December 12, 2000, ABS-CBN, Abat renews call for military intervention,

December 12, 2000, ABS-CBN, Abat renews call for military intervention, 

MANILA, (ABS-CBN) -- There seems to be no stopping former Ambassador Fortunato Abat from his crusade to have the military intervene in the current political crisis. 

Reiterating his call for a military intervention before a special meeting Monday of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO), Abat presented two ways by which those in active service could force the President Estrada into resigning. 

One, Abat said, is by direct intervention wherein the military would confront Estrada and tell him to step down similar to what indonesian Armed Forces chief Wiranto did to President Suharto. 

Second is by simply withdrawing support to President Estrada as what transpired during the 1986 EDSA uprising. 

After Estrada's ouster, Abat said the military could either install Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, install a group of men and women with probity, integrity and commitment to country; and establish a revolutionary government like what former President Corazon Aquino did in 1986. 

"Then what happens after the military intervention? The military returns to barracks after its task is done," said Abat, a retired major general who once served as chief of the Philippine Army. 

However, Abat seemed hesitant into provoking the military to immediately intervene in the political crisis and instead left it to the military hierarchy to decide for themselves when.

"I have set the parameters, you have to make your own conclusions. There should be a lot of caution and hard thinking in taking such an option...knowing the risks of failed intervention, I do not advocate it," Abat said.

"I am not calling on the men in uniform to do it...the men in uniform are right-thinking people...and are intelligent enough to analyze the present situation," he added.

Just recently, the Justice department has issued its legal opinion, saying that Abat's call for a military intervenation does not violate any existing law.

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, for his part, has refused to engage in a word war with retired officers like Abat.