Latest Update on the Hostage Taking in Rizal Park: Sabotage seen in hostage-taking tragedy in Manila

Sabotage seen at hostage negotiations?

A source who refused to identify himself, insinuated the possibility of an "internal sabotage" of the negotiations between police and the slain hostage taker Chief Inspector Rolando Mendoza that led to the deaths of eight hostages, five Hongkongers, and three Canadians.

If you remember, the negotiations bogged down when Mendoza saw or heard on television his brother Gregorio being arrested by the police.

The source, a police official, said that it was Manila Police chief General Rodolfo Magtibay who ordered the end of the negotiations and the arrest of the brother of the hostage taker.

Magtibay, a member of Philippine Military Academy class 1978, reportedly gave the order which resulted to the deaths of nine people, including the hostage taker.

PNP Chief Jesus Verzosa has relieved Magtibay for the bolched negotiations. Magtibay, however said he already filed a leave of absence to give the investigation a free hand.

The arrest was a violation of the standard operating procedure being followed by the Philippine National Police.

Is it possible that Magtibay was part of what others say was a sabotage that led to this unfortunate incident?

Magtibay is a member of PMA Class 1978 which also included Rear admiral Feliciano Angue who was "demoted" a few days ago.

The source said that Magtibay knew that the negotiations would turn entirely nasty if the police arrest the brother of the hostage taker.

Malacanang, meanwhile, is implying such when DILG secretary Jesse Robredo is insinuating that the cops who handled the situation were actually "hold-backs" from the previous administration.

Magtibay should be allowed to explain himself. An investigation should be conducted to clear the name of Magtibay, who is now being demeaned and is being besmirched because of this incident.

Angue's Re-assignment is not a demotion

When a group of heavily armed soldiers marched towards Oakwood Residences and secured the area for possible attack from their perceived enemies, several of them then went on and denounced on national television, the current administration, which, was then the Arroyo regime. Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillianes IV (now a Senator of the Land) led the group which called themselves Bagong Katipunan and exposed the irregularities and "gripes" of most AFP officers against the AFP leadership.

Trillianes' move was met with public approbation. Millions of people quietly supported Trillianes and his fight for good governance. Had the Oakwood incident probably lasted for another day, it could have changed Philippine society forever. An extra day would have marshalled other forces of change behind them.

Now, another officer is appearing before the media, citing the alleged politicking behind the promotions and appointments of several other officers close to the new administration. Rear admiral Feliciano Angue is accusing several AFP officers of alleged politicking. Angue claims to be a victim of political intrigue caused by him, being a member of controversial class PMA 1978. Angue, who was appointed as the National Capital Regional Command chief, a position for a 3-star general, last March, felt that he was demoted when the AFP leadership decided to send him to Western Mindanao to head the Naval Forces there. The Western Mindanao post is fit for a 2-star general like him.

Angue vowed not to just quietly fade into oblivion. He felt that he was humiliated by the new administration.

Okey. Was his re-appointment a humiliating act? No. It was a correction to the earlier juicy appointment made by his backer, former president Arroyo. Was injustice committed against Angue? No. His non-promotion is a discretion of the leadership. As a professional soldier, Angue should abide by the decision of the leadership.

Angue is acting like a warlord. And warlords have no place in a democratic society such as ours.

Rear Admiral Angue's Paranoia and the Unrest in the Military

It seems that members of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1978 are feeling the heat. A source within the class has now refused to share with me details on what really happened with their classmate, Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue.

Angue, a two star general, was placed as head of the National Capital Regional Command, a post for a 3-star general. To correct this, the AFP leadership ordered him to vacate his post and head the Western Mindanao Naval Forces, a position fit for a 2-star general like Angue.

Because of this, Angue felt slighted and thought that the action was a demotion. Angue expected to be promoted to 3-star rank. The Defense department and the AFP leadership did not promote him. Since he was not promoted to a higher rank, the leadership decided to place him in a post fit for his rank.

So, you ask me, what's so wrong with that? Nothing, except maybe Angue felt harangued by other military officers close to Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin. Angue wanted the public to believe that he is a professional soldier now being ganged up by politicians in soldiers' uniforms. He is probably feeling the heat, since their class lost one valuable backer in the person of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Angue's paranoia has failed him. Angue pictured something sinister and issued veiled threats of a possible unrest or coup d'etat. He also described the promotion system right now being instituted in the AFP as a "pointer system" instead of a merit based one.

The "pointer system", according to Angue, is based on someone's closeness with the powers-that -be. If you're close to the center of power, you'll be "pointed" to the next post.

What is so new about Angue's paranoia? Nothing, except that he and his fellow classmates are now not the beneficiaries of this "pointer system." Maybe Angue is not used to being left outside the circle of power and desires to once again, enjoy the trappings of power which their class enjoyed during the time of former president Arroyo.

And Angue, mind you, has a conspiracy theory of his own---the political actions made by some generals during the May 10, 2010 elections. Angue said that some generals supported several politicians during the last elections. Is this new? Obviously not. Remember that during the 2004 elections, several of Angue's classmates supported former president Gloria Arroyo and were even involved in that controversy, now popularly known as Hello Garci.

So now, is Angue a professional soldier par excellence? No. Angue is like a spoiled brat denied of his candy. He probably thinks that we are still living under the Arroyo administration, a weak and illegitimate government that is always victimized by several pressure groups, including the military. Angue is so used to instituting strong arm tactics, that he now finds it extremely difficult to pressue the new administration to "toe his line" instead of him, toeing the official line. That even puts his entire record in question.

Yet, imagine the humiliation Angue got from his Commander in Chief. Yesterday, President Aquino berated Angue and told him to shut his mouth and obey his orders. A soldier who does not obey his orders can be cited with insubordination.

Angue has two options---fight it out with the current system by showing his true merit and grit, or resign his post and opt for early retirement. As a veteran, he can now indulge in his favorite pastime which is politics.

Or, as several people say, Angue has another option---do a Trillianes and go to a hotel and announced a coup. By that, Angue's eyes will definitely be opened and his mouth shut forever. And that probably will cure his paranoia.