Where's the Marines?

Today, 27 soldiers who reportedly participated in the failed February 2006 coup were arraigned. They were charged, among others, of violating the Articles of War when they instigated an uprising. Some of these soldiers are members of the elite Philippine Marines.

This day, two members of the Philippine Marines were arrested after a failed kidnapping of a Chinese businessman in Southern Metro Manila. These Marines were caught red-handed when they were receiving the ransom money from an undercover cop.

Also, some members of the group Magdalo were sworn into office as drug intelligence agents. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency head and former AFP Chief of Staff Dionisio Santiago said that these idealistic officers are the new force that would smash these drug syndicates to smithereens. Drug syndicates, he says, are now fearful of these officers because they'll fight it out with these scums.

I'm citing these news reports because I want to highlight what has happened so far in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Despite government propaganda that the AFP is strong, united and of "high morale", these news brings sadness to me. I am not a member of the AFP nor the PNP, but I do sympathize with a lot of them since I think they're the most neglected, the poorest and the most abused sector in Pinoy society.

Why the most neglected? Look at the ordinary Marine and compare him with his Asian counterparts. He does't have an armor. He's using a rusty M-16 and he lacks the necessary equipment to protect himself against the powerful arms of his enemies. He does not even have a decent shoe nor a helmet to protect his head from bullets.

He rides a first generation Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) or a hand-me down tank that kills its occupants when attacked. He also flies on Hueys (which I had the (mis) fortune of riding above Maguindanao during Erap's time), derisively referred to as "flying coffins". And worst, the creme of the creme uses 2nd generation jets that can't sustain an hour of fighting against jets of other Asian countries.

He's the poorest because his salary can't really keep a family of three alive. He depends on his loan association which can't even provide the monies he needs for his family to survive. The soldier is like a government teacher, except that a soldier can't sell stuff during recess.

He's the most abused. When a former general such as retired General Jovito Palparan needs help, he can summon active men to the field and takeover any mining firm. He's used in elections to safeguard votes. He's also used to coerce voters to vote against their will and was even seen to have influenced a national election through the use of force and fraud. Worst, the lowly soldier is even used as "decoration" or as "personal bodyguards" by landlords, aristocrats and corrupt government officials.

Such is the fate of the Philippine soldier. When some of them act to change the system, they're arrested and jailed.

What had happened to the illustrious and battle-hardened Philippine marines? Before, this force used to be regarded highly by the people. Now, some of them have turned into bandits, kidnappers and petty criminals. What happened? Before, they're the most idealistic, the corps with the highest morale? Now, they're the most underpaid, the most abused, the poorest and the most demoralized outfit of the AFP. Why? What caused this slide into ignominy?