Esperon Rebuked for Claiming a New Coup Is Afoot to Justify Term Extension

YOU ARE HERE: Home » All Entries, Main Stories, Press Releases & Statements » Esperon Rebuked for Claiming a New Coup Is Afoot to Justify Term Extension

PUBLISHED ON January 3, 2008 AT 5:46 PM

More Blood Will Be in Esperon’s and GMA’s Hands – Satur

Arroyo Should Resign Over ZTE ‘Cover-Up’, Lozada Abduction

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel,
Jr. (PDP-Laban) today said it is the prerogative of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to extend the tour
of duty of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, chief-of-staff of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who is due
to retire on Feb. 9, upon reaching the age of 56.

Pimentel, however, criticized Esperon for claiming
that the AFP has uncovered new destabilization moves
and coup plot against the Arroyo government that will
supposedly unfold in the first six months of 2008.

Pimentel said Esperon’s revelation has only put
himself in a ridiculous situation because it would
appear that it was made to justify the extension of
his term.

“I dare Gen. Esperon to show evidence that another
power grab attempt by rebel troops is in the works if
only to quash speculation that it was nothing but a
product of his fertile imagination to enable him to
hang on to his post,” he said.

The statement was issued by the opposition leader amid
reports that Esperon’s tour of duty will be extended
by the President by four to six months.

Pimentel said the extension of Esperon’s term, if that
materializes, is bound to cause some demoralization in
the military hierarchy because it will put on hold the
upward movements of senior officials, especially
aspirants for the post of AFP chief.
-o0o-

IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to PinoyPress for publication. Please email your materials to pinoypress @ gmail.com. PinoyPress is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of PinoyPress and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.

RSS feed • Subscribe via email • Discuss

TAGS

agriculture arroyo blogging brian gorrell business communist insurgency corruption crispin beltran desaparecidos economy education energy entertainment environment eraserheads extrajudicial killings freedom of speech & expression gossip health human rights internet security islamic separatism jpepa jun lozada leisure lifestyle media & journalism military mindanao moro national liberation front movies OFWs and migration politics poverty religion rice crisis romulo neri spratly islands supreme court technology terrorism tourism travel & leisure videos ZTE-NBN scandal

THE NEWS IN PICTURES

Free at Last. The so-called Tagaytay 5 -- Aris Sarmiento, Axel Pinpin, Riel Custodio, Michael Masayes and Rico Ybañez -- shown here inside their prison cell during their incarceration, were freed yesterday. “The dismissal of trumped-up charges and release of Tagaytay 5 is a victory for human rights,” said Ruth Cervantes, Karapatan's public information officer. (Photo: freetagaytay5.net)

Displaced. Residents of North Cotabato have been the ones badly affected by the military offensives launched against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "As the government continues to indiscriminately drop bombs on Moro and Christian villages in Aleosan and Pikit, more and more civilians are displaced," said Kawagib, a Moro human-rights group.(Photo: Suara Bangsamoro/arkibongbayan.org)

In One Roof. Villagers who fled their homes after the clashes last week between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south brought every human life with them, including their farm animals. They now live under one roof at an evacuation center in Pikit, North Cotabato. (Photo: Bong Sarmiento / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project)

Emergency. A scene from "Ambulancia," a short film that tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets. The award-winning film will be screened at the so-called "Woodstock of short films" in Germany. Richard Legaspi directed the film and it stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo. (Contributed photo)

Sendoff. The Philippine Army dispatched today, Aug. 10, the 68th Infantry Battalion to Maguindanao. This battalion, together with the 46th Infantry Battalion from Samar, will augment the troops in Central Mindanao for the security operations that will be conducted to ensure peaceful elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao tomorrow. (Photo: Philippine Army)

Killings Denounced. Mindanao journalists gathered in General Santos City on Friday to denounce the recent attacks on their colleagues. On Monday, Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network commentator in General Santos, was shot and is fighting for his life. On Thursday, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas of Capiz City, was shot dead. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

If This Wall Could Talk. With the pleasant scenery as a backdrop (and a constant reminder, perhaps, of a life they could have had), this poor family try to survive by actually living by the sidewalk outside the Chinese school in Davao City. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Undaunted. Activists from Anakbayan scuffle with the police as the Chevrolet Suburban carrying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo passes by the junction before the newly built Bankerohan bridge in Davao City last week. The president was in the city for the declaration of the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi parties. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Freedom Denied. Lex Adonis, a former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo in Davao City, inside the Davao Penal Colony, where he was jailed after House Speaker Prospero Nograles sued him for libel over a story involving the Davao congressman's alleged sexual relations with a woman other than his wife. Despite a court order, Adonis remains in jail. (File photo by davaotoday.com)

Tribute to Ka Bel. Activists, artists, friends and supporters troop to the Philippine Independent Church on Taft Avenue Monday night to honor AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week. Beltran will be buried in Bulacan today, after a ceremony honoring him at the House of Representatives, where he served for several terms as party-list congressman. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/pinoypress.net)

Rare Sight. Moro women students of a madrasah play volleyball during a break in barangay Ugalingan, Carmen, North Cotabato, last week. While Filipina Moros are considered relatively open in their lifestyle compared to Muslim women in other countries, scenes like this are not very common in Moro areas in Mindanao. (Photo by Keith Bacongco/AKP Images)

Ka Bel's Fight. An activist mourns the death of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, who died Tuesday. Ka Bel's remains lie in state at the IFI Cathedral in Manila. His colleagues, family and friends have lined up a series of tributes. Click here for the schedules, as well as statements and poems honoring Ka Bel. (Photo by courtesy of arkibongbayan)

Displaced. Lumad families from Compostela and Monkayo towns, in Compostela Valley Province, seek refuge in Davao City after being displaced by intense counter-insurgency operations by the military in their communities this month. The 210 evacuees, of which 83 are children, are now staying inside a gym. The number of evacuees is expected to rise, according to NGOs. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan)

Esperon Rebuked for Claiming a New Coup Is Afoot to Justify Term Extension

Leave a Comment