Guardians Brotherhood Incorporated

By ELPIDIO “MF CARLOMAGNO” SELETARIA JR, LLB.

National Chairman/Incorporator

GUARDIANS BROTHERHOOD, INC.-THE ORIGINAL

FOREWORD

The following article relates to my personal and factual accounts of the history of the DIABLO SQUADS, CRIME BUSTER (DSCB) and its transformation into THE GUARDIANS BROTHERHOOD, INC. (GBI). Whatever opinion or conviction a reader may have, whether positive or negative, will not change the events that actually happened which I personally experienced, witnessed, and have personal knowledge. Some accounts of the history of the Philippines, as everybody knows, are slanted. We do not want a similar inaccurate history of the GBI. I am writing this article in order to fix some distorted portion in the history of the GBI, especially those written by persons who have no personal knowledge on what actually transpired. (December 31, 2013)

THE DIABLO SQUADS, CRIME BUSTER

My involvement with the DIABLO SQUADS, CRIME BUSTER (DSCB), began when I met Leborio Jangao Jr. in a classroom in St. Peter’s College, Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte, in 1980. We were in the same Liberal Arts Department, taking up Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science (AB-Pol Sci). He was fondly called “Django.” When Django learned that I was an Investigator in the Military Police unit based in Pala-o, Iligan City, he introduced himself that he was with the Philippine Constabulary (PC) Tipanoy. He talked to me about his fellow PC who had been recommended by our unit for dismissal from the service.

From then on, he befriended me and told me about his organization. He explained to me what his association was all about. He enticed me to join them, as according to him I would be a big factor to the Original Squad of the “DSCB” being in a unit regarded as the “Enforcer of Military Laws.” It was still Martial Law in the entire Philippines then and our unit was empowered to arrest and detain abusive members of the AFP and the INP. I was adamant at first since I didn’t want to have any marking in my body. The following day and the day after, he kept on talking to me about the “Diablo Squad,” until such time that I was ready to be marked.

I invited ABRAHAM to our “barracks” in the MP’s Delta Company Headquarters. He prepared the marking paraphernalia (Eight needles and India ink). He told me it could be painful so he recommended to me to take some shots of “Tanduay.” While I was being marked, some curious MP personnel surrounded us, asking “What?” “Why?”

In between “ouch” and shots of Tanduay, I explained to them, with ABRAHAM’s help, about the “DS.” I was marked “CARLOMAGNO 80-1-13” as one of the “Original 1980 DIABLO SQUAD.” Being one of the most respected Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) in the Brigade, as some of the MP’s in Iligan City were my students in their Basic Military Training while others were my classmates and fellow NCOs, it was easier for me to convince them to join me. In no time I was able to recruit several members of the MP’s Delta Company, including (now) big names such as Catalino “CRAME” Herrera, Jr. (Who recently retired as a Chief Inspector [Major] in the PNP); Agustin “MIGHTOR” Tungcul (Retired PNP Inspector); Absalon “NERO” Salboro (Retired PNP SSUPT [Colonel] ); Felix “PLARIDEL” Oreno (Retired Colonel, PA); Robert “ROBINHOOD” Taguinod (Retired as a Lieutenant in the Navy); Andy “CHE” Parentela (Still in active service as SPO4 in Malabon PNP), and many more.

Not long after, most of the personnel of the First MP Battalion’s Delta Company in Iligan City and Ozamis City, and Charlie Company in Marawi City became members of the DSCB. The Delta Company in Iligan City had two Mini-Cruiser Jeeps used in patrolling around the city to enforce military laws, apprehend drunken soldiers on off duty and respond to complaints of civilians against erring military and police personnel. Soldiers and policemen feared getting arrested by the MPs. Carrying long fi****ms in public places even in uniform was strictly prohibited. One day, our MP Patrol Team accosted three uniformed soldiers carrying Armalite Rifles in the public market while on marketing. It turned out that one of them was a member of DSCB. Instead of getting apprehended, he got hugs, the customary greeting of DSCB, from the MPs and just warned not to display their long fi****ms within the city. By words of mouth, that incident spread all over their unit, which encourage most of them to join the DSCB.

Those soldiers who joined the DSCB took the initiative of policing their ranks, and avoiding the commission of any violation of laws, rules and regulations when they were in Iligan City. They didn’t want to embarrass their “Bros.” in the MPs. Their animosity towards the MP Brigade changed. Most of the time, whenever in Iligan City, they would come to our Headquarters to pay us a visit while their rifles having been deposited in our Checkpoint. Since then our unit was able to reach out to other military and police personnel in the area. Per our statistics, the number of complaints by civilians against military and police, and the number of cases of clashes and fighting among the members of the AFP and the INP in the region had tremendously gone down.

Then First Lieutenant Gil Taojo Jr PC was recruited by ABRAHAM and marked “LAPU2 80-1” He was the first AFP commissioned officer who joined the DSCB and first to sport the “SGF” (Supreme Godfather) mark. In the later part of the ‘80’s, Captain Anastacio Labitad PA came to Iligan City as our Commanding Officer. As part of my briefing to him, I informed him about the DSCB. I told him he was welcome to join us. He did not make any comment. One day, when ABRAHAM was marking one of my members, we were surprised to see Captain Labitad taking off his shirt and said he would like to be marked. He said his pseudonym would be PATTON. After being marked (PATTON 80-0, ), we designated him as “Supreme Founder Consultant” Soon thereafter, Police Lieutenant Lilia “AMAZONA” Buala INP, then Station Commander of Linamon (Lanao del Norte) Police Station, was recruited by ABRAHAM. More soldiers from the Philippine Army’s nearby Engineering and Infantry Battalions joined the DSCB, including some Company Commanders with the ranks of 2LT, 1LT and CAPT who were then subsequently marked “SGF.” The DSCB started to grow, building a strong brotherhood among the members of the AFP and the INP. An individual or group of military and police personnel whenever they were in a drinking establishment in the city, would no longer keep on looking over their shoulders for fear of trouble that could arise from the other tables as most of them were DSCB members and a very friendly mood would dominate the place.

Taking into account the growing membership of the DSCB, ABRAHAM thought of enacting a DSCB Constitution and By-Laws that would govern and shall be observed by all members. He consulted me several times in regard to the acronym of DIABLO and some other provisions of the By-Laws. Most of its provisions, however, were done through the help of our MAGIC GROUP who were prominent lawyers in the city, including Fiscal Ulysses Lagcao, Atty. Roberto Albulario, Atty. Andrew Damayo, and our college instructors, Attorneys Nick Palangan and Angel Mencias. LAPU2 also helped in some provisions of the By-Laws. When it was finalized, we held the convention to ratify our By-Laws on April 20, 1982 at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. The convention was a whole day affair, presided by ABRAHAM and assisted by me, being the Association Secretary/DS-1, and Sgt Bonacleto “ISAGANI” Caliso (GRF) PC, the Secretary of the Meeting.

After the ratification of the By-Laws, more members of the different AFP and INP units in the area joined us. Most military commanders had noticed the significant reduction of cases involving their men, as most DSCB members began to value their dual roles as components of their units and as part of the DSCB, obligated to uphold the principles embodied in the DSCB By-Laws and at the same time as personnel of the AFP and INP, the protectors of the people.

With those major developments, most military commanders in the area had mixed reactions over the membership of their men with the DSCB. Some commanders even supported our activities, such as meetings, conventions, get together parties and other social activities. However, few commanders were skeptical and unsupportive to the cause of the DSCB. They didn’t like the DSCB simply because of its name “DIABLO SQUAD” that according to them, who were mostly devout Catholics, was offensive to their faith. They suggested to us to change its name. ABRAHAM and I decided to call for a meeting of the top officers of the DSCB which was held at the house of LAPU2 in Pala-o, Iligan City.

During our meeting, ABRAHAM related to us his dialogue with the PC/INP Regional Commander (RC) who had expressed negative reaction over the DSCB. According to ABRAHAM, he explained the good side of the DSCB and he had convinced the RC on the noble objectives of the association, however, suggested to have the name “DIABLO” changed. I supported the position of ABRAHAM to change the name of the DSCB and submitted the matter to the body for voting. Being the DS-1 and the Association Secretary, I was tasked to take the minutes. LAPU2 offered his objection over the change of name with no sensible explanation. Except for me and ABRAHAM everyone sided with LAPU2. We had noticed that some attendees didn’t care much about the issue but were persuaded to follow the opinion of LAPU2 simply because LAPU2 was a commissioned officer while ABRAHAM and I were then NCOs. Some soldiers then believed that the commissioned officers had better thinking than the NCOs. Since the decision of the majority was to keep the name “DIABLO SQUAD, CRIME BUSTER,” we had no choice but to respect the rule of the majority.

As far as the Military Police Brigade was concerned, the DSCB had immensely contributed to the maintenance of peace and order in the city. However, some lawless elements were not happy about us. An intelligence report confirmed that a “Liquidation Squad” of the Muslim rebels had been formed with their objective to kill all members of the DSCB as reflected in the tattoo “KAD” or “Kill All Diablo” marked in their hands between the thumb and the index finger. Our checkpoint at the frontier of Iligan City detained and interrogated a person from Lanao Del Sur with the marking “KAD.” He was turned over to the Intelligence Unit of the Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army for further investigation. We learned that he was released later for insufficiency of evidence. No reported incident of “liquidation” of DSCB members occurred, though.

Sgt Maong PC, a DSCB member, of the PC Tipanoy was reassigned to Zamboanga PC. He spread the membership of the DSCB in Zamboanga Peninsula where Major Efren “NOG2” Arayata PC was recruited, followed by some officers based in SOUTHCOM in Calarian, Zamboanga City, including Major Edwin Vargas and Major Cabading. It was during this time that the strong sense of brotherhood among the DSCB members was tested when NOG2 was wounded in a gun battle against the lawless elements. He lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion. Upon learning, several DSCB members from the different AFP branches of service volunteered to donate blood to NOG2. The staff of the SouthCom Hospital were astounded to see soldiers from PC, PA, PAF, and PN donating blood to a PC officer. Such kind of occurrence never happened before. That heartwarming and dramatic incident inspired the DSCB members and served as a big factor in convincing more AFP and INP members to join the DSCB, not only in Lanao area but in the entire Mindanao.

Meanwhile in Lanao, ABRAHAM and I had been busy traveling all over the place to conduct lectures and attend meetings, symposia and other DSCB gatherings, including going to Pagadian City to grace a convention of DSCB attended by various members within the vicinity.

The rapid increase of membership of the DSCB apparently alarmed the leadership of the PC. In 1983, ABRAHAM was relieved from Lanao Del Norte PC, followed by the reassignment of LAPU2 to Northern Luzon. LAPU2 had been silent what happened to him when he was in PC RECOM 2, in Tuguegarao, Cagayan. No traces of any activity of DSCB in the Region while he was there. On the other hand, ABRAHAM was transferred to Camp Crame and eventually was reassigned to PC RECOM 5 in Legaspi City where, like a duck in the pond as the proverb would say, he continued his usual activity of recruiting more DSCB members, including his First Sergeant and his Commanding Officer. Due to his excellent performance in the PC, he earned the prestigious award, the AFP Soldier of the Year, which he later used as his vehicle for becoming a Commissioned Officer in the AFP.

THE DISSOLUTION OF THE DIABLO SQUADS, CRIME BUSTER (DSCB)

After more than three years of tour of duty in Lanao area, I requested for transfer to Camp Aguinaldo to settle some personal matters. In March 1983, I was reassigned to the Military Police Brigade, AFP Headquarters in Camp Gen. E. Aguinaldo, Quezon City. I was designated as the Morale and Welfare NCO and the Recruiting NCO, MP-1 (Personnel).

On my first few days, a close friend of mine warned me to be extra careful because I was under surveillance by the Intelligence Unit (MP2) of the Brigade due to my being a “Founder and Secretary General of the Diablo.” I tried to look for any member of the DSCB but there was none. I realized I was the only one as all the 12 members of my DSCB first squad and their succeeding recruits were all in Mindanao that time. PATTON came back to Camp Aguinaldo ahead of me but for some reasons he remained low key and had not attempted to spearhead any DSCB activity.

I then decided to talk separately to our MP-1 (Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel) and MP-2 (Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence). I explained to them the bright side of the DSCB, including but not limited to its purpose, how it was organized and how it was serving as an effective partner of the Military Police Brigade, AFP, as an enforcer and guardian of discipline in the military, particularly in the troubled spots in Mindanao. I showed them the statistics of number of arrested military personnel that significantly dropped since the inception of the DSCB.

Although I was the only DSCB officer in the Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo area at that time, apart from PATTON, I was determined to be vocal to build a good impression for the DSCB so I have to keep my role-model image in the entire Military Police Brigade, AFP. I had practically earned the respect of my superiors, peers and subordinates, prior to my assignment to Lanao area, and now that I was back to the Brigade Headquarters, I have to maintain my good image not only for myself but for the DSCB. (I was commissioned later as an officer (Ensign) of the Philippine Navy based on “Combat Commission” or Meritorious Commission as a recipient of five (5) Military Merit Medals and several Military Commendation Medals.)

I started talking about the DSCB to some of my friends in the Brigade and explained to them the good side of the organization. Some of them, especially the devout Catholics were willing to join but hesitant because of the word “Diablo” attached to our name, while others were excited to join. Eventually, I was able to recruit quite a number, including our Sergeant Major.

Not long after, the entire MP Brigade units assigned in Lanao area returned to Camp Aguinaldo and I was reunited with the whole DSCBs I recruited in Iligan. With them, including PATTON, who were very supportive to my drive to resume our DSCB activities, we started to grow in numbers in Metro Manila.

Because of the good performance of all DSCB members within the MP Brigade, most of the officers in that unit, including our Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Pedro Balbanero, did not interpose any objection to our DSCB activities, such as meetings, funeral services for fallen members, and other gatherings beneficial to DSCB members and families. We were able to prove to our superiors that the DSCB was a unique organization composed of well-disciplined and reliable AFP personnel. Most of our members were reassigned to the various line units of the Brigade. Some of them were able to recruit new members from the different major services (PA, PC/INP, PAF, PN, PN/M), and other Unified Commands and Wide Support & Separate Units of the AFP. Those DSCB members belonging to the 3rd MP Battalion deployed in Albay were able to recruit more members in the area. No DSCB member from the Military Police Brigade, AFP was ever charged or investigated for commission or violation of military laws, rules or regulations because of their previous training in military discipline as personnel of the Military Police Brigade, AFP, the “Guardian of Discipline,” aside from our strict screening of the wouldbe members and the members’ strict observance of the principles mandated by the By-Laws of the DSCB. No persecution of DSCB members within the Military Police Brigade, AFP ever occurred.

The course of fate intervened with the future of the DSCB. On November 14, 1984, Zamboanga City Mayor Cesar Climaco was assassinated by an unknown gunman right in his city. Mayor Climaco was an opposition and a constant critic of then President Ferdinand Marcos. The Anti-Marcos and other opposition groups accused Marcos of masterminding the murder of Mayor Climaco. For several days, the death of Climaco was the headline of almost all daily newspapers in the country, pointing to Marcos as the brain of the slaying.

The following day, I was surprised to see the headlines of various dailies and tabloids about the DSCB, depicting us as: “DIABLO, an Evil in the AFP,” “Sinister Group in the AFP,” “An Organization in an Organization,” “EL DIABLO,” and many more negative descriptions about the DSCB. Some Editorials had the caricatures of a devil with horns and tail wearing AFP uniform. (NB: Two years after the dissolution of the DSCB, a member of the Defense Press Corps who became my friend, while interviewing me on his article about the GBI’s participation in the EDSA Revolution, revealed to me the reason why the DSCB was disbanded. He said, after the assassination of Mayor Cesar Climaco, the Marcos government was beset by accusations that President Marcos was the brain behind the killing of Mayor Climaco. Some “Bright Boys” in the AFP thought of using the DSCB as the “Scapegoat” or “Fall Guy” in order to divert the attention of the media from the wrath of the public over the murder of Mayor Climaco, thereby making the DSCB as their “Sacrificial Lamb.”)

I then sensed that the happy days of the DSCB was coming to an end when Brig. Gen, Pedro Balbanero informed me that he was allowing the high ranking officers of the DSCB to use the Military Police Brigade Conference Room. At first I was surprised, but PATTON explained to me that then AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Fidel V. Ramos had an impending order to have the DSCB disbanded. However, he was giving us the opportunity to hold a meeting and decide for ourselves whether or not to allow its disbandment. Not long after, several DSCB officers who were not from Camp Aguinaldo came, namely: Major Edwin “ROMMEL” Vargas PA, Major Efren ‘NOG2” Arayata, Major Marcial “VULCAN” Collao PA and MSgt Leborio “ABRAHAM” Jangao Jr PC. Among the MP Brigade organic personnel present who were officers of the DSCB were: Capt. Anastacio “PATTON” Labitad, PO2 Robert “ROBINHOOD” Taguinod, TSGT Agustin “MIGHTOR” Tungcol, and me.

Before the meeting started, I asked: “Where are the others? Where is Lapulapu?” Somebody retorted: “Lapulapu is now a civilian. No civilian is allowed in this meeting.” Another jested: “Busy si Lapulapu sa gold mining sa Mt. Diwalwal.” Someone else said: “Alanganin na si Lapulapu ngayon. Alanganing MAGIC GROUP at alanganing regular DSCB, wala na siya sa AFP.”

The meeting was presided by Major Edwin “ROMMEL” VARGAS PA. The main Agenda and in fact the only Agendum for that matter was to obtain the consensus of high ranking officers of the DSCB through voting whether or not the DSCB should be disbanded. No logical and clear explanation was offered why we were being disbanded. ROMMEL briefly told us the hierarchy of the AFP wanted the DSCB disbanded because the AFP didn’t like the idea of having an organization within an organization and the name of the DIABLO SQUADS, CRIME BUSTER with the word “DIABLO” attached to it in itself implied evil. ROMMEL took the votes of all attendees. When ROMMEL asked for my vote, I said I was for the “Status Quo” of the DSCB. (Status quo is a Latin word meaning the existing state of affairs.) In other words I voted a resounding “NO.” I further explained my point where it didn’t make sense why they would like to disband the DSCB when it fact it had tremendously helped in restoring order and discipline in the AFP as shown in the statistics where abuses of military personnel have significantly decreased in AFP units with DSCB members, as compared to units with no DSCB member. ROMMEL, however, just shrug it off, saying the AFP leadership did not see the existence of the DSCB in a positive fashion. When ROBINHOOD was asked, he said he was also for the “Status Quo” of the DSCB. ROMMEL sarcastically asked ROBINHOOD if he really understood what “Status Quo” meant. ROBINHOOD bluntly retorted he clearly knew what “Status Quo” meant. ABRAHAM on the other hand, gave some sort of justification over the existence of the DSCB but his opinion was left unheard. Everyone voted for the disbandment of the DSCB, except me, ROBINHOOD and ABRAHAM. THE VOTES OF THE MAJORITY TO HAVE THE DSCB DISBANDED PREVAILED.

After the meeting, we were all transported on board several MP Brigade vehicles led by Brig. Gen. Balbanero to the General Headquarters inside Camp Aguinaldo. We were first gathered in the reception area adjacent to the Press Room where I saw some DSCB officers, including Nicanor “BARURUT” Cagurangan, Edgardo “TOTOY” Palmera, Themistocles “JOHNBULL” Romeo, and a few others whose names I could not recall. Minutes later, we were all assembled to the Hall of Flags with the presence of the Defense Press Corps members representing their respective media groups. General Ramos walked in, greeted everybody, then announced to everyone that the leadership of the DSCB had voluntarily submitted to have the DSCB disbanded. We were then required to sign the paper relative to our voluntary disbandment of the DSCB. Although it was no longer a surprise for us, we still felt devastated over the sudden turn of event, especially ABRAHAM. We were good soldiers so we have to obey the orders of our superiors.

After the press conference, General Ramos joined us in some casual conversation. In the process, I asked him if it was possible for us to continue with our organization but would rename it with something different. He said: “Yes but with something that would not suggest evil like ‘Diablo’ or ‘Devil’ or anything as long as it would not connote evil.” At this point, ABRAHAM joined our conversation. He then had a serious discussion with General Ramos about the possibility of creating another organization with similar concept to that of DSCB. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, before we left the GHQ Building, ABRAHAM told me we will revive the organization but with a different name.

THE BIRTH OF THE GUARDIANS BROTHERHOOD, INC.

A few days after the dissolution of the DSCB, ABRAHAM showed up in the MP Brigade Headquarters and had a serious talk with me and PATTON. He came up with the name GUARDIANS BROTHERHOOD, INC. (GBI). (I learned later that the name was the idea of Themistocles “JOHNBULL” Romeo which he derived from the description of the “Military Police Brigade, AFP, Guardian of Discipline”). We then decided to adopt and, almost verbatim, copied the Constitution and By-Laws (CBL) of the DSCB, with some modifications, adding the acronym for GUARDIANS, i.e.: G-Gentlemen, U-United, A-Associates, R-Race, DDauntless, I-Ingenuous, A-Advocator, N-Nation, S-Society, which when paraphrased would mean “The Gentlemen and United Associates of the Filipino Race, Dauntless and Ingenuous Advocator of the Nation and Society.” I requested a civilian employee of the MP Brigade to type the GBI Constitution and By-Laws. While the By-Laws was being typed, PATTON, ABRAHAM and I, alternately attended the question of the typist on matters she wouldn’t understand.

ABRAHAM filed the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws of The GBI on December 5, 1984 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On some occasions, while waiting for the approval, ABRAHAM and I would go to SEC office to follow-up the release and approval of the incorporation of the GBI. Shortly thereafter, on December 10, 1984, the Certificate of Incorporation, approving the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the GBI, was released. We were the happiest organization in the planet then. Eventually, almost all officers and members of the defunct DSCB gladly embraced the transformation of the association from DSCB into GBI, and submitted themselves for markings of the GBI, in accordance with the By-Laws.

With the tacit approval by the AFP hierarchy of the existence of the GBI within the AFP and the INP, recruitment of new members continued. The principles contained in the GBI ByLaws and the spirit of brotherhood residing in the hearts and mind of the GBI officers and members remain as the major factors in attracting new members. Within a span of one year, the number of the GBI members almost multiplied by five times. ABRAHAM had been busy visiting the different chapters within Metro Manila. Although he wanted me to tag along, I couldn’t do it often as I was taking my night classes at the MLQU School of Law during weekdays and on Saturdays. During my free time and days off, ABRAHAM and I would go to the different camps, such as Fort Bonifacio, Villamor Air Base, Camp Crame, including Camp Aguinaldo, and in various Metropolitan Police Stations, gracing and confirming several GBI chapters.

Not long after, alarmed by the massive increase of the GBI membership, several attempts of the government to again suppress the Association were mounted. Some GBI members experienced harassment from their unsympathetic military commanders. Then Minister of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile defended the GBI and even announced on national TV that the government had nothing to be alarmed of as the GBI was only a fraternal organization of officers and enlisted personnel of the AFP/INP, similar to Vanguards and APO.

Sometime in the later part of 1985, when the grasp of power of President Marcos was waning, we felt the restlessness of the “principled” military officers, particularly those who came from the Philippine Military Academy, with their forming of the “Reform the Armed Forces Movement” (RAM) and the “Young Officers Union” (YOU). They resented the leadership of General Fabian Ver, who, despite being implicated in the Aquino-Galman double murder case, remained the AFP Chief of Staff and seldom came to GHQ, AFP but stayed at Malacanang most of the time, with Lieutenant General Ramos who was then running the AFP, remained the ViceChief of Staff.

In the afternoon of February 22, 1986, Minister Enrile and AFP Vice-Chief of Staff Ramos announced their rebellion against the government of President Marcos with the support of the entire force of the RAM and YOU. They moved from Camp Aguinaldo to Camp Crame. Minister Enrile called for the support of the entire AFP. The MP Brigade was then in disarray with Brig. Gen. Balbanero’s pronouncement for us to follow our conscience as to which side would we turn to, rebel forces or the side of Marcos. Early morning of February 23, I held a secret meeting with GBI members at the barracks of the MP’s Charlie Company near the Concessionaire’s Area in Camp Aguinaldo. I told them of my decision to support the cause of Minister Enrile and Gen. Ramos. I got the nod of 72 GBI members from the entire MP Brigade, including then 1LT Ramon “SGF SPHINX” Espino, MIGHTOR, ROBINHOOD, CRAME, CHE, CLAY, TAMAGONG, and ESTOY. I told them I would go ahead to Camp Crame to coordinate with the troops of Col. Gregorio Honasan and inform them of our defection. I told them to follow me at Camp Crame after 15 minutes. Armed with M14 Rifle, I left. When I reached Camp Crame, I was subjected to many questions by some “Rebel Soldiers” who didn’t know me and were suspicious that I was a spy of Gen. Balbanero, who was known as Marcos supporter. When Colonel Honasan’s emissary saw me, we talked for a while then I was told to wait for my fellow GBIs. Minutes later I saw the 72 fully armed GBI officers and members marching in. As instructed, I led them to Col. Mitz Templo, the Commanding Officer of the Security Group of the “Rebel Forces.” Col. Templo gave me instructors about our role. I then deployed some of my troops to establish a perimeter defense at the west side of Camp Crame and along the vicinity of Santolan Road to deflect the reported infiltration of Col Abadilla’s men. Abadilla was a dreaded loyalist of Marcos.

We were the only group who joined the EDSA Revolution who was referred to as GUARDIANS and not the unit (MP Brigade) where we came from. I told Col. Templo that the MP Brigade had nothing to do with our defection as we were there as GUARDIANS. Then Patrolman Edgardo “CALLAHAN” Gumabay INP, GBI pioneer and my first recruit in the Western Police District joined our group in Camp Crame, not representing his unit but the GBI. (He was originally my classmate in the Basic Military Training in the MP Brigade and was with me in combat zone of Zamboanga and Basilan in 1976. He recently retired as Chief Inspector [Major], PNP),

The entire “Rebel Forces” were frantically prompted to go on full red alert when we saw on government TV Channel 4 General Ver asking permission from President Marcos to allow him to initiate the firing of the 105 Howitzer Cannon mounted towards Camp Crame to “Pulverize Camp Crame.” Marcos, however, replied: “No, no, no, Fabian. Let’s just use assault rifles on them.” The “Rebel Forces” sent a Special Team to capture and take over Channel 4. With a few firefighting and resistance from the government forces securing the area, the “Rebels” successfully took control of the TV Channel 4.

In the process, I was being frequently called by Col. Templo to alert my GBI group, especially when troop movements toward Camp Crame were reported on TV or radio. At one point, Col. Templo asked me to write a message to all GBI members belonging to the Philippine Marines marching toward Camp Crame, followed by some Infantry Battalions and the Light Armor Regiment of the Army. I wrote the following: “Sa mga kapatid ko sa GUARDIANS Brotherhood, Inc. Ito ang Brother ninyo na si CARLOMAGNO. Nandito kami ngayon sa Crame kasama ang iba pa nating mga kapatid sa GUARDIANS. Huwag na kayong lulusob dito, sa halip ay pumanig na lang kayo sa amin at tayo’y magkaisa.” Col. Templo gave my note to June Keithley who was later known as the “Voice of EDSA.” When Channel 4 was captured by the Rebel Forces, June Keithley transferred her program from Radio Station DZRJ Radyo Bandido to Channel 4. She was untiringly broadcasting the movements of the troops loyal to Marcos and the defections of prominent personalities and military personnel. Her TV program served as our information bulletin on the activities of the soldiers planning to attack Camp Crame. June Keithly repeatedly read my note on TV. (After the EDSA Revolution and during the victory party thrown by Minister Enrile at the DND Compound, several officers and members of the GBI confirmed to have heard or seen June Keithly broadcasting my note, which served as among their reasons to desist from attacking Camp Crame.)

The turning point of the “Revolution” came when the helicopters from the 15th Strike Wing of the Philippine Air Force, led by Colonel Antonio Sotelo, previously ordered to attack Camp Crame but instead of attacking, defected to the rebel side and landed their choppers inside Camp Crame. Eventually, more and more military units joined the “Rebels.”

On February 26, 1986, Marcos left the county, taken by the US government to Hawaii. The “Revolution” was over and the “Rebels” won. General Ismael Villareal AFP, who was the War Director of the “Rebellion” instructed me and other “Rebel Troops” to return to our respective units. Corazon Aquino became the President of the Philippines.

The whole 73 GBI officers and members, including me, marched back to the MP Brigade Headquarters but General Balbanero did not appreciate what we did in defecting to the rebel side, branding us as “Mga Rebelde.” He told us, we were no longer welcome to that unit. SPHINX and I went to Colonel Honasan who promised us that all the GBIs who joined the rebellion will be reassigned to the Presidential Security Group in Malacanang. While waiting for the Assignment Order, we billeted in our fixed tent within the MND Security Group ground. Finally, Orders came down reassigning all Enlisted Personnel with the rank of Staff Sergeant and below to Malacanang’s Presidential Security Group, while those with the rank of Technical Sergeant and above would have to look for a unit that would take us in. I was accommodated to the MND’s Action Center (ACCENT), which later became Investigation and Action Division (IAD) and renamed into Defense Investigation and Action Office (DIAO), as a Senior Investigator and Head, Human Rights Affairs Branch (HRAB), and later became the Assistant Chief, DIAO with Atty. Ernesto “SGF MATT” Matibag (then Captain, PAF) as the Chief. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) was renamed Department of National Defense (DND) later. The MP Brigade, AFP was dissolved later and all personnel who had not joined the “Rebels” side, including some GBI members, were absorbed by the new unit, the National Capital Region Defense Command (NCRDC). General Balbanero was given a non-sensitive position for not taking the “Rebels” side during the EDSA Revolution.

Although without any fanfare, Minister Enrile and General Ramos, who became the AFP Chief of Staff, recognized the participation of the GBI in the success of EDSA Revolution. We were given a victory party exclusively for the GBIs at the DND Security Group ground, where a program was held. I was the Emcee, assisted by Sgt. Herman “CLAY” Malagueno PC, who was also with me in Camp Crame. I asked all the prominent officers and members, who participated and enormously contributed to the success of the EDSA Revolution, to deliver their speeches. It was an atmosphere of joy and the strong brotherhood in the GBI was vividly felt.

During the whole year of 1986, the general membership of the GBI swelled to a huge number. ABRAHAM frequented my office seeking my advice on the massive and uncontrollable acceptance of membership from all over. Some personalities, military and civilian alike, would want to be members just to “ride along” with the popularity of the GBI, without really understanding the principles behind it. Some civilians would just want to capitalize their GBI membership in transacting business with the AFP, while others would want to use the GBI purely for personal interest such as possessing firearm legally by easily becoming Confidential Agents of the military by reason of their being members of the GBI. Indiscriminate recruitment of new members, without conducting the required background check, occurred.

For some reason and purportedly due to the pressure by the military hierarchy upon the AFP officers and soldiers on the issue that covered the leadership of the GBI, ABRAHAM appointed a civilian, Rodolfo “MG GEMINI” De Hoya, as Acting National Chairman of the GBI. I protested, citing my reasons that MG GEMINI had no deep comprehension as to the issues affecting the military personnel. We then appointed Major Efren ‘NOG2” Arayata PC, who was based in Camp Crame, as the Acting National Chairman. Series of meetings and conventions were held by NOG2. We found that the information drive was effective to those GBI members who were attending the meetings but not to others who were not present.

During the convention held at Camp Crame, with Major General Cesar Nazareno , Chief PC, as guest speaker, I questioned the reckless recruitment of MGs by then Congressman Dennis Roldan (MG) in his congressional district in Quezon City, where some tricycle drivers and market vendors were being recruited without going through the regular process, thorough screening and strict observance of the By-Laws. He promised to be more prudent in the future.

One day, we learned that some GBI officers and members formed the GUARDIANS CENTRE FOUNDATION, INC. (GCFI) allegedly with the blessing of Col. Honasan. Most of its officers were from the DND’s Security Group. They wanted to become the umbrella organization of the GBI. ABRAHAM came to me to seek my advice. We then tried to talk to the GCFI leadership but they would not want to face us. The rift between the GBI and the GCFI widened until it reached the attention of Minister Enrile. He wanted to see the top leaders of the GBI. ABRAHAM and I, along with Edgardo “TOTOY” Palmera, went to the office of Minister Enrile where he talked to us about reconciliation between the GBI and the GCFI. Shortly thereafter, we had the meeting with the GCFI held in Camp Crame. It was agreed that the GBI shall remain as the mother organization and the GCFI cannot claim as the umbrella organization and the GBI shall continue to expand its membership as long as all the criteria are met. Unluckily, Enrile was forced to resign as Defense Secretary in November 1986 and was replaced by Rafael Ileto.

On August 28, 1987, the RAM led by Col. Honasan launched a coup attempt. They took control of the DND Building. I did not join this movement as I believed it was a futile rebellion without a cause. It was during this time when Benigno Aquino III (now President) was wounded when his car was ambushed by the rebel soldiers near Malacanang. Our very own Oscar “TAMAGONG” Arevalo, a close-in security of Aquino and one of the original GBI 1984 Incorporators, was killed trying to defend Aquino. The coup was crushed by the government troops, leaving 53 dead with at least 200 wounded, and a considerable destruction of property. Hundreds of GBI members, who were misled by their Commanding Officers, joined the coup, especially those coming from Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. The rebel soldiers, including the GBI members, under Honasan were captured by the NCRDC led by Gen. Rodolfo Biazon, while Honasan himself escaped.

Secretary Ileto ordered the investigation of soldiers assigned with the DND who participated in the coup attempt, directing Assistant Secretary for Personnel (ASPER) Ramon Nieva and Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs (ASLA) Leon Ridao to oversee the investigation. I was designated as the Lead Investigator. During the investigation, I cleared most coup participants, especially the GBI members, who were merely misled into joining, and those who were not seen on TV wearing inverted Philippine flag. However, I wasn’t able to help those whose evidences against them were strong.

The participation of some GBI members in the coup attempt marked a serious negative impression towards the entire GBI in the eyes of some military commanders, especially those who were unsympathetic to the GBI, giving them the reason for harassing the GBI members, who were being denied to get reenlisted unless they would renounce their GBI membership and have their tattoos erased. I talked to some GBI members who were obliged to have their marks expunged. They said they were forced to do it for the sake of their families who could get hungry should they choose to remain with the GBI but not get reenlisted. They said their hearts still belonged to GBI. I chanced upon JOHNBULL at the DND vicinity. He told me he refused to have his mark erased. He said if he could not find a unit sympathetic to GBI he would rather not get reenlisted. I told him there were still AFP unit commanders who were still compassionate to GBI. I then decided to write a letter to then AFP Chief of Staff General Ramos, seeking consideration in behalf of the entire GBI members who were being harassed by their respective commanders.

In January 1988, General Ramos became the Secretary of National Defense upon resignation of Secretary Ileto, while General Renato De Villa took over as the AFP Chief of Staff. My letter to General Ramos was coursed through the office of General De Villa, which was in turn endorsed to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (J-1) Commodore Ramos. The latter invited me for a dialogue in his office. During our conversation, Commodore Ramos stubbornly insisted his negative perception towards the GBI despite the explanations I offered citing all the positive side of the GBI. He would not listen to me but insisted his own negative belief towards the GBI. I felt helpless for the entire GBI. I felt so bad I couldn’t help them. Harassment of GBI members continued. The GBI members were left to fend off those harassments for themselves; some were successful, while others were not.

In December 1989, the bloodiest coup attempt was staged by the RAM led by Colonel Honasan again, where 91 were killed and 570 got wounded. The coup was likewise a failure. It could have been successful if not for the intervention of the US Air Force from Clark Air Base, Pampanga. Honasan became a fugitive thereafter. Secretary Ramos ordered the investigation of the said coup attempt and issued an Order including me in the Technical Committee as an investigator. I was told, a considerable number of participants were GBI members. I led the team of investigators from DND and went to Legaspi City to investigate the take-over of Legaspi Airport by the rebel soldiers at the height of the putsch, and the marching of PC personnel from the Sorsogon PC Command to Legaspi City. PN Captain Rex Robles, Naval Area Commander, and Brig. Gen. Fillart, the RECOM 5 Commander, fully supported our investigation. Most of those involved were misled by their superior officers. I recommended for the dismissal of the cases of the majority of them who were mostly GBI, except those whose evidences against them were strong.

After returning to Manila, my team was again dispatched to Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija with the same mission of investigating the military personnel involved in the failed coup. I then found out that the soldiers involved in the rebellion, some of whom were GBI members, were merely used by their officers. Again, I recommended for the dismissal of cases of most of them, except those whose evidences against them were strong.

During the presidency of Corazon Aquino, the AFP had recorded a total of nine (9) failed coup attempts participated in by some GBI members who were either misled or forced to join because they were unit movements and the whole units where they belonged joined the uprising.

When Brig. Gen. Oscar Florendo of the Civil Relations Service, AFP was allegedly killed by the group of ousted Cagayan Governor, Ex-Col Rodolfo Aguinaldo, my investigation team was again dispatched to Tuguegarao, Cagayan, this time with Atty. Ernesto “MATT” Matibag as the Team Leader and me as the Lead Investigator. We stayed at Hotel Delfino where Brig. Gen. Florendo was killed while allegedly serving an Arrest Warrant to Aguinaldo who was being charged with Rebellion and Murder for allegedly supporting the December 1989 Coup Attempt. It was alleged in the report that a number of Aguinaldo’s men were GBIs. In the course of our investigation, where we even conducted a reenactment, we have concluded that Gen. Florendo was not killed by the group of Aguinaldo but by a friendly fire. We had never heard of our report submitted to the higher-ups, though, whether or not it was acted upon.

With the implication of some GBI members in the series of coup attempts, the AFP hierarchy became suspicious, again, to the GBI. Sporadic harassments by unsympathetic commanders were again felt by some GBI members in several military units. (NB. As far as I was concerned, I did not experience being harassed by my superior officers or commanders. I always explained to them the good side of the GBI, thus, marking a good impression in their minds towards the GBI. They consider my connection with GBI as their asset. Besides, I compensated my being an officer of the GBI by my good track record both in the performance of my duties and in my private life.)

Despite the harassment of the GBI members in the military, uncontrollable recruitment in civilian sector continued. By then, ABRAHAM and I had been busy going around Metro Manila reorganizing the seemingly uncontrollable association. The problems were recurring but we cannot be in all places at the same time. We have to contend with three elements that were threatening the stability of the GBI. First, the military commanders who were harassing their men if they were members of the GBI. Second, the overwhelming increase of membership of civilians in the absence of proper recruitment screening, and third, some ambitious GBI members who had their own agenda and would like to build their own GUARDIANS factions.

It was at this point when the time that I have to leave for the US had come. I had completed my retirement process and everything was set for my permanent residency in the US. Few days before I left, ABRAHAM visited me at my office in the DND. We talked about many things for the good of the GBI. I gave him several pointers to reign in the general membership by strengthening the National Policy Board and the Founders to get fully proactive in running the affairs of their respective GBI chapters. That was the last time I talked to ABRAHAM.

In 1995, while in the US, I read in the papers that President Fidel V. Ramos, as part of his efforts to achieve political stability, granted an unconditional amnesty to 3,731 military officers and soldiers who participated in the 1987 and 1989 coup attempts, with full reinstatement of 153 officers and 1,675 enlisted personnel, including Col. Honasan and the rest of the RAM members. It was a sigh of relief for the GBI, hoping that harassment by military commanders against the GBI members in their commands shall no longer take place.

###-###

For clarity, Abraham did not betray the DSCB. The DSCB was disbanded upon orders of General Ramos. All efforts were exerted by ABRAHAM, including me, to prevent the dissolution of the DSCB but our earnest efforts turned futile. We were good and disciplined soldiers who must follow the direct order of our superior, and the order was coming from not just an ordinary superior officer but General Ramos, the second highest authority in the AFP hierarchy. We were pressured to obey such order.

When ROMMEL presided over the meeting held for the purpose of getting the majority votes to consent to the dissolution of the DSCB, he was also under pressure. He could have been among us in opposing the disbandment of the DSCB, knowing him as one of the most loyal to the DSCB. The same was true with NOG2, VULCAN and PATTON. All of us could do nothing to prevent the demise of the DSCB. It was bound to happen. With this, I hope all the negative speculations about the disbandment of the DSCB shall get a closure and all GUARDIANS, regardless of factions, will try to understand and would put to rest the “Blame Game” as nobody could be blamed for the dissolution of the DSCB.

On the claim that LAPULAPU drafted the original GBI By-Laws, no single person could claim to have written or drafted the Original Constitution and By-Laws of the GBI as the same was just copied by us from the CBL of the DSCB. If at all, the credit should be given to ABRAHAM who had exhibited his untiring efforts in modifying the old DSCB-CBL and transforming the outmoded DSCB into GBI. In the same token, no individual person could claim to have written or drafted the Constitution and By-Laws of DSCB, as the same was a conglomeration of ideas contributed by different persons. Insofar as I can remember, ABRAHAM and I patterned the DSCB-CBL from the 1973 Constitution of the Philippines, which was commenced by a Preamble. Under the Corporation Code of the Philippines (BP Blg. 68) a Preamble is not necessary in the By-Laws and it should be simply “By-Laws” and “Not Constitution and By-Laws.”

It would be very wrong to say that LAPULAPU drafted the Original GBI By-Laws, first, he was not even in the vicinity of the Military Police Brigade Headquarters when we were constituting the said By-Laws. Only me, PATTON, ABRAHAM and the MP Brigade civilian employee typing the GBI papers were present at that time. Secondly, nobody had drafted the said By-Laws as we just copied it from the DSCB Constitution and By-Laws, with some modifications by changing the words, phrases and statements associated with the DSCB into words, phrases and statements suitable for the GBI. Thirdly, if it were true that he was the one who drafted the original GBI By-Laws, he could have noticed that he was writing a provision excluding himself from membership with the GBI, as stated in Section 1, ARTICLE III where its membership was only for military and police personnel “ON ACTIVE SERVICE” knowing fully well that at that 16 time he was already a civilian on “INACTIVE” status. And fourthly, he could have noticed that his name was misspelled. His true name is GIL Q. TAOJO JR. as can be seen in all documents he was signing. However, in the Original GBI By-Laws, his name was spelled GIL K. TAOJO JR. Knowing him to be smart, he would never sign a document over his wrongly spelled name.

In the original line-up of the GBI 1984 Incorporators, Gil “LAPULAPU” Taojo, Jr. was not included. Even when our names were given to the MP Brigade civilian employee for typing, every one of us in the list of 15 incorporators and proponents of the By-Laws was on active military service. That was factual because at that time, Lapulapu was already a civilian and nowhere in the vicinity of Camp Aguinaldo. He was not with us during the most trying moment of the DSCB, he was not with us either, when we were forming and incorporating the GBI. Had he been with us during the organizational phase of the GBI, I could have re-written the salient provisions of the By-Laws, particularly the portions providing limitation of membership only to regular members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated National Police, that could be found in the PREAMBLE, stating: “We the Officers and Enlisted Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and members of the Integrated National Police, residing within the territorial sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines imploring the aid of the and the blessing of the New Society, in order to establish an Association that shall strengthen our Camaraderie in arms, social intellectual and material well-being and to foster the spirit of Unity, Brotherhood, Justice, Righteousness, Self-Reliance and Discipline among ourselves, do hereby promulgate this By-Laws.”

Had LAPULAPU been with us when we were incorporating the GBI, I could have rewritten the provision of ARTICLE III, MEMBERSHIP, Section 1, of the GBI By-Laws, which stated: “Officers and Enlisted Personnel on active service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and members of the Integrated National Police are eligible for membership in the Association, except those notoriously undesirable or abusive military and Integrated National Police Personnel.”

Had LAPULAPU been with us at that time, I could have inserted a provision relaxing the said Section 1 and exempting LAPULAPU from the limitation of membership with the GBI only for military and police personnel “ON ACTIVE SERVICE.” The key word in Section 1 was “ACTIVE” and LAPULAPU had been “INACTIVE” from the military service (PC) since 1983.

The flawed Section 7 of ARTICLE III could not even be applied to LAPULAPU as it talked about “DISMISSAL” and not “RESIGNATION.” LAPULAPU voluntarily resigned from the service and he was not dismissed. Said Section detailed: “In case of dismissal from the Armed Forces of the Philippines/Integrated National Police of any of its members in good standing or good reputation with the Association, he/she shall continue to be a member and shall be continuously recognized as a legitimate member thereof and shall likewise be entitled to enjoy for life, although in his/her civilian capacity, all of the privileges and benefits granted by the By-Laws of the Association.”

The provision of the said Section 7 was originally in the DSCB By-Laws which we tailormade to accommodate some of our DSCB members who had been dismissed from the service, but had a good standing in the DSCB, prior to the adoption of the DSCB By-Laws in 1982.

Had LAPULAPU been with us at that time, I could have written the phrase: “In case of dismissal or resignation from the service…” to suit the inclusion of LAPULAPU in the line-up of the Fifteen (15) GBI Original Incorporators.

LAPULAPU came to Manila sometime in 1989 from Davao, not for the GBI or for the purpose of visiting the GBI leadership, but to convince Elvira “MG VIRGO” Morato and Rodolfo “MG GEMINI” De Hoya to invest as partners in his gold mining venture in Mindoro. The couple VIRGO and GEMINI were members of the GBI who had strong connection with the government then. The GBI was in turmoil at that time where some GBI members were being subjected to harassment by their military commanders. Only ABRAHAM and I were the ones trying to convince the AFP hierarchy to possibly order the field commanders to ease their treatment of their subordinates who were GBI members.

ABRAHAM maintained his silence on the issue why his name was not included in the line-up of the Original Incorporators of the GBI with SEC Reg. No. 123899 dated December 10, 1984 and why the name of LAPULAPU was there despite his absence from the scene. A brilliant GBI officer who had known ABRAHAM for so many years offered this theory: ABRAHAM was originally in the line-up of the 1984 GBI Incorporators and LAPULAPU was not. ABRAHAM regarded LAPULAPU as his best of friends then. Realizing that he did not include LAPULAPU in the line-up but he had to, nevertheless he could no longer remove anyone from the list, he preferred to take his name off and put the name of LAPULAPU in his stead. He had caused the signing of LAPULAPU’s signature. It should be noted that in the Philippines, signing of somebody’s name by another was common as long as the person whose signature was signed would not complain or would offer his implied approval, hence, no forgery could have been committed. ABRAHAM did this because he valued his friendship with LAPULAPU and he wanted LAPULAPU to be part of the GBI leadership. This is, however, a disputable theory. LAPULAPU might have been in Manila at that time. But if he was, the question would be, how come no one from us had ever seen him? How come he signed the By-Laws when his middle initial was not written correctly, and why he did not notice the By-Laws containing the provisions excluding him from the membership clause? Nevertheless, if this theory were true, ABRAHAM committed a blunder because technically he lost his standing in the GBI as far as records were concerned. Although he was the one who did almost everything for the incorporation of the GBI, for record purposes, his name was not included in the 15 GBI 1984 Original Incorporators and anyone among the said 15 Original Incorporators could greedily claim and usurp that he was the founder, initiator, organizer, or even claim to be the “Father of all GUARDIANS” as what is happening now. Only the 15 of us could testify that it was ABRAHAM who actually founded the GBI. But when all of us are gone, and the generations to come who may take interest in digging the past of the GBI, they could find a distorted history that somebody else had founded the GBI and not ABRAHAM.

On the issue as to who is the FATHER OF ALL GUARDIANS, anyone who has a personal knowledge on the origin of the DSCB and the GBI would readily answer ABRAHAM AS THE FATHER OF ALL GUARDIANS. As everybody knows, ABRAHAM started in 1976 in Maguindanao with a small group of PC Enlisted Personnel he called “Diablo Squad” as a simple “Barkadahan” with no ideology, or rules and regulations, or any guiding principle. It died down when most of them were reassigned to the different units. ABRAHAM had a natural leadership and persuasive ability. In 1980, while assigned to Lanao Del Norte PC Command, he revived the “Diablo Squad.” He initially formed the DSCB. It would be very wrong to say or to attach the title “Father of All GUARDIANS” to the name of Gil Q. “LAPULAPU” Taojo Jr. because he was not, has never been, and will never be. How could he be the “Father of All GUARDIANS” when in fact, per record and according to the words of those who have personally known him, he was never seen to have personally recruited or persuaded even a single person to join the Association from the period he was with the DSCB until the time of his GBI days. Or maybe he did (?) during the time when he was not with us. Who knows if he really did mark someone personally? He was only recruited by ABRAHAM. I was even recruited by ABRAHAM ahead of him, but I DON’T claim as the “Father of All GUARDIANS” because I’m not and that title does not belong to me but to ABRAHAM.

When I joined the very first Squad of the DSCB, every one of us was required to recruit our own Squad composed of twelve (12) members, then each member of my Squad was mandated to have his own Squad, and so forth, and so on. It was also required that the recruiter should personally mark his own recruit. Thus, even if I was not a good marker, I tried to.

When LAPU2 was reassigned to PC RECOM 2 in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, he had all the chances to prove that he could convince people to join us in the DSCB, but he never did. When he was recruited by ABRAHAM, being the first commissioned officer to join the DSCB, we were expecting him to recruit fellow commissioned officers, but he never did.

It would also be wrong to say that LAPULAPU would claim to have single-handedly drafted the Constitution and By-Laws of the DSCB. As I said earlier, it was the result of the conglomeration of ideas of several persons, most especially the original MAGIC GROUP and ABRAHAM himself. Anyone who had seen the original DSCB By-Laws, could find that there were only five (5) names in the said By-Laws: Sgt. Bonacleto “ISAGANI”Caliso (GRF) PC (Secretary of the Meeting), CONFIRMED BY: Sgt. Leborio “ABRAHAM” Jangao (FGF) PC (Presiding Officer) and PO3 Elpidio “CARLOMAGNO” Seletaria (GWF) PN (Association Secretary) Secretary/DS-1, and ATTESTED BY: Atty. Roberto Albulario (Member: Legal Counsel of the Association) and Atty. Andrew Damayo (Member: Legal Counsel of the Association). Likewise, anyone who may have seen the original GBI By-Laws could have noticed the name of LAPULAPU written as Gil K. Taojo Jr. and not his real name Gil Q. Taojo Jr.

LAPULAPU had repeatedly claimed that he sacrificed himself, gambled the bright future of his military career and resigned from the military service for the sake of the GUARDIANS because he could not freely move while in the service. NONSENSE. When he resigned from the service in 1983, GUARDIANS was never been conceived yet, we were still DSCB. Besides, he should have realized that in the first few years after Martial Law was lifted in 1981, the civilian populace particularly in Mindanao still had the feeling of “Martial Law Hang Over,” where they treated an ex-military, regardless of rank, as powerless. Civilians then would regard an Army Private as an “Authority” than an ex-PC Captain who became civilian. Moreover, the problem experienced by the DSCB members then was the harassment perpetrated by their military commanders against them. A civilian could not interfere with the action of the military commanders against their men, otherwise he could be charged with “Civilian Interfering with Military Function.”

Did LAPULAPU do anything, anything at all, for the DSCB members to prevent their military commanders from harassing them, or even attempted to do anything for them? When the DSCB was on the verge of being disbanded, and was actually disbanded later, where was he? Did his “sacrifice” of getting out of military service help the DSCB?

LAPULAPU also claimed he was being persecuted by reason of his being “The Head of the DSCB or GBI.” That’s BALONEY. He was a passive DSCB officer and had done nothing extra-ordinary to deserve being persecuted. If there was anyone who could get persecuted then, it should have been ABRAHAM who had recruited tens of thousands members from the time of DSCB to GBI and obviously displaying his leadership over the organization. Instead of being persecuted, ABRAHAM was awarded the AFP Soldier of the Year and eventually became a Commissioned Officer. Next to ABRAHAM, it should have been me to get persecuted. I have been vocal, talking to high ranking military officers and civilian officials about the DSCB and the GBI, visibly traveling to the different places introducing myself as a high ranking officer of the DSCB/GBI and defending it from any adverse comment. Like ABRAHAM, instead of getting persecuted, I also became a Commissioned Officer. Obviously, LAPULAPU was playing “Martyr” to get the sympathy of the GBI members and justify his “De Facto” claim as the Head of the GBI or even the assertion as the “Father of All GUARDIANS.”

Whatever anyone’s perception about ABRAHAM, whether he is regarded as a bad guy or a good guy, would not change the fact that he is the only person who founded the DSCB and later the GBI. No amount of false claim by anyone would change that fact. I am a living witness to the activities of ABRAHAM. I have personally witnessed the triumph and the tribulation of the Association, its good times and the bad times. Nevertheless, when greed for power and for money come into play, everything changes. Many leaders emerged. Their self-interest, most of the time, creates vacuum to the genuine leadership and destroys the intrinsic reason for the creation of the organization. Some members of the GBI, not contented with being just followers of their leaders, have to create another organization to give them a free hand in doing whatever they would like to do.

The claim of LAPULAPU on the leadership of the GBI through his GBI-Mainstream gained reluctant acceptance to me. As one of its Guardians National Triumvirate (GNT), I have observed a dysfunctional leadership in this Organization. The interest of the organization as a whole was not the priority. The involvement of numerous money matters little by little destroyed the Association. Indiscriminate expulsion of officers and members became a regular course of business, without going deeper on the root cause of the problem. If an officer or member would question the kind of leadership he had, especially on money matters, that officer or member would right away be given an expulsion order, without going through the grievance procedure. Due process was never been observed. He charged his fellow GNT (JOHNBULL) with an unfounded offense and declared the latter guilty even without investigation. I suggested and proposed to form an independent Fact-Finding Committee to look into the matter. He turned my proposal down as he was determined to destroy his fellow leader. He formed his own FactFinding Committee composed of his hand-picked allies, and in five (5) days, without conducting a formal investigation, found JOHNBULL guilty of the offense charged. Apart from these, it was found that the GBI-Mainstream was being used by him as the front of his apparent underground movement, the “Movement for Federal Republic of the Philippines,” I tried to advise him to save the Association from possible destruction, but he would listen only to himself. He even used his loyalists to destroy JOHNBULL in social media through trial by publicity. The Association lost the principle of brotherhood, and hatred reigned within, with members throwing invectives against each other and asserting their divided opinions. The very essence of principles provided for by the By-Laws was practically disregarded. I tendered my resignation from the GBIMainstream. Most members of the GBI-Mainstream were not dumb not to see these. They did a smart move by signing a Manifesto demanding the resignation of LAPULAPU, and sensing that he would not resign, they tendered their resignation from the GBI-Mainstream.

In order to save the original GBI, with Sec. Reg. No. 123899 dated December 10, 1984, from deterioration and possible extinction, I met up with the remaining living original 1984 GBI Incorporators and decided to revive the Original GBI which we started in 1984. We enacted some Resolutions to that effect and formed the GBI-The Original as our name identifier. They elected me as the National Chairman, with JOHNBULL as the National Vice-Chairman, supported by the other remaining living Original 1984 GBI Incorporators, namely: Catalino “CRAME” Herrera Jr., Agustin “MIGHTOR” Tungcul, Robert “ROBINHOOD” Taguinod, Sergio “MOSES” Ferrer, and Cristobal “ESTOY” Estrada. With the trust they bestowed on me, through the GBI-The Original, I am doing my best to the utmost of my ability to lead, capitalizing my extensive and long experience in leadership, the kind of leadership that would truly revive the genuine spirit and the guiding principles of brotherhood, equality, justice, peace, service, and discipline. I know it takes a lot of hard work, but with the strong support and full cooperation I am getting from the general membership of the GBI-The Original, who had undergone thorough and strict admission process, I will mold it into an organization that is free from corruption, greed, and hatred. An organization that shall promote love and care of a brother/sister to his/her brother/sister. The feedback I am receiving from the GBI-The Original general membership is very heartwarming and truly inspiring that moved me to do more for the good of the entire organization.

In writing this, I was not prompted or moved by bad faith or any ill feeling against LAPULAPU but it was written solely to set the history of the GUARDIANS Brotherhood, Inc. (GBI) straight. Nothing personal against him.

As of now, there are Fifty-Eight (58) different organizations associated and bearing the name GUARDIANS. I have no problem with that as long as their principles and objectives would bring up the real spirit and commitments carried by the original GUARDIANS. What I’m not in favor with is when a certain GUARDIANS faction would use the association as the “Money Machine” of its officers, exacting money from their members and failing to deliver the promised goods. Aside from being in conflict with the principles of the true GUARDIANS, it is contrary to laws, moral, decency, good custom, and universal norms, and considered as bastardization of their brothers and sisters. Also, there are some factions that are trying to usurp the SEC Reg. No. 123899 that rightfully belongs to us, the Original 1984 GBI Incorporators. I admire those GUARDIANS factions that registered their Association with SEC with their own SEC Registration Numbers as they are exhibiting their good faith in forming their own group with their own identities, own By-Laws and own Articles of Incorporation, and truly observing the real essence of BROTHERHOOD. I have my highest respect for them.

###---###---###---###

ELPIDIO “MF CARLOMAGNO” SELETARIA JR, LLB

National Chairman/Incorporator

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this _______ day of January 2014 at the City of Hercules, County of Contra Costa, State of California, United States of America by Elpidio Seletaria Jr and proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person who appeared before me.