Article II Section 3 of the Philippines constitution stated Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.
But when will the civilian authority becomes supreme over the military?
Let us look back. A series of coup and rebellion that was staged by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has unfurled in the country. But there was only two successful coup supported by the en masse that brought two women president in Malacanang, Corazon Aquino and Gloria Arroyo who both preceded a corrupt predecessor.
The very first people power was of exceedingly great of magnitude of civilian supporters with the aim of suppressing an authoritarian regime by bringing a new democratic goverment while the second is of less than what saw in the first civilian back revolution.Gregorio Honasan who was once a colonel and a leader of the RAM boys group in the military has launched a series of unsuccessful coup events against the administration of former President Corazon Aquino. Which the last coup attempted under his direction has almost bring down the administration of President Corazon Aquino to it's knees. The event almost killed Benigno Aquino III now a senator is the former President Aquino's son by a retreating rebels who tried to get past thru Malacanang. American intervention and support from former President George Bush swiftly pushed the balance of power into Corazon Aquino's favor. Thus it was the last coup legacies under Honasan supervision against the goverment of former President Aquino. Honasan was eventually captured ending his hide-and-seek game with the goverment. But was later on escaped with the military guard assigned to him.
Former President Fidel Ramos also former defense chief of Corazon Aquino who succeeded the later and elected in May 1992 as the first president to serve under the 1987 constitution, saw an opportunity for the country achieved lasting peace and development. A non-partisan and unity in the republic is one of his administration top priority. His administration instituted roadmap to peace and development in the republic by extending amnesty to the rebel groups. Under his leadersip the country gained political stability and saw no coup elements destabilizing the peace and security. Honasan resurfaced after hiding applied and was granted amnesty. May 2007 senatorial election came and he eventually won a seat in the senate.
After Vice President Gloria Arroyo assumed the presidency 2001 from deposed former President Joseph Estrada in the years to follow saw some resurgence of coup. In 2003 a group of young navy officers belongs to the magdalo group of lieutenant Antonio Trillanes held up in luxury apartment in Makati city, the Oakwood appartment. With some followers also in the military uniform cordon the apartment with explosive bomb and other amunition with them. In what appears to be a demonstration of ready for battle. These same magdalo group with lieutenant Antonio Trillanes that publicy demanded reform in the military, the resignation of President Gloria Arroyo and her former top defense chief Angelo Reyes due to allegation of corruption prevalence in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Under intense negotiation from the goverment these navy officers peacefully agreed to surrender peacefully and some of them return to their barracks.
Senator Honasan was an ally of deposed former President Joseph Estrada was implicated as the advisor behind the failed Oakwood appartment mutiny. Goverment prosecutors filed rebellion charges against him and went into hiding. This was not the second time Honasan went into hiding, intelligence and law enforcement agencies was able bring him out in the shadow. Eventually he became an ally of President Arroyo and charges of rebellion against him was discontinued. Senator Honasan was re-elected in the senate in the May 2007.
While in military detention lieutenant Antonio Trillanes was allowed to file his candidacy for senate and won a seat. Thus making him the second renegade officer that was elected in the senate after Honasan. His campaign for senate seat was supported by the opposition that is also allied to deposed former President Joseph Estrada. Due to the nature of his cases he was not allowed to attend a senate session with his frustration he staged another mutiny with General Lim and few supporters in what he might thought his cause would be supported by the en masse of those who had voted for him. Senator Trillanes second attempt in November 2007 to forced the resignation of President Arroyo did not send a multitude of people to the street to support and defend his cause while they are in the Manila Penninsula hotel. The unthinkable mistake of his action had given goverment prosecutors a stronger basis for not allowing him to attend senate session and filling of more charges against him.
Today the task of immediate radical changes in the goverment is perceived most difficult because in the face of political reality those that have the biggest well maintained political machinery would always comes out stronger. A current administration who's compentence and governance is questioned in it's ability to control corruption and is preceeded by a scandal and controversy ridden administration also does not necessarily or immediately would effect a dramatical event that would lead to another people power revolution. In effect the people of the republic is just too tired of politics as of this moment.
