Gringo and Oakwood

THE failed mutiny of junior military officers at the Oakwood Hotel in Makati happened more than two years ago in July 2003, but the government suddenly decided that now — in the wake of a foiled coup attempt — is the time to file coup d’etat charges against former Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan.

Last December, in an interview I had with Honasan for PCIJ’s EDSA 20/20 project, I asked Honasan about his alleged involvement in coups against various governments since Cory Aquino’s presidency. He admitted involvement in only three — 1986, 1987 and 1989 — of the many that he said he was being blamed for.  He also talked about how government has been linking him to the Oakwood mutiny. Below is the excerpt from that interview, referring to Oakwood.

 "Let’s bring to mind, for example, recently the 2003 Oakwood incident. Just because I talked to some officers because of the National Recovery Program which they actually drafted, ini-implicate ako. What is worst, nung mag-Oakwood incident, Malacañang asked for my help. Ako naman, si gago, punta naman ako. If I did not go, not even Biazon or Cimatu or Tito Sotto or the other personalities would have been allowed by the young officers.

"When I went in, I asked them, “You want indefinitely to stand up or to dialogue?” Sabi sa akin ng mga opisyal, “the dialogue sir.” Cimatu came in. After I did that, Malacañang set free the dogs of war. Joey Lina started coming out in public, Roilo Golez and some others, including I must admit some individuals in my own organization. Now the question, Luz, is: where are they now? Joey Lina has been keeping quiet. His brother was part of the Hyatt 10. Roilo Golez has done issues and acrobatics. And the others are quiet so sabi ko, ‘Where’s the consistency? Where are you now? Where are the attack dogs?’

"That’s my point: we never wavered. We may be in different fields now. Some of us, as I am, have been adopting a low profile but I assure you after going against Marcos, Aquino, Ramos and accused of going after Gloria, after going against four presidents, ngayon  ba kami magbabago? I mean we’ve been active for 20 years. It’s becoming a little tiring."