Below is Vic Corpus' letter to Abaya on that Loren thing.

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GENERAL NARCISO L. ABAYA
Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City

12 February, 2004

Dear Sir,

There have been calls during the last few days by Vice President Guingona, Senator Biazon and some other members of the political opposition for the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to increase the punishment
imposed upon me regarding a statement I made in public that Senator Loren Legarda was a "political prostitute". I have refrained from making statements to the media since then; hence, I was viciously attacked in the mass media with no one coming to my defense. This is the first time, I guess, that an officer in the AFP of general rank has been reprimanded in public, both orally and in writing. I am approaching the twilight of my career. In a few months, I will be hanging up my uniform. So allow me to formally explain my side for the records.

Last February 1, 2004, a Sunday, I was at the Robinson's Galleria when I received a phone call from Ms. Cristina Mendez, a reporter from the Philippine Star. Our conversation drifted to the "KAWAL" incident where a
group of officers came out on television with their faces covered by a two-piece Philippine Flag denouncing the defense leadership. Said group has since been declared by the AFP as a threat to national security. But only
the soldiers involved are being investigated. The civilians and government officials involved in the group are not being questioned and charged. I mentioned to Ms. Mendez that I got information that Senator Legarda was present in at least one of the meetings of "KAWAL".

It flashed in my mind that Senator Legarda was playing dangerously with both the extreme right and the extreme left. I have also received information that early last month, Senator Legarda called up Jose Maria "JOMA" Sison,
the Chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, asking Joma for a chief spokesperson coming from the Party. It was at this point that I mentioned the words "political prostitute" to describe Senator Legarda to Ms. Mendez - a statement which came out in the front page of the Philippine Star the next day.

This statement of mine has been interpreted by some as playing partisan politics or "politicking". I can honestly say that when I said those words, partisan politics was the farthest thing from my mind. A clear distinction
should be made between partisan politics and national security as well as national interest. Senator Legarda's actions of consorting with the enemies of the state should be separated from partisan politics. What will our
soldiers feel if a national leader who is seeking the VP position is asking for a chief spokesperson from the CPP Chairman himself; while our soldiers are dying almost daily in the battlefield? This single issue can easily
trigger a coup, as it did the series of coup attempts in the late 80s. This is an issue that can inflame the rank and file to lose faith on our civilian leadership. This is the reason why I say that we should make a clear distinction between playing partisan politics and defending national security. I enjoin the Chief of Staff to take a strong stand on this issue.

People are asking me for proof. I have shown you all the evidences in my possession. I have brought before you Captains Rene Narag and Domingo Dominguez who were present in that meeting of the group called "KAWAL" on
January 9, 2004 at the Manila Polo Club. In the said meeting, Capt. Narag related that there were about twenty eight (28) of them present, to include Senator Legarda. He further stated that Mr. Boy Saycon announced to the
group that Senator Legarda sponsored the meeting and Senator Legarda replied that she was not using Senate funds to pay for the bill but that of her husband's. Senator Legarda also reminded the group: "O, kunwari hindi ko
alam ang pinag-usapan ninyo, ha."

As proof of Senator Loren Legarda's connivance with the extreme left, I have shown you earlier the two letters of Joma Sison: one addressed to Atty. Romeo Capulong wherein Joma outlined the call made by Senator Legarda
whereby Senator Legarda was requesting for a chief spokesperson from Joma; the other letter addressed to Senator Legarda stating Joma's full support for Senator Legarda in the latter's campaign for the Vice Presidency.

As I said, I am writing you in response to the written reprimand I received just to set the records straight. I admit that I am far from perfect. I have committed some serious infractions in the past, of which I have been sentenced to death by musketry and suffered more than ten years in detention. But I have gained valuable experience in the process. As a result I have given the AFP its "Lambat Bitag" that resulted in the reduction of CPP/NPA from its peak strength of more than 25,000 to some 6,000 + from the period covering 1988 to 1995. But I was never officially recognized for that. At ISAFP, I like to believe that we helped preserve our democratic process when we pre-empted the attempted coup with our timely and accurate information. Again, instead of recognition, I lost my job. This time, for
speaking against a clear danger to our national security and national interest, I am getting all this flak. I take all of these as part of being a Filipino soldier. I just don't want to end my career with the truth being distorted to make it appear that I am the villain.

Respectfully yours,
BGEN VICTOR N. CORPUS

:: Bing Sunday, February 15, 2004 [+] ::
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