18 February 2022, from Gems:

I just returned from a weeklong trip to Bicol, where our family almost lost our 87-year old mom. Thanks to timely medical intervention and your prayers, she has been pulled from the brink. Her recovery will be slow and gradual, but we are grateful to God for her new lease on life. There in Albay, I didn’t realize the need to truly pull our family together until my brother [who flew all the way from Texas] and I saw the grim, emaciated condition of our mom. No situation made us closer to each other than the very real prospect of losing our dearest mother who has been the source of our light and our very lives. 

To some similar degree, Secretary Roy Cimatu’s unexpected resignation due to health reasons should only remind us of the reality of uncertainties of life, but not restrain us from acting in the face of crisis or its imminent danger. 

Yesterday, I woke up to find four (4) items needing priority attention: 1) Sir Lito’s email request for Commo Suratos’ previous executive summary of our AFPOVAI Ph 678 case; 2) a draft letter to PGMC requesting assistance on the contact details of 80 retired officers or their next of kin based on their records; 3) a copy of the memo for the DENR Secretary duly signed by NCR RED Jacqueline Caancan; and 4) the news about Sec Cimatu’s resignation, which was also posted by Chad Isleta on this viber group. 

On item 1, Mam Glo was kind enough to suggest the simple procedure of having Sir Tony Suratos’ posted images saved in the appropriate apps for easier retrieval, otherwise our secretary might be forced to email everyone the same content when it is already accessible through this platform.

On item 2, PGMC observes its non-disclosure policy, but it is heartening to know that the present Chief is willing to help us find those missing 80 lot owners even as there is no guarantee that we can obtain 100 percent reliability since not all might have retired from the service or left updated contact details on record. [Truth be told, over 2 weeks back when we couldn’t contact over 210 members, I quietly sought help from a former head of PGMC who advised me to keep things unofficial, even as he exerted efforts to give us the latest contact details based on PGMC records, which eventually left us with 131.] 

On item 3, it is worthy to note that the Memoradum for the Secretary thru the LMB with subject: “Request for the Lifting of Suspension of Processing of Applications for Titling Over Lots Located in Phases 6,7 and 8 of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Village, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Occupied and Used by the Philippine Navy as Golf Course,” has been duly signed by NCR Regional Executive Director Jacqueline Caancan and submitted and received at LMB last Feb 11, 2022. The 10-page document represents NCR’s completed staff work and, more importantly, carries the following recommendations: 

“In view of the foregoing, this Office respectfully recommends that the suspension of processing of applications on lots within Phases 6, 7 and 8 of Armed Forces Village by then Secretary Michael Defensor in April 2005 be LIFTED and the DENR-NCR be allowed to continue to process applications and issue deeds of sale to qualified applicants in the area.” 

“Furthermore, considering that the intent and purpose of Proclamation No. 461 is to provide a decent place of habitat and fitting tribute to retired and active members of AFP who meritoriously rendered the noblest services to the government and the Filipino people, it is recommended that the previous appraised value of lot in Phases 6, 7 and 8 which is Fifteen Pesos (Php 15.00) per square meters be retained.” 

“For the Secretary’s approval, consideration and/or further instruction.”

And finally on item 4, this may be the most concerning as it has hit our first strategic center of gravity (COG), our own Clausewitzian hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends for now. Sec Cimatu’s departure from his post immediately renders us vulnerable as it presents to us the problem of the having the lifting orders and the JTF’s official creation unsigned and our forward momentum to complete the administrative process toward the titling of our lots, possibly stalled. We were actually planning to make another call on him for an update report on our efforts in the next 2 weeks. 

For this matter, I have requested an emergency zoom meeting of all available AFPOVAI Ph 678 Directors and Officers this afternoon to discuss our next steps as part of our sustained action plan.
But thankfully our critical capabilities remain intact. Our de facto JTF is rolling well. In fact, as of Feb 11,2022, our count of interviewed lot owners inside PNGC without TCT totaled 305. And as of last Friday, 41 were added. Our total uncontacted lot owners have gone down to only 70 per Gigi’s report. Given our pace, that should leave us with only two weeks to complete the interview process. But I will check again to confirm the updated numbers.

Sir Rudy Garcia may be getting ready to move out, but he has promised to still help out with our cause the best way he can. He also acted right in reminding us that he’s coterminous with Sec Roy. He is an embodiment of decency and delicadeza, which is rare in the government, and our praise and gratitude are truly in order. Thank you, Sir Rudy! 

Upon ascertaining the news, Sir Vic Guerzon also promptly texted me to urge that we (JTF, AFPOVAI and 678 Leadership) should not lose sight and sustain our momentum since this unfortunate event is only temporary setback. The primordial issue, according to Sir Vic, is the hurdling of the 2005 Memo. But in his capacity merely as OIC, he asked, “Can USec Sampulna actually lift the suspension/stoppage of TCT processing?”

But probably even better, Bok Eric Uchida informed me that the new OIC is a good person and a friend, being a reservist and close to 301 Bde when he was DENR Region 6 Director. 

Where does that leave us? Still at the operational arena of our administrative process, but now without our key champion or his chief of staff and soon without our other quiet supporters there at the Central Office. But we’ve already seen the signed memo from DENR NCR Director requesting the lifting orders, the key sword that would cut our administrative Gordian Knot and lead us to the deeds of sale. We’ve already established the legality of the process. We’re now riding the JTF at full speed and getting unprecedented results. And we’ve got all of ourselves to count on. 

When my brother and I found our mother abed, hardly responsive to stimuli, we thought we were going to lose her. But emergency action, proper assessment and timely treatment of her medical condition, strong resolve and cooperation among our family members, constant personal urging from our part for her to simply open her eyes and will herself back to strength, and fervent prayers at the most difficult moments all made a huge difference. Last week gave us a rude reminder of the frailty and fragility of life. It also allowed us to refocus on the things that truly count and matter: unselfish solidarity and support in times of crisis, abiding love for family and trust in God. 

This latest development of Sir Roy should be taken in all its right frame and positive perspective. For it is nothing but an opportunity for us to push on harder and do things better to achieve our common goals. We are not losing our fight or the life of our dreams. With our collective, determined and focused will, we can overcome the challenge and prevail.