We will fight when called to fight. These are the only words we want to hear coming out of the mouths of our fighting men and women. But that’s not the way Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr sees it, however. In an interview with “social news network” Rappler.com, Catapang was quoted as saying the following words:
It’s easy to call for war but I hope they’re the first ones willing to be called to active duty. I hope they’re the first ones to volunteer to be on the front lines. I don’t think they even know what kind of war they’re talking about.
Never before have such chickenshit words come out of the mouth of a soldier.
Rappler has always been a sounding board for Yellow thinking; in this case, literally.
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In most normal societies, it is usually the military that is pumped up for war and the civilian government serving as the control valve for all that testosterone. Not in the Philippines. Here, it is the other way around. Filipinos are fuming over the impunity of an arrogant Islamic terrorist group that had successfully hoodwinked an entire national government into negotiating with them as equals. War is a real solution now that 44 police officers lie dead after being savagely massacred by these terrorists thanks to the command paralysis that kept the Army’s hands tied seeing that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were involved.
Yet, now, we are hearing the supreme military commander of the Philippines’ armed forces telling us…
Sure, let’s go to war. You go first.
To begin with, who is necessarily calling for war to begin with? The key civilian debate here is whether to continue with the fantasy of “peace” in Mindanao that is President BS Aquino’s pet project, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). It is an idiotic logical leap concluding that war will break out if the BBL is junked. Indeed, whether or not war breaks out is really up to the enemy party here, those who illegally wield arms and who stand accused of butchering 44 Philippine police officers.
War is but an option for Filipinos. But it is an entire way of life for the enemy: Mindanao’s Islamic terrorists. So back to the fundamental question:
Who is being the war freak here?
The moronism of people like General Catapang and a whole bunch of Senators doing all the talking and philosophizing about war here can be traced to one thing: the absence of no less than the President in this “debate”.
President BS Aquino has remained tight-lipped about the truth and just as tight lipped about a roadmap out of this mess. Both are things one would normally expect a president to be a singular authority on.
Not in the Philippines.
In the Philippines and only in the Philippines, soldiers pontificate about war and peace, state negotiators defend enemy ideology, and Presidents schmooze with terrorist chieftains. Filipinos have come to see these insults to modern human civilisation as normal parts of their way of life.
How do we extricate the Filipino from the perversion of civilisation that the Philippines has become?
For starters, people like General Catapang should shut the hell up.
This is how real warriors assure non-combatants:
Pagnagka-bakbakan, stidi lang kayo dyan. Kami ang bahala.
Who put those stars on this guy anyway? He should be sent back to basic training.
benign0 is the Webmaster of GetRealPhilippines.com.
“It’s easy to call for war but I hope they’re the first ones willing to be called to active duty. I hope they’re the first ones to volunteer to be on the front lines. I don’t think they even know what kind of war they’re talking about.” – That’s really got a Yellowtard ring to it.
Its like when a yellow gets tired of hearing criticism, he’d try to shut you up saying: “puro kayo daldal ng daldal, kayo nalang kaya mag Presidente!”
what you are seeing now is a war on hacienda luisita. do we think pnoy will give that up, no way. they’re fighting for that since the marcos era.
I bet good money if hacienda luisita is threatened in any way, Noynoy would immediately send the entire army for its defense.
Here a quote of a soldier who talks negatively about war:
“I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.”
– William Tecumseh Sherman, US Army general
William Sherman is a decorated war hero who fought against the Confederacy in the American Civil War.
Soldiers like Catapang philosophize about war because he actually fought one against the NPA as a Captain. Catapangan isn’t the first soldier to talk negatively about war and certainly be won’t be the last.
I do not support the BBL but at the same time, I don’t want war. As Sun Tzu said: “The Supreme Art of War is to subdue the enemy without fighting”.
Well, I thought he meant you’re still going to fight but you go there to put a stop to the reason why the enemy can wage war. That you fight in a way your enemy will surrender so there’s still more to be saved. But if the supposed-to-be offensive are chiken shits, you’re only encouraging the enemy to advance.
@Carlo:
U.S. Gen. Sherman was a good military strategists. He hates war, and won victories to end the war….Catapang AKA CaDuwag is no U.S. Gen. William Tecumsheh Sherman….the planning and the result of the SAF operation which is a brutal massacre (turkey shot), just show how incompetent CaDuwag is as a military leader….
Definitely it’s not a desirable thing to do— no one is disputing that. And if you fight a war for “glory” then that’s idiotic.
But he fought the confederate for the most basic reason— the ruling oligarchy of slave owners was just plain wrong, and to live under that is an even more degrading life than surviving a war to shake off that kind of sick mentality completely.
Notice, he didn’t wax poetic about the necessity of war, only the uselessness of the glory portion— it was the decorations he was refusing. Not the why’s of it.
On the Eastern philosophy side, the very reason the art of war was written was to draw it into intelligence, not to to do more that is needed.
Again, necessity. It keeps on recurring. What I don’t understand is why we refuse to answer to what is needed.
Between two chickenshits, the one fighting with his mouth (or in this case, his keypad) is the obvious winner.
Obviously.
Geez. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. This people go to the army and train for a reason. Why bring out an excuse when it’s time for you to perform your duty? Unless our soldiers are not cut for battle then say so so the civilians can take arms to protect themselves when these rebels draw their firearms at them.
Catapang wasn’t making excuses or being cowardly well before the line of fire; he’s telling the gung-ho to shut their yaps about going to war when they’re not the ones braving the bullets. It’s a refrain picked up by veterans of wars everywhere: we’re here to serve and protect, not be berated by armchair chickenshits with all of the glory and none of the mess of war in their minds. Kung sinu-sinong walang kaalam-alam sa giyera, sila itong pinakamaangas.
But that’s not all — in the context of Mamasapano, he’s telling all those wanting war to wait till the rationale for waging war is established, whether or not waging war is worth the risk of shitting upon whatever else the government has set up. The worst Catapang could do is to have the military swoop in carelessly (though of course it would be like benign0’s birthday party here, for who likes to see Noynoy’s plans fail harder?).
Pallacertus:
If you hear that statement from an “ArmChair General “like CaDuwag….who earned his stars by kissing the Ass of Aquino and not by being “battle tested”. It affects the morale of the AFP.
CaDuwag should be Court Martialed…
Right on Pallacertus.The government should establish a draft system so that the sons and daughters of these armchair middle and upper class chikenshits can be mustered into service when the need arises to give partial relief to the sons and daugthers of the mang Pandoys.Its about time they contribute their pound of flesh in the war effort.
Show the people efficiency and you can quiet them down. You can’t blame them for their distrust because it’s just a result of their trusted officials failing them and lying to them again and again. Sometimes honest and truthful opinion is all the justice they can have.
“Kung sinu-sinong walang kaalam-alam sa giyera, sila itong pinakamaangas.”
Mas nakaka-relate sila sa biktima kaya ganyan. It’s more like a fear-induced aggression. Frustrate them with failed peace talk, feed them with rebel crimes, it’s taking them to the belief na mas maganda kung pumatas na lang. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Feed the people with efficiency instead of dilly dallying. That’s the only way they could be pacified. At huwag dapat mabilis sa pagdedepensa sa mga taong responsable sa pagpaslang. People wanted to see due punishment granted to the guilty party. Siguro saýo nakakairita but to most people, this is what they call vigilance. Stop being vigilant and there will be another unsolved case.
What are you afraid of? That they end up like the 44 PNP SAF when this war go on? In the first place those 44 PNP SAF died like that because those rebels has the power to wreak havoc and kill and the government will just excused their actions.
Have most of us done any research about the MNLF, MILF, BIFF, Abu Sayaff and ISIS? Their differences, their Ideologies and their History? Why did their splits occured?
MNLF and MILF are two organizations who advances Bangsamoro Nationalism and Independence.
The difference in MNLF and MILF now is that both of them have opted for Autonomy instead of Secession. They are tired of War. Have you ever spoke to an MNLF or an MILF to hear their side? Are you not happy that they have a change of heart?
They were not different from the Katipuneros during the spanish time. If we are in the Spanish era, most of us will also call Bonifacio and Rizal Erehe and Terrorists and most people will also call for their execution.
Its a fact that during a war, there will always be a possibility to coddle a certain individual or group of people with a different agenda and Ideology distinct from the mainstream just to advance a certain struggle.
That would not be obvious until the mainstream had a change of heart and settle the war through negotiations. Those who do not agree will eventually split off. In war, everything could be an asset.
See how the Middle Class, the Oligarchs and various Leftist groups succeeded on toppling Marcos. How the Katipuneros fought for Independence and split off between Aguinaldo’s faction who surrendered to the US and Bonifacio who continued the fight.
The question is who hijacked the Revolution in the end?
Many of us specially from Luzon and Visayas are calling to Junk the BBL, calling for an All-Out-War and urging the Government to abandon the peace process NOT because they want to improve it but because of Islamophobia.
For me, we can Improve the Peace Agreement to make it Comprehensive or even renegotiate it if it is needed. But not Junk it or wage a war that is not winnable. All-out-war never solved the problem in mindanao. It just made it worse.
To Equate the MILF and MNLF to ISIS is a product of Lack of knowledge.
The MILF is giving its best to transform itself from a Radical Secessionist Movement to a Moderate Force.
The leadership of these two fronts (MNLF and MILF) are distancing themselves from former members who have an Extremist agenda (BIFF and Abu Sayyaf). They never pledged allegiance to ISIS because they basically reject it.
Why don’t we give those who have a change of heart a chance? They need a helping hand to purge their ranks from these Radical elements and stop its spread to its members. Only thru Peace it would succeed because once peace is in place, Their Jihad is no longer relevant.
Those who like war are either of the 2:
1) A Radical who wants to subjugate or eliminate every single muslim who exist from the face of the earth
2) A Radical Muslim who likes to prove that all muslims can never trust a non-believer (Kafir) and that only thru their brand of a separate Islamic state, they would be happy and free.
THE MORE WE ALIENATE MUSLIMS THE MORE EXTREMIST IDEOLOGY CREEPS INTO THEIR MIND.
MORE OF THEM WILL EITHER BECOME VICTIMS OF EXTREMIST PROPAGANDA AND SOON BECOME EXTREMISTS THEMSELVES WHO WILL CRAVE FOR A SEPARATE STATE WHILE THE MODERN FILIPINO MODERATE MUSLIM WILL EITHER BE A PROUD MALAYSIAN THAN A FILIPINO
Would you love to see our Muslim Filipino youths radicalized?
Extremists are at work 24/7 to use the flames of war to promote their ideology. They are exploiting the Alienation of Muslim Filipinos.
Extremist are working day and night to Phase out the Bangsamoro Nationalist Agenda of both MNLF and MILF and replace it with their own Ideology and Totalitarian Brand of Islam.
That is why MILF is asking for peace because time is running out.
Not because they want weapons to kill us but because time is running out to counter the ISIS IDEOLOGY
The more war is prolonged, their (MNLF, MILF) influence and relevance will fade…….. and once their influence fades, A VACUUM WILL BE THERE EXPLOITED TO BE FILLED BY EXTREMISTS SET TO HIJACK THE MORO STRUGGLE IN FAVOR OF THEIR SIDE!
Just like how EDSA was Hijacked in the End. We dont want the Extremist to Hijack the Moro struggle in the end. Only Muslims can solve an Islamic Problem! The MNLF and MILF would be able to help!
Now, that is the reason why our Generals do not want an All-out-war to those having a change of heart because they understand the situation more than an any keyboard warrior could understand.
Dont forget that the MILF is 10,000 strong. They too also have families ready to take arms if pushed to a corner. War is not a Joke.
The Chechniyan Islamic Rebels were defeated clearly by the Russian Generals of Vladimir Putin….let them fight, if they want it….we don’t want another Syria…
Checkmate is the solution of Mindanao…not appeasement…they can be defeated….
“Why don’t we give those who have a change of heart a chance? They need a helping hand to purge their ranks from these Radical elements and stop its spread to its members. Only thru Peace it would succeed because once peace is in place, Their Jihad is no longer relevant…
That is why MILF is asking for peace because time is running out.
Not because they want weapons to kill us but because time is running out to counter the ISIS IDEOLOGY”
—-
It’s simple really. No more talk about secession. Pledge under one government. Their army and police force should also be under Philippine army and police. BBL is only for Bangsamoro people so it can really only be applied to the “Muslim Mindanao”. But what to do with their Sharia Law?
http://getrealphilippines.com/2015/03/the-web-of-lies-surrounding-the-saf-44-mamasapano-crisis-all-originates-from-president-noynoy-aquino/
“Under the current secular common-law system, imperfect as that may be, any community bowing to whatever reasonable ethically-sound religious faith can, in principle, prosper under Philippine law and the governance system in place.”
How is giving the muslims an entire autonomous region (the ARMM) alienating them? Wasn’t that what they asked for?
This life, you only get a finite number of chances to prove yourself a better person. They wasted it; and splitting themselves up doesn’t help their cause.
War is definitely not a joke. That they court the chance of having it wreaked on them by choosing to cut themselves off from the community and hurting that same community which supports them and supporting one from a community that sends their children off to either kill themselves or be put in danger, defies logic.
As Benigno said, who is being the war freak here?
Catapang’s name must be changed to “CaDuwag”. The guy earned his stars, not by being brave or by merits; but by kissing the Ass of his fellow coward BS Aquino III. “Sioke silang dalawa, hindi sila mga lalake….”
if you are a soldier, if your commander orders you to: “Jump”…you have to :”Jump”. not debate with them, and say: “how high?”…CaDuwag should be Court Martialed with: Insubordination. He is an “Armchair General; not a true Warrior.
My late father, went to war at the age of 20.
He was a veteran of the Battle of Bataan. One Uncle , a U.S. Marine, fought in Korea, and won a Purple Heart and a bronze star…another Uncle was a USAFFE soldier, and fought at the Battle of Bessang Pass, in Ilocos Sur…the Pass was the first line of defense of Japanese Gen. Yamashita.
War is hell…I don’t like it also. But, if the nation needs it; to preserve our way of living…we have to take arms and go fight the battle. Never jump into your Hole like Aquino and “CaDuwag”…shivering with fright inside their Hole…
whata cward!! caTAPANG is caDUWAG!
This is what happens when you live in a society that has no accountability. Soldiers, policeman, civil servants, judges, and even senators are not doing their jobs and have been getting away with it. Why should they? They get paid regardless. One can even commit plunder and the next administration will pardon you after they come to power. If they would start executing these bandits; that would go a long way towards creating a civil society that has respect for law and order.
” we don’t make policy, we are merely instruments of it.” – Viper
the afp coordinated with milf for launching combat operation no mans land ang area of target.
Is that gal really a General? Nakakahiya ang kanyang katwiran. Pinag aral siya at siniswelduhan galing sa Taxpaye’r money at hindi galing sa bulsa ni Noynoy Aquino tapos ang ginagawa niya humalik sa puwit ng Panggulo tsk tsk tsk. She is free to go kung ayaw niyang makipag laban sa mga Kaaway ng Bayan. Dami talagang sinirs ang Ulo ng Kultong Dilaw na ito.
I think that one of the reasons why our soldiers are reluctant to fight is because they are generally under equipped and malnourished. They will indeed suffer as what we have seen during the siege of Zamboanga–bootless soldiers foraging for food.
We also have to show them that they have our support. Us civilians may not be willing to “to volunteer to be on the front lines” but we can nevertheless help them by opening our wallets.
I propose the issuance of war bonds, actively campaigned and sold. Expenditures should be transparent and the soldiers, politicians and artistas can campaign for us to buy war bonds. The money raised from this can better equip our armed forces, encourage more people to join the service (nothing better for a soldier than going to events with Marian Rivera to sell war bonds I imagine) and ultimately overwhelm the rebel groups in Mindanao.
All of us here. “keyboard warriors for social justice and all that intellectual bullshit”. Unless any of us has served in an active combat zone and walked in the boots of these soldiers. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. tell me Benigno, for all your troll-ish bravado and almighty knowledge, have you EVER been on the receiving end of an m-16’s 5.56mm bullets? NOPE. That’s why Catapang has the moral high ground AND WE DO NOT. CASE CLOSED. puro kayo kayabangan eh.
LOlz..nag CAT ka ba? O baka nga CWTS ka na lang nung college. WE are all on the reserved list. Sooner or later we will be called to war once those rebels already have a nation that can wage war. We dont want Palestine or Pakistan in this Country!!
Why did he join the military if he is afraid to go to the warfront? Please demote this coward general.
I think most of us here already misunderstood Catapang’s statement.
I believe it is directed to the majority of our netizens who really don’t know the issue (bandwagoners, to be exact). Have you guys seen the comments in FB about the Mamasapano incident? Most of them are screaming bloody murder against not just the rebels, but the entire Moro people. They’ve been generalizing them as barbarians, for fuck’s sake! Some Muslims near my area became a bit fearful about their safety. Fortunately, nothing happened, so far.
I think what Catapang wants us to do is to calm down a bit and think. It’s not wrong to seek justice for those SAF commandos, but do we have to stoop so low to the level of those rebels by retaliating with indiscriminate violence, which this “all-out war” might bring?
War should be a last resort, NOT THE FIRST RESPONSE.
Marcos probably had the same mindset when he ordered to attack the MNLF and bombed Jolo to the ground. Erap also thought of the same when he repeat similar stunt in 2000. Guess what happened.
If all-out war is the right solution, dapat matagal nang payapa ang Mindanao.
Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m still open to the possibilty of war. But, it’s been decades. Siguro naman kapag nagka-giyera uli, sana ito na ang huli. What I mean is that the AFP must plan this carefully. The war must swift and decisive. If it drags too long, history will just repeat itself. And ISIS (and to a lesser extent, Malaysia) will be watching like vultures around a rotting corpse.
Mah humble two cents, homie.
Islamic Radicalism has been with us since the 7th Century. They conquered almost half of Europe, and were stopped at the gates of Vienna, Austria. They were revived in this century, by the founding of Al Queda by the Islamic Wahabi Sect in Saudi Arabia. Usama Bin Laden was their first crusader. So the whole world must defeat this religious radicalism…
Unfortunately, our professional soldiers have to show that they also have a talent in being politicians by the time they reach the rank of generals (or colonels). By the time, they have reached the highest ranks in uniform they have been buffeted day-in and day-out by a corrupt government system, more specifically the pradrino system. By that time, they have been brainwashed that to advance in their careers, they have to forget what they know, but to get a knack on who they can know. So with time, whatever idealism they had after PMA is slowly negated, transforming themselves into true-blooded politicians. As generals, this even becomes more urgent as a preparation for retirement when they hope they can be appointed to some of the most juicy positions in government. As generals, they suddenly experience the lavish lifestyles which they know they can’t support if they will just be depending on their legal retirement benefits. Somehow, this is also how the TraPos control the generals and colonels. It is a fucked up system and is very Third World. It is a pity because most of these guys started as bright, dedicated PMA graduates, a good many battle scarred professionals in Mindanao where they normally start their careers.
Just as I was about to graduate high school. My friends and I were discussing college. Of course, PMA was always an option. We’d joke that we should just join PMA because we’re sure to become millionaires.
Pretty sad when I think about it now.
Ironically, it has benefits.
It prevents overly ambitious generals from overstepping their supposed boundaries. Maybe it’s one of the reasons that we never suffered Latin American-style coups in our history (Honasan’s doesn’t count, mind you). Politically savvy generals are much more dangerous than our trapos today.
I think Gen. Catapang is just being honest! Are you willing to die for this government? He surely does not! Thats why he doesnt like an all out war! Hehe… Sad but true!
Catapang is just giving us food for thought for people who call for war. Fighting in the frontlines is not as easy playing “Call of Duty” or DOTA. We should impose logic and reason first and not ‘utak pulbura’ mentality in issues dealing with war.
I suggest everyone to read “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. It
Funny, despite this, I’m still planning to join the Military abroad. Anyway, yes its never easy to fight a war as much sacrifices (like your life) is at stake.
However, if nothing is done, the muslim extremists down south are going to keep on pushing and pushing until they can take over Mindanao or even the entire Philippines.
I agree. We should do something to these extremists but war should only be the LAST RESORT and not the first option.
Carlo:
The Art of War by Sun Tzu, never stated:
“You have to appease your enemies….”or “you should Bribe your enemies, with the money from the National Treasury; and keep some money for your own sake….”
I get your point. The BBL is not the solution to the problem. The solution should benefit every Filipino not just these extremists. I already stated into another article that we should change our form of gov’t from Centralized to Federal to solve this issue once and for all.
If this does not work then WAR would be the answer.
Carlo:
One of the Basic Guidelines in the “Art of War” by Sun Tzu is: “Know yourself and know your enemies….”
Participate in the Activism, to give peace in our country…and protecting it from enemies. It is the people, who can change the government, that will work for them. Not the thieving , self serving political leaders…
In the USA, the generals in the military are silent on the wisdom of the president’s foreign policy. It has been that way for a long time. When Truman canned MacArthur for trying to start WW3 with China, it sent a message loud and clear to the Pentagon. The only military brass commenting on policy on TV are retired. Perhaps adopting a similar “no comment ” protocol for the AFP should be instituted. After all, the president is the commander in chief of the military.
We are not the U.S.A., and after the insensitive conduct of Aquino on the fallen 44 SAF; and the failure to provide reinforcements and artillery support…is there a Wisdom on Aquino’s decision?
Old MacArthur was right…now look at the problem the U.S. has on North Korea…
We’re on this again?
Isn’t already established that there’s no coordination between SAF and AFP. How’s this Catapang’s fault?
CaDuwag is the AFP chief of Staff; important operation like the SAF operation is known to him and Aquino. These two idiots are Covering their Asses…
Catapang already said he found out about the operation, AFTER it commenced. And he doesn’t have any authority over the SAF. It’s the PNP Chief.
It’s unfair to blame the AFP for the tragedy. They were even shocked that the massacred happened right under their noses, and their higher ups never even notified. If only they knew about it sooner, Mamasapano will never happen.
To be fair to Noynoy, he did remind the PNP to coordinate with the military, although he should have involved himself more in this sensitive operation (katamaran ang pinairal niya).
The one who we should question (or blame) here is none other than Purisima. He’s the guy that guaranteed smooth flow of the operation (siya na daw ang bahala, ‘ika niya), which never happened.
CaDuwag the Chief of Staff of the AFP….the INP SAF is a part of the AFP. CaDuwag is pretending not to know the operation… Same as Aquino and Roxas…
Tell it to the YellowTards, they will believe it…for me, I do not believe it…not even an iota of it…
They have now an Escape Goat named: Napenas; and they are Covering their Filthy Asses…”Ignorance is a Blissa…” especially, if you want a “palusot”…
You have to cut the roots: the House of Saud.
It was the current Saudi Royal House that strengthen the Wahhabi movement back in the early 20th century, when they unite the Arabian Peninsula under their rule. As long as they hold Mecca and Medina, the Islamic fundamentalist movement will never falter.
You will not only cut the roots of Islamic fundamentalism but also the world’s largest supply oil. They can hold the world for ransom because of it. They’ve already done that one in 1973 when they imposed an embargo to countries who supported Israel.
Russia’s Vladimir Putin did not cut the House of Saud; and he defeated the Islamic Radicals in his own Checkniya…CheckMate for them…
NO, they just aren’t idiots. Why should they fight for people who are not going to give them what they need to get the job done? Once and for all.
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.
coz the General knows that the real enemy is not the Filipino people in Mindanao but the Chinese who is now building an infrastructure just 35 km from Palawan..
In case you guys hungry for war…World War III is about to get primed via China vs US with nearly everyone else. Have fun.
Benigno: I think you are being overly harsh on this one. I normally agree with you but I strongly disagree with you on this one. I have yet to hear an officer or enlisted man who look forward to going into battle. They are normally the last ones wanting to start a battle or fight of some sort. I think he’s right. Those warmongers in society should be the first to head out to the frontlines if they are so ‘hot’ for a fight…