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1 U Nclassifi Ed GUARDIANS, an Running Head: GUARDIANS, AN U nclassifi ed GUARDIANS, An 1 Running Head: GUARDIANS, AN ASSOCIATION WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION GUARDIANS, An Association Within An Organization MSG Nicodemus R. Cinches United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 57 SGM Scott A. Landy 12 January 2007 Unclassified GUARDIANS, An 2 Abstract The GUARDIANS Brotherhood Incorporated, a group came from the former DIABLO Squad, is the most serious ethical dilemma that the Philippine Army is facing today. The group participated in two coup de'etats in 1987 and 1989; Oakwood mutiny in July 27, 2003; and the recent February 24, 2006 coup attempt. Military hierarchy in the Philippines declared the association unlawful in 1987. When the founder formed the group in 1979, unification ofthe military troops in Mindanao, Philippines was the primary goal. However, when a few Officers vested with personal interest joined the association composed initially of Soldiers, the association went berserk. GUARDIANS, An 3 GUARDIANS, An Association Within An Organization The Philippine Army today faces an ethical dilemma on how to get rid of the existing fraternal association ofEnlisted Personnel and Officers, the so-called: GUARDIANS Brotherhood Incorporated, popularly known as GUARDIANS. I must first define ethics to give you a full understanding on the stated ethical problem. Encarta Dictionary defined ethics as the study of moral standards and how they affect conduct; and a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for an individual or group. Ethics (from the Ancient Greek "ethikos" meaning, "arising from habit"; also Morality), a major branch of philosophy, is the study ofvalue, or morals and morality. It covers the analysis and employment of concepts such as right, wrong, good, evil, and responsibility. Divided into three primary areas: meta-ethics (the study ofthe concept of ethics), normative ethics (the study of how to determine ethical values), and applied ethics (the study ofthe use of ethical values). Ethics is the unwritten law for the people to follow. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia @http://en.wikipedia.orglwikilEthics). All of these apply to my topic today. In the early 1970s, the Philippine government sent troops to Mindanao in a pacification campaign against the muslim secessionist movement known as: Bangsa Moro Army. It was composed of Army, Navy, and Marines. Misunderstanding among the troops started when a group ofMarines killed two Army Soldiers in downtown beerhouse in Iligan City for alleged mistaken identity as enemy, as all ofthem wore civilian clothes but were armed with handguns. Since then, every time these groups crossed its paths, worst thing happen. In 1976, the government sent Military Police in Mindanao to stop the senseless killings, but it did not work. In 1979, a Master Sergeant in the Military Police detailed at an MP Company in Iligan City founded the DIABLO Squad Association to foster brotherhood aimed to stop unnecessary GUARDIANS, An 4 armed confrontations among military personnel of different branches stationed in Mindanao, Philippines. DIABLO is an acronym for Dauntless, Indigenous, and Alliance ofBrothers for Lasting Oneness. Each member should have a tattoo on his right shoulder "DIABLO SQUAD" with his pseudonym and year he became member. A tattoo in the right hand: "B" stands for Blue for the Army; "R" stands for Red for the Marines; "N' for the Navy; "A" for the Air Force and "G" stands for Gold for the Police members. Member becomes God Father or GF if he has his own group of at least ten members. If a member is one of the founding members, an F will be tattooed right above the letter G or on the second line. As the troops can now distinguish each other by showing the markings, it also stopped the bloody confrontations of among them. First, members were from the rank-and-file or Enlisted Personnel. However, many Officers opted to become members. From its founding year up to 1986, membership to the association was on leaps and bounce. Today, 85 percent ofthe Senior Noncommissioned Officers or 35 percent ofthe total Enlisted Personnel while at least 20 percent of the Senior Officers and five percent of company grade Officers are members. When Officers joined the association, it was then that it went wrong. The DIABLO Leadership composed of Officers, who used the association for their personal interest. During the ascendancy to power of then President Corazon Aquino after the bloodless EDSA Revolution in 1986, a few power-hungry individuals tried to grab power by force. From 1987 to 1989, a senior Officer with a handful ofjunior Officers led two Coup de'etats thereby putting the association on the bad light. The DIABLO leadership lured the members ofthe association to join the coup de'etat by posing as freedom fighters. It was already late when the members knew the real intention ofthe leaders. Members, who realized the personal intention oftheir leaders, executed an affidavit of dismembership. GUARDIANS, An 5 After the 1987 failed Coup attempt, the Army leadership declared the DIABLO Squad Association as unlawful. Hence, the DIABLO Squad leadership changed the name ofthe association from DIABLO Squad to GUARDIANS Brotherhood Incorporated; the same dog but different color. This time, all members were to have a tattoo "GUARDIANS" on the left shoulder together with his pseudonym. A tattoo on his left hand "GL" stands for Guardian Luzon (if the Soldier is from Luzon); "GV" stands for Guardians Visayas (if the member is from the Visayas); "GM" stands for Guardians Mindanao (if the member is from Mindanao); and "GP" stands for Guardians Philippines if he is an Officer. The Armed Forces ofthe Philippines (AFP) issued a Letter Directive dated 22 February 1987, subject: Fraternal Associations and Societies in the AFP, directing all unit commanders to submit list of names of members ofthe DIABLO Squad Association and further directed to impose disciplinary measures. Only authorized associations allowed to exist in the AFP. In relation thereto, Army leadership sanctioned members ofthe association to either execute an affidavit of dismembership during the filing of reenlistment papers or file an early retirement to those who are eligible for optional retirement. Unexpectedly, a huge influx of Soldiers filed early retirement. After a quarter of implementation, it was stopped due to the following reasons: no financial resources to pay the retirement benefits; and the Army still needs the services of Senior NCOs particularly in the field where their services were much needed. On 24 August 1995, the Office ofthe Chief of Staff ofthe Armed Forces ofthe Philippines issued a Letter Directive, subject: Guidelines in Treating Offenses Committed by Military Personnel While Participating in Fraternal/Organizational Activities, directing all Major Services Commanders to conduct investigation on the participation of GUARDIANS Brotherhood Incorporated in an alleged anomalous activities. GUARDIANS, An 6 Alarmed by the growing number of membership in the association, on July 6, 2001 , the Armed Forces ofthe Philippines issued a Letter Directive, subject: Fraternal Associations and Societies in the AFP, directing Major Services Commanders to impose much stricter punishment to the members ofthe GUARDIANS Brotherhood Inc; i.e. non-reenlistment or non-inclusion in the promotion cycle. However, it had no effect as members simply executed an affidavit of dismembership but still active in the association. The group planned to stage another coup de' etat denouncing the alleged widespread corruption in the military. On July 27, 2003 , young officers with a grade of 1LT & CPT with about 300 NCOs staged the so-called: Oakwood Mutiny (named after the 5-star hotel occupied by the mutineers) aimed on forcing the then Secretary ofNational Defense to step down. The troops, all members of the GUARDIANS Brotherhood Incorporated, came from the Army' s elite Scout Rangers and Special Forces, Marines' recon units and Navy' s SEALs stationed in Mindanao, Southern Philippines. Almost eighty percent ofthe officers are graduates ofthe Philippine Military Academy-the "West Point" of Southeast Asia. Among some oftheir grievances were: a) RSBS issue; b) procurement system prone to "corrupt" practices such as "conversion", "washing", split POs, rigged biddings, "ghost" deliveries, etc., especially by and with the collusion ofthe powerful "comptroller family", also affecting POL; c) sale or transfer of arms and ammo to unauthorized recipients; d) modernization ofthe AFP and the Modernization Fund; e) inadequate AFP grievance mechanism (IG and OESP A) due to hierarchy, seniority, military culture including obedience to superiors, etc.; f) inadequate health, medical, housing, and other services; g) poor state of military equipment; and h) delays in payments of benefits to survivors of military personnel killed in action. (The Facts Behind the Oakwood Mutiny, @http://www.tag.org.ph/execWatch/felicianoReport_oakwood.htm) GUARDIANS, An 7 The Philippines was under a state ofemergency, announced by the presidential spokesperson on the morning ofFebruary 24, 2006, by the virtue ofProclamation Number 1017. This occurred after the government claimed that it foiled an alleged coup d'etat attempt against the administration ofPhilippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier that same day. The Philippine government security service also claimed that it had arrested a general who was involved in the coup attempt. (http://www.answers.comltopic!2006-state-of-emergency-in-the­ rhil.i.PP-in e~) From a standpoint ofbeing a mere fraternal association, it became a group inimical to good order and discipline ofthe military service. Though they have substantial evidence for their claims against a few military leaders, taking arms is not the solution but instead aggravating the situation by giving more sufferings to the constituents. To address this situation, the military hierarchy shall address on cleansing first its own military leadership from greed and corruption to ensure that the claims ofthe military rebels will die a natural death. Second, they must also allow transparency in military transactions especially on financial and logistical matters.
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