DAMMAM, 3 December 2007 — Philippine Ambassador Antonio P. Villamor has reminded Filipinos in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere of the need to unite amid fresh threats against democracy in the Philippines.
Villamor said the repeated attempts by some elements in Philippine society to grab power through force affects everyone because of its adverse effects on the economy.
“Before we achieve unity and harmony with others, we should have harmony within ourselves and our families,” said Villamor in a speech during the Filipino Community Day organized by the Saudi Arabia Hiligaynon, Inc. (SAHI) at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Amusement Park in Dammam.
Villamor spoke a day after soldiers and former soldiers led by detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes VI and army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim walked out of a mutiny trial and holed themselves up at the Peninusla Hotel in Manila’s financial district of Makati to demand President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s resignation.
A number of civilians including former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Catholic Bishop Julio Labayen, and former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo, were at the hotel to welcome the mutineers in what police said was a well-planned attempt to seize power. Police later stormed the hotel to quell the rebellion and arrested most of the participants.
Villamor said the latest rebellion was another taint on the good image of Filipinos worldwide.
“What is hurting our feelings is that we Filipinos in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are trying to unite, but at home so me of our leaders, like Senator Trillanes, are making trouble” Villamor said.
“I cannot see the logic of what he and his group did last Thursday. Probably he has his reasons but I don’t think that is the right way of showing that he is discontented in the government,” he said.
Villamor said that Trillanes should have thought of the millions of Filipinos working overseas to help their families and the Philippine economy as a whole, only to find their hard work undone by a senseless uprising.
“Those who are in the Philippines are destroying the goal of OFWs of showing to the world how good and united we are, particularly here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Villamor said.
Community leaders who were interviewed by Arab News also expressed their disappointment and fear on what the group of Trillanes did in Makati recently.
Ransam Pirote, an engineer at Aramco in Dhahran, said that the group of Trillanes showed they were really not committed to peace in the country.
Noel Bitang, an engineer in Dammam, said while Trillanes may have the interest of the people in fighting for reforms, he should have done it the right way.
Froilan Venturina, an operations engineer in Ras Tanura, believed that the Filipino people, particularly the OFWs, were tired of destabilization moves. “There is due process of law. Trillanes should have fought for his right in court. Why walk out and plead for help with the poor and helpless people?” he said.
Bombolini Reyes, a CADD operator in Alkhobar, said the Philippine media should not take sides while covering incidents such as the Peninsula Hotel caper. He added, though, that some of those who participated in the rebellion were passing themselves of as reporters.
