Marines deny support for escaped comrade

[thedrifter]

Marines deny support for escaped comrade
First posted 04:48pm (Mla time) Jan 11, 2006
By Joel Francis Guinto
INQ7.net

COMRADES of a fugitive Marine captain and alleged leader of a military mutiny in 2003 have rejected allegations that they have helped him gain access to two military camps following his escape last month.

"There is no basis for that, we deny that… There is no such thing as facilitating [Captain Nicanor Faeldon's entry to the camps]," Major Melquiades Ordiales, a spokesman for the Philippine Marines, said in an interview with reporters Wednesday.

Captain Nicanor Faeldon, who escaped detention on December 14, had posted photos of his visits to the Western Command (Wescom) in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province and at the Southern Command (Southcom) in Zamboanga City through his website (www.pilipino.org.ph).

Marines are stationed in the two camps Faeldon claimed to have visited.

Ordiales echoed statements by military officials that doubted the authenticity of the photos, saying they could have been digitally manipulated.

"In the first place, we're not really sure if he is really doing the rounds… With technology, you can manipulate pictures and video," he said.

Ordiales said the Marine Corps would abide by orders from military general headquarters to capture Faeldon, one of the ringleaders of the mutiny at the Oakwood luxury apartments in Makati City on July 27, 2003.

But while he maintained that the Marine Corps was solidly behind the chain of command, Ordiales could not say whether Faeldon had support from within the military.

"I can't answer that. I can't read the mind of other [soldiers]," he said.

When pressed by reporters, Ordiales also refused to call on Faeldon to surrender. "I will not comment on that. That is his own personal conviction."

Following his escape, Faeldon has launched a civil disobedience campaign in cyberspace to press for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Arroyo won’t punish AFP officials, despite Faeldon’s visits to military HQ
The Daily Tribune, Philippines
01/12/2006

President Arroyo will not sanction officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly the commanding generals of Southern Command (South-com) and Western Command (Wescom) despite reports that fugitive Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon gained access to two military camps reportedly to lure his comrades to join his call for the ouster of President Arroyo.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, during a press briefing, yesterday said Mrs. Arroyo, also the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP, would not even give an ultimatum to the military and police for the immediate arrest of Faeldon.

“There is no need for our President to order an ultimatum to our police and military to capture Faeldon. They know what to do...the commanding generals have been given a directive by the President to arrest the fugitive so it’s up to their deputies, their command to act on that directive of our President,” he added.

Asked if Mrs. Arroyo would punish the military leadership amid reports that comrades of Faeldon have been helping him to “visit” some military camps, the Palace official hedged.

“Reports (claimed) Faeldon had visited some camps but this has yet to be verified. It doesn’t follow that we sack or fire commanding officers

in a certain military camps but we have to stress that it behooves the commanders there and even their lower commanders that they should be on the look-out for Faeldon and other fugitives from justice,” Ermita said.

Ermita said the Marine captain would soon be arrested by the military and police.

“For that matter related to Faeldon we can be sure the chain of command is already addressing this issue. We don’t need to go up all the way to the commanding generals to ask them to do their jobs,” he added.

The Philippine Marines leadership, for its part, also yesterday assured that its men did not help Faeldon in gaining entry to at least two major military camps despite the manhunt for him.

Marine spokesman Maj. Melquiades Ordiales said the allegation that Faledon’s comrades have helped him gain access at the headquarters of Southcom and Wescom have no basis.

“There is no basis for that, we deny that…There is no such thing as facilitating (Faeldon’s entry to the camps),” he told reporters.

Ordiales, however, said it is still not certain if Faeldon was indeed able to enter these camps after his escape.

He pointed to earlier military theories that the photographs and videos could have been doctored.

“With the technology, we are saying we can manipulate pictures and videos,” Ordiales said.

He added no one has reported to the Philippine Marines that Faeldon was sighted in these camps.

Ordiales, however, could not give a categorical answer when asked if some Marine officers and men are supportive of Faeldon’s cause.

“I cannot answer that because I, for one, am not in control of the minds of our soldiers,” he said. Sherwin C. Olaes and Gina Peralta-Elorde

Ellie