 I would like to congratulate each and every GBI officer and member for your continued loyalty to the organization. You have been tested by times, both rough and smooth, but you remain steadfast, my snappy salute to all of you. Also, since this day coincides the launching of the GBI website, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all GBI officers and members who spearheaded its realization. In our modern world where internet has become our information superhighway, the inception of this website is another milestone for the GBI. This is the easiest and fastest mode of disseminating vital information to the general membership, as well as non-members who may have taken interest to the cause and existence of the GBI.
We know for a fact that all of us, especially those who have been with the GBI since its birth in 1984 and shortly thereafter, were all "battle tested", both in the real battlefield and in the battlefield against our former commanders who were either ignorant of the intrinsic goals and the reason for its existence or simply could not resist the pressure from their superiors who wanted the association disbanded. Some, of us succumb to the pressure and painstakingly submitted for erasure of their tattoos, the symbol of our relationship with the GBI. I could understand how they felt when against their will they were forced to do it. They had no choice, otherwise non re-enlistment. They had no other income, a weakness taken advantaged of by their antipathetic commanders. Despite their unwavering loyalty to the GBI, the lifeblood of their family was at stake.
In spite of this, let us not linger on the negative memories and the ghost of the past; rather let us remember the good times and the successes of the GBI. Before the GBI, we had the DIABLO SQUADS, CRIME BUSTER (DSCB), the predecessor of the GBI. I was the first non-PC/INP who joined the DSCB in Iligan City in 1980 while I was an Investigator of the MP Brigade, AFP unit assigned in the said city. Prior to the inception of the DSCB, there was an animosity among the members of the PA, PC/INP, AFP and the PN/Marines. They could not be in the same establishment at a time, especially in the Mindanao area, otherwise it would be trouble. But because of the DSCB, a group of PA, PC/INP, PAF and PN/Marines drinking together in the same table had become a natural sight to the relief of the business owners and the observant civilians. The dream of the DSCB to foster camaraderie and oneness among the AFP came into reality. The in-fighting between and among the four major services of the AFP dwindled. Clashes between the same AFP outfits have been avoided due to the intervention of the DSCB members that extended in behalf of the non-members. In case of death of a member, the DSCB had a stand-by Mortuary Fund being immediately released to the family of the deceased even before the unit's Morale and Welfare Officer could lift a finger to assist. To the appreciation of some Battalion Commanders and other small AFP unit leaders, they became sympathetic to the cause of the DSCB. Most of them joined the organization and submitted for markings. They were the first batch of "Supreme Godfathers." In no time, the membership of the DSCB swelled in numbers. Most of them were reassigned to the different parts of the country, including Metro Manila, where they had attracted new members.
Series of wonderful moments ensued. Among which was the funeral of a PC "Red" DSCB member (CIC Gutang) in Iligan City attended by contingents from the different AFP outfits and escorted by motorcycle and mobile units of the MP Bde, PC, PA and Highway Patrol to the amusement of the citizenry in the area and of Brig Gen Gutang, who happened to be an uncle of our fallen brother. Also worth mentioning was the donation of blood by DSCB members belonging to various AFP units to a PC officer (Major Efren "OG2" Arayata), who was wounded in action in Zamboanga City to the amazement of the hospital staffs when they learned that most of the donors and sympathizers were non-PC personnel. MP Brigade statistics of civilian complaints against military personnel had tremendously dropped, thanks to the self-discipline imposed by the DSCB members and would-be members.
Those countless fertile accomplishment of the DSCB did not escape the knowledge of the top government officials of the Marcos government, but they were silent on the matter. They offered no objection or approval of the organization until that fateful event in 1984 when Zamboanga City Mayor Cesar Climaco was assassinated. To divert the attention of the restless public, the government used the media to expose the alleged existence of a "Devil Group" in the AFP, "The Organization within an Organization," "The Sinister Group in the AFP." For several days we were on the headlines of almost all dailies in the country. The issue on Mayor Climaco's assassination was overshadowed by the "DIABLO' in the military.
The AFP leadership wanted to talk to us. I was one of the selected DSCB leaders who reported to the then AFP Vice-Chief of Staff Fidel V Ramos where we were ordered to disband the DSCB simply because the name itself implied evil. We asked him if we would be allowed to continue should we rename it with something else, he said yes.
Leborio "Abraham' Jangao immediately thereafter talked to me. We devised a plan in consultation with the other DSCB leaders who later became GBI Incorporators. The rebirth of the organization into GUARDIANS Brotherhood, Inc. further strengthened the camaraderie and fellowship among its members.
The GBI continued to grow. Unbeknownst to the GBI leadership, the Reform the AFP Movement (RAM) - We Belong, an organization of highly principled AFP officers, was hatching a device to instill reform in the AFP. Then came the EDSA Revolution or EDSA I. During this historic event, the GBI general membership was divided as to whose side to follow. Some of us joined the rebels.
With SGF 'Sphinx" Espino, I led a group of 72 hardcore GBI officers and members from the MP Bde and marched from Camp Aguinaldo to Camp Crame. While holed up in Crame for three days, I was in constant contact with Brig Gen Templo, then Chief of Camp Crame Security and a GBI sympathizer, who had asked me to make an appeal, through message to the TV broadcasters, to all GBI members who were on the other side to refrain from attacking Camp Crame and instead join our side. Eventually, almost all GBI’s came to our side. After three days, Marcos left the country and the rebels won.
Because of the usefulness of GBI in the People Power Revolution, its existence was given due recognition by the government leadership, especially by then Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and AFP Chief Gen Fidel V Ramos. Many non-members who participated in the EDSA revolt joined the GBI. Almost 50 % of the entire AFP, including the INP, became GBI members.
The apparent solidness of the GBI was fragmented when a group of GBI's formed the Guardian Centre Foundation, Inc. (GCFI) claiming to be the umbrella organization of the Guardians. A rift between the GBI core officers and the GCFI ensued. A mounting confusion among the general membership followed. Recruitment of members, especially the MAGIC Group (MG) became uncontrollable. Even non-professionals, such as tricycle and jeepney drivers and even market vendors were allowed to join. Membership in the organization sprouted like mushrooms after the first monsoon rain. We tried our best to control this by calling for some conventions. The convention participants did their jobs but those who did not attend were still uncontrollable. We then had a peace talk with GCFI's. Eventually, some GBI's formed a breakaway group who wanted to govern and pushed their own agenda, another one followed, and another, and another, until such time that the Guardians became totally fragmented into different factions.
Despite all of these, the GUARDIANS Brotherhood, Inc. spirit still lives. It lives within each and every one of us. For those who formed their own Guardian factions, let us give them the benefit of the doubt. They may have a good reason of their own. As long as they carry the markings the same as ours, and their objectives are the same as ours, that is, camaraderie and fellowship, they are still our brothers and sisters. Wherever they are now or whatever title they carry, the fact remains that we, the GBI's, belong to the original Guardians, the GBI that was founded on December 10, 1984. Any misunderstanding with other members, let's settle it peacefully in a mild and civil manner. Let not our hearts be consumed by petty differences. But we should be firm and stand by our By-Laws and the implementing rules and regulations. For those who grossly violated our By-Laws, you should be courageous enough to take responsibility for your action, face the punishment and take whatever its consequence.
As a National Founder/Incorporator of the GUARDIANS Brotherhood, Inc., I remain loyal to the GBI which I am part of. I appreciate your loyalty. But may I remind you, let us not tarnish the good image of the GBI by committing anything unlawful and transgression that would embarrass the whole GBI. The Philippines is in the midst of economic crisis and poverty but let us not use this as an excuse to commit any violation of law. Anything I could help, within my means, I am willing to. Again, my snappy salute to each and every one.
ELPIDIO "Carlomagno' SELETARIA JR
GBI National Founder/Incorporator (1984)
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