Treading on troubled waters
EDITORIAL |
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No Philippine military officer is expected to publicly go against a decision made by his Commander in Chief, in this case, Noynoy Aquino, when he openly directed his Justice secretary, Leila de Lima, to withdraw the case against the 43 health workers, dubbed by the media as the “Morong 43.” Neither are the Armed Forces officers and the Philippine National Police officials willingly go public against Noynoy and Malacañang when they say he is open to the grant of amnesty for all political prisoners. For them to do so would translate to their being placed in the freezer, with no promotions in rank, as well as choice command posts, expected for years.
But just because they all state that they will obey the chain of command, hardly means they are happy about such orders and enjoy a high morale today — after such decisions from the Malacañang tenant.
As far as the military is concerned, it arrested the 43 health workers during a raid, armed with a court order from a judge, and allegedly caught them in bomb-making training, apart from their having been in illegal possession of firearms. Whether the claims of innocence of the 43 health workers are true, or conversely, the military’s claims of its having made the arrest following the so-called “rules of engagement” are true, it is better for the courts to decide..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101214com1.html