January 3, 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Alarming laxity in explosives handling, by Belinda Olivares-Cunanan,

January 3, 2002, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Alarming laxity in explosives handling, by Belinda Olivares-Cunanan,

WHEN I first heard the news about the slaying of Baron Cervantes, the former Army officer who was identified with the shadowy organization of military officers called the Young Officers Union (YOU), I was reminded of the episode in November 1986, when labor leader Rolando Olalia was killed along with his driver. The speculation then was elements of the RAM committed the double murders in an attempt to destabilize the Aquino administration, by riling up the Left against the rightist elements.

Like many other sectors, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself, I am tempted to theorize that the Cervantes killing was politically motivated and that he was killed for either or both of two reasons: to punish him for revealing an alleged coup plot against GMA or to rock the establishment and foment division especially among the young officers. On the other hand, it could have been caused by a personal fight the controversial officer had with a trigger-happy enemy.

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The analogy to the Olalia killing fades when one considers that Cervantes did not command as much following as the labor leader. Yet it cannot be denied that the young officer was just as high profile and succeeded in penetrating the highest levels of officialdom. In fact, the last time I saw him he was at the impromptu celebration hosted by newly appointed Vice President Tito Guingona in his New Manila residence in March last year.

Cervantes was an articulate officer and that time he was talking about a long litany of complaints of the young officers. I imagined that he could be very convincing to the "civilians," but to this rather jaded and aging ex-military wife the complaints he relayed sounded more like the bleating of people who thought they were God's gift to this country and were forever plotting coups as though these were merely barn dances at Fort del Pilar. I thought to myself, these young officers spend more time complaining rather than doing any serious fighting and behaving like spoiled brats. At any rate, Cervantes' murder is a most condemnable act. They should get his murderers.

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Sen. Gregorio Honasan should just wait for the on-going investigation by the Armed Forces of the case of Navy Lt. Senior Grade Donn Anthony Miraflor and three other officials of the defunct PAOCTF, which was headed by his PMA classmate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, instead of protesting their apprehension for keeping a huge cache of explosives. Honasan should remember that he is now a senator, not just the idolized leader of the RAM group, and his first duty is to the republic. He was quoted as saying he would initiate a Senate inquiry into the apprehension of Miraflor and company, who he claimed to be loyal to God and country. It's difficult to think of this group that way when these officers were found to have illegally hoarded a cache of explosives big enough to blow up the entire military establishment and thereby endangering the lives of countless soldiers and civilians.

Honasan makes no mention of the officers' many violations of military rules and the country's laws. He seems only concerned with saying what sounds good to his followers: that they are being used as "pawns" in a political war. But by seeking to preempt the AFP investigation, which is necessary, Honasan appears to be covering up for the former followers of Lacson. The more prudent thing to do is wait for the results of the official AFP investigation. Only if there is an attempt to whitewash the case or violate the human rights of the officers should he push for a Senate probe.

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Surigao Rep. Prospero Pichay, chair of the House defense committee, was correct when he stressed that this hoarding of huge amount of explosives was a "serious national threat" and ought not to be taken lightly. At the very least, there should be an unimpeded, full-dress investigation of this episode. Higher authorities have a lot to answer for, such as, why there is such laxity in the handling of explosives and armory material, and securing them. This has always been a weakness of the defense and military establishment. Recall that Col. Victor Corpus, whose intelligence group cracked this case after some excellent sleuthing, himself led a successful raid on the PMA armory in the late 1960s before taking to the hills. Heads should roll in this case.

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Few people quarreled with the choice of outgoing New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani as Time magazine's Person of the Year, for he symbolized the courage of the people of that city in facing up to the challenge of picking up the pieces of their shattered lives after the Sept. 11 bombings and rebuilding them. As Guiliani put it, he merely helped inspire confidence among the people at a time when they needed it so badly.

What needs to be redefined is Time's definition of the Person of the Year, as enunciated by its founder Henry Luce. Decades ago, Luce declared that the award would go to the person or persons who most affected the news or our lives, for good or for ill, in a given year. Obviously the person who fit this description for 2001 was Osama bin Laden, for it was he who influenced the course of events in the world not just in 2001 but perhaps forever. But as the magazine narrated, there was a big debate in the editorial staff about it and the overwhelming feeling was that the award couldn't go to Bin Laden.

Perhaps the criterion set by Luce, who couldn't have foreseen the events of Sept. 11, 2001, has to be changed. The Time award should go the man or woman who influences the course of events for the benefit of mankind in a certain year. Then there will be no quarrel over its choice.

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At the Japanese ambassador's reception on the occasion of the Emperor's birthday three weeks back, I ran into an exceptional group, several National Artists chatting with former President Fidel V. Ramos. In the group were sculptor Billy Abueva, writer Frankie Sionil Jose and music awardee Jose Maceda. They represent the exclusive club of 9 or 10 National Artists still living.

I learned that each National Artist receives a monthly pension of P24,000 from the state in recognition of their exceptional achievements. However, Ramos pointed out that the amount was set during his term when the exchange rate was P26 to one dollar but now it's almost P52 to a dollar. That stipend has become woefully inadequate for them. The government ought to adjust the pension accordingly.