

Her language does not seem to be clear to some of her officers. On the day of her departure, a news bulletin in Manila said: “AFP beefs up Metro troops as threat remains active”. Threats from whom? Surely not the followers of Trillanes? Even at the height of the Peninsula affair, he could not even muster a decent show of force. That is why my own reading of that sample of adventurism, is that both Senator Trillanes and General Lim had allowed themselves to be convinced by some of their cohorts, that thousands were waiting and ready to march and capture Malacañang, but alas! the expected support, like in the song on the famous American stronghold, the Alamo , also “never came, never came, never came…”

* * *

Is it true that Malacañang is saying that soldier-turned-rebel-turned-senator Antonio Trillanes should be the one to pay for the damage to the Peninsula Hotel? And did Trillanes really say that he will pay? Oh, but who fired guns and rammed the entrance of the Peninsula , and whose tank was it? Of course neither former vice president Tito Guingona or retired bishop Julio Labayen of Infanta, Quezon, will claim ownership. Will it hurt the sensibilities of the two elders that they are being considered as no threats?

* * *

I was saddened to hear about the death of former general Jose Calimlim who had succumbed to a lingering illness. Calimlim was one of the few military men I know who were true professionals, and sources of pride to their calling. He had served his country in several capacities but never had his name been tainted with any record of graft or corruption. If there is one Filipino soldier who fits the description of a “true officer and gentleman”, I think it is Jose Calimlim. When he was the head of the Presidential Security Guards, we used to see him and he was always respectful and accommodating. Had he been faced with a situation like l'affaire Peninsula , he would have acted on it very, very differently.

* * *

One thing that had brought him to intense media attention was the way he planned and executed the capture of then fugitive congressman Romeo Jalosjos. Working quietly and methodically, Calimlim pinpointed the solon's hideaway and swooped down on it one day. Jalosjos, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, is still languishing in jail, but may soon be freed as he, like President Estrada, had also turned seventy.

* * *

By the way, it looks as if the government has not been doing very well in the cases it has filed against some individuals. Among the news headlines recently were: “SandiganBayan junks raps vs. former ambassador”. This was Ambassador Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez, brother of Imelda Marcos. Another said: “Gov't complaint on SMB shares dismissed for insufficiency of evidence”. Ironically, another headline, on the same day said: “SC affirms three life sentences imposed on father for the rape of his 11-year-old daughter”. Well, that's life.*

back to top