Offense
Offense
Updated 00:51am (Mla time) Oct 23, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on Page A14 of the October 23, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
BY ALL accounts, Lt. Gen. Efren Abu has a reputation in the military for being a "straight-shooter." Soldiers and civilians alike view this member of the Philippine Military Academy's Class of 1972 as both honest and efficient. The expectations surrounding his assumption of the position of chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are very high.
Had he not been perceived to be lacking in initiative in pursuing the case against Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya would probably have been given an extension of his tour of duty. Instead, Abaya, who himself has enjoyed a good reputation, closes his military career mired in the greatest scandal involving the armed forces. While Abaya, so far, cannot be accused of doing anything wrong, he has fallen prey to an equally grave shortcoming: not doing enough. A general, after all, must both inspire and lead; he must not just be reactive, but proactive. Put in simpler sports terms anyone can appreciate, the best defense is a good offense.
The country is getting increasingly exasperated with the bunker-like mentality of the military, which seems to think that it can hide in a ditch until the action dies down. The AFP cannot afford to duck and sit out this scandal. It certainly cannot miss this historic opportunity to restore its honor and redeem its institutional integrity.
With the transition from Abaya to Abu, the AFP is also experiencing a generation shift. It is this shift that offers the AFP and its leadership the chance to finally cleanse its ranks.
For the first time in generations, too, the AFP is being headed by a civilian, with no ties to the fraternity of PMA graduates and other officers who are now under investigation. For make no mistake about it, the generation of officers represented by Garcia are all under a cloud of doubt.
Because of this rare and well-needed institutional and generational shift, from military to civilian direct supervision and from one PMA class to the next, the AFP leadership has the golden opportunity to stop stealing gold and restore the shine on the brass of its uniforms.
It can be done. Abu has a personal reputation for integrity attractive to the younger generation of officers who are now on the verge of promotion and increased responsibility. For the younger generations of officers, who are sick of being categorized as crooks along with their corrupt elders, this is the time to help clean up the ranks. The time has come, because they are in positions where they can do something about it, to put their careers where their mouths have been: on the line.
The older generals may find it extremely difficult to sacrifice one of their own, but this mistaken sense of solidarity, which owes more to the corrosive and corrupting legacies of martial law, has lost its lease on life. Just as our politics is finally emerging from the shadows of the martial law minions of Marcos, simply because so many of them are already old, retiring, or have died, the same applies to the military. The officers being made generals today were very junior officers during martial law. They, for the most part, never enjoyed the heady perks of absolute power that their elders came to enjoy and expect during martial law. They have seen more, and, in a sense, sacrificed more, because they were more likely to be in the front lines during the past, turbulent 30 years.
At the very least, with a civilian heading the Department of National Defense, one level of cover -- or covering up -- has been eliminated. With a more dynamic, and it is hoped, more daring chief of staff, the AFP can look forward to prosecuting those in cahoots with Garcia, and putting in place a system that does not reward theft with star rank.
No chief of staff can do it alone. That's for sure. Leadership, however, requires that Abu take the first step. The success of his efforts, once begun, lies with the men and women who are his fellow officers. They can finally break free of the cronyism of the martial law AFP, or they can ensure it is perpetuated for another generation. The country they claim to love has made clear its expectations: reform.
Updated 00:51am (Mla time) Oct 23, 2004
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on Page A14 of the October 23, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
BY ALL accounts, Lt. Gen. Efren Abu has a reputation in the military for being a "straight-shooter." Soldiers and civilians alike view this member of the Philippine Military Academy's Class of 1972 as both honest and efficient. The expectations surrounding his assumption of the position of chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are very high.
Had he not been perceived to be lacking in initiative in pursuing the case against Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya would probably have been given an extension of his tour of duty. Instead, Abaya, who himself has enjoyed a good reputation, closes his military career mired in the greatest scandal involving the armed forces. While Abaya, so far, cannot be accused of doing anything wrong, he has fallen prey to an equally grave shortcoming: not doing enough. A general, after all, must both inspire and lead; he must not just be reactive, but proactive. Put in simpler sports terms anyone can appreciate, the best defense is a good offense.
The country is getting increasingly exasperated with the bunker-like mentality of the military, which seems to think that it can hide in a ditch until the action dies down. The AFP cannot afford to duck and sit out this scandal. It certainly cannot miss this historic opportunity to restore its honor and redeem its institutional integrity.
With the transition from Abaya to Abu, the AFP is also experiencing a generation shift. It is this shift that offers the AFP and its leadership the chance to finally cleanse its ranks.
For the first time in generations, too, the AFP is being headed by a civilian, with no ties to the fraternity of PMA graduates and other officers who are now under investigation. For make no mistake about it, the generation of officers represented by Garcia are all under a cloud of doubt.
Because of this rare and well-needed institutional and generational shift, from military to civilian direct supervision and from one PMA class to the next, the AFP leadership has the golden opportunity to stop stealing gold and restore the shine on the brass of its uniforms.
It can be done. Abu has a personal reputation for integrity attractive to the younger generation of officers who are now on the verge of promotion and increased responsibility. For the younger generations of officers, who are sick of being categorized as crooks along with their corrupt elders, this is the time to help clean up the ranks. The time has come, because they are in positions where they can do something about it, to put their careers where their mouths have been: on the line.
The older generals may find it extremely difficult to sacrifice one of their own, but this mistaken sense of solidarity, which owes more to the corrosive and corrupting legacies of martial law, has lost its lease on life. Just as our politics is finally emerging from the shadows of the martial law minions of Marcos, simply because so many of them are already old, retiring, or have died, the same applies to the military. The officers being made generals today were very junior officers during martial law. They, for the most part, never enjoyed the heady perks of absolute power that their elders came to enjoy and expect during martial law. They have seen more, and, in a sense, sacrificed more, because they were more likely to be in the front lines during the past, turbulent 30 years.
At the very least, with a civilian heading the Department of National Defense, one level of cover -- or covering up -- has been eliminated. With a more dynamic, and it is hoped, more daring chief of staff, the AFP can look forward to prosecuting those in cahoots with Garcia, and putting in place a system that does not reward theft with star rank.
No chief of staff can do it alone. That's for sure. Leadership, however, requires that Abu take the first step. The success of his efforts, once begun, lies with the men and women who are his fellow officers. They can finally break free of the cronyism of the martial law AFP, or they can ensure it is perpetuated for another generation. The country they claim to love has made clear its expectations: reform.
posted by Dante at 2:20 PM
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