Former military chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has challenged Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna party-list and other left-leaning politicians to be transparent on their ties with the Communist Party of the Philippines and denounce the attacks perpetrated by the New People’s Army.
Esperon, outgoing director-general of the Presidential Management Staff, said Ocampo should not cheat the voting public by pretending to uphold the democratic institutions of the country while “continuing to gain power through the barrel of a gun of the NPA.”
Ocampo over the weekend questioned the motive of Esperon in seeking a congressional seat in Pangasinan’s 6th district, asking voters to reject him and many other former military officers now running for elective positions.
“Why is he depriving me of my right to seek public office? This only shows Ocampo and his colleagues do not really have faith in our democracy. They have already received so much space, and they actually owe this to former generals,” Esperon said.
Esperon cited the repeal of the anti-subversion law which was made possible by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, a former general, during the time of former president Fidel Ramos, who is also a former general.
“Satur should first condemn the attacks being done by the NPA, and the mass graves in Leyte, and the extrajudicial killings being committed by communist rebels before he starts questioning my motive for running and wanting to serve our people,” Esperon said.
Ocampo, who is running for senator, said Esperon and other retired military officials “have a different mind-set as opposed to civilian officials who are consultative.”
Apart from Esperon, other retired generals running in the local elections in Pangasinan are former police director Leopoldo Bataoil for the second congressional district, and former Admiral Virgilio Marcelo for mayor of San Manuel town. –Joyce Pangco Pañares, Manila Standard Today
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against
Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
