Vow Loyalty, Philippine Troops Told : Take Oath or Face Discharge, Defense Minister Orders

Defense Minister Rafael Ileto said today that all members of the armed forces will be required to take an oath of allegiance to the new Philippine constitution or face discharge.

And President Corazon Aquino, in a nationally televised address, appealed to the contentious armed forces to “be one with the Filipino people” after overwhelming ratification of the constitution that 40% of the military voted against.

Aquino said the “tremendous vote of confidence” given her 11-month-old rule Monday “reaffirms the now unquestionable legitimacy and democratic power of our government.”

“Like everyone else,” Aquino said, “the soldiers voted according to their conscience. I respect them for it. Like everyone else, they now have a new constitution to which all are bound by the strongest bond of political obligation.”

80% Civilian Approval

The armed forces voted in favor of the constitution by a 60-40 ratio contrasted with civilian approval of nearly 80%, unofficial totals showed.

Ileto, a West Point-trained retired general, told the Cabinet today that once the government’s Commission on Elections ratifies the new constitution next week, the military will ask the soldiers “to swear an oath of allegiance to the charter.”

“Minister Ileto said the few who may not want to would have to leave the military since the constitution compels or emphasizes respect and allegiance to the constitution,” presidential spokesman Teodoro Benigno said.

Military sources said many senior officers are unhappy with the plan to require loyalty oaths, Reuters news service reported.

“Loyalty must be earned, not demanded. The oath idea is not sitting well with a lot of people,” a senior officer said.

‘A Lot of Resentment’

“There is a lot of resentment among the generals,” another source said. “They are intensely patriotic. They fear a communist takeover by the end of this decade. And now they are cast as traitors. That is intolerable.

“Has she told the communists to swear loyalty to the constitution or get out of the country? Or is their patriotism being endorsed by the government?”

Aquino said top military leaders assured her that measures will be taken to “weed out undesirable” military elements.

Armed forces chief Fidel Ramos approved the creation of military tribunals to handle court-martial proceedings against 500 mutinous troops who staged an aborted coup last week.

Ramos’ orders included the discharge of any soldier who has been unaccounted for since Jan. 26, the eve of the rebellion, and an education program for troops “to correct a certain undesirable state of discipline and order in the armed forces.”