The “OMEGA 12”… A Masterful Conspiracy

Synopsis

Martial Law in the Philippines is generally perceived by most, if not all, to have been a one-man initiative and decision. However, several historical researches will record that the initiative and implementation of Martial Rule under the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos was the fruition of a long and careful planning by a group of Marcos close aides and advisers. The late ‘strongman” President himself later revealed that he had consulted with several close aides and advisers whom he initially referred to as the "12 apostles".  The collective elite group was later known as “Rolex 12” or “Omega 12”.

OPLAN Saggitarius

“Oplan Sagittarius is the Master Plan of a multi-faceted operation for the declaration of martial law: the apparatus, the scheme, the mechanism of martial law itself. Sagittarius also provided the legal basis for Proclamation 1081 by enumerating the conditions and situations that made martial law necessary. It contained the detailed account of the places targeted for a military take-over of; airports, shipping ports, communication networks, transportation networks, the mass media, the guns and ammunition, the loose firearms of the citizenry. The draw board also named special units that were to implement the initial takeover, with the backing of the entire armed forces in the Philippines, if ever the need arose.^”

 “In the Senate, using information leaked to him by friends of friends in the military, the late Senator Benigno S. Aquino revealed the existence of “Oplan Sagittarius.” During a September 13, 1972 privilege speech in the Senate floor, thus exposed what was known as “Operation Sagittarius”. The Senator said he had received a top-secret military plan given by Marcos himself to place Metro Manila and outlying areas under the control of the Philippine Constabulary as a prelude to Martial Law. Marcos was going to use the bombings, which includes the Plaza Miranda Bombing, in Metro Manila as a justification for his takeover and subsequent authoritarian rule.^”

“One of the best kept secrets of planning Martial Law was that, when Marcos had finalized the plan and he had come to a decision to impose it, he distributed the copies of the plan in sealed envelopes to the military officials and leaders of the intelligence community. He took great care and caution to assign different Zodiac code-names to the copies he handed out to the would-be martial law enforcers”

The first letter of each code-name corresponded to the first letter of the surname of the recipient. The copy that code-named “Sagittarius” went to Gen. Marcos Soliman, a Pampango who was the chief of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). It was so easy and convenient then to pinpoint Soliman as the source of Aquino. Thus, ranking officers of the armed forces did not have to commit mental dishonesty when they denied the existence of “Oplan Sagittarius.” They were not aware of any game plan by that code-name. However, they did acknowledge to newsmen that the contingency plan was the martial law plan itself.”

“There was a tragic postscript to the leakage of Soliman’s copy to Aquino. A few days after the declaration of martial law, Soliman, a relative of Manila Mayor Villegas, was reported in the press to have died of a heart attack. The truth is that he was shot dead by Metrocom troopers personally dispatched by President Marcos to arrest and detain him at Camp Crame for “tactical interrogation” for the leakage of “Oplan Sagittarius.” The general public noted, however, that the President did not issue a message of condolence to the general’s family. Last honors due a departed general denied Soliman by the armed forces; the Manila police department, which Soliman headed for some time during the incumbency of President Diosdado Macapagal, was not allowed to render him honors.”

The Rolex 12? or OMEGA 12 ?

Rolex 12 is the collective name of 12 of the closest and most powerful advisers of President Marcos who played important roles in planning and execution of Martial Law in the Philippines from 1972 to 1981.

“The origin of the name Rolex 12 came from a widespread story and some sources that each associate received a Rolex watch from Marcos himself, although this remains unverified. Some contend that the gifts were actually Omega watches, but despite this confusion, the name Rolex 12 stuck and is still used to refer to these 12 Marcos associates. “

‘US Ambassador to Manila William Sullivan disclosed that 12 military officers personally handpicked by then President Ferdinand Marcos implemented Martial Law during his regime, according to a declassified diplomatic cable published online by anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. Ambassador Sullivan said Marcos gifted the 12 aides with personally inscribed Omega watches during a private ceremony in Malacañang in 1973.”

After Marcos completed his first term as President in 1969, he was reelected for a second term, making history as the first and the last Filipino President to win a second full term. Marcos running mate, incumbent Vice President Fernando Lopez was also elected to a third full term as Vice President.

During the latter years of his second elected term, Marcos conspired with various leaders of the military and Philippine Constabulary. The goal was for Marcos to gain full authoritarian control of the country during his declaration of martial law in 1972. Marcos gave the military leadership powers during martial law, taking over from democratically elected officials and court judges.

In a classified cable which was earlier released in the public domain by the US National Archives, the "Omega 12”  members were identified as :
1.  Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile

2. Philippine Constabulary Chief Maj. Gen. Fidel V. Ramo

3. National Intelligence Security Authority Chief Maj. Gen. Fabian Ver

4. Lt. Col. Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco, Jr.

5. Army Chief Maj. Gen. Rafael Zagala

6.  Constabulary Vice-Chief Brig Gen. Tomas Diaz

7.  Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Espino

8.  Air Force Chief Maj. Gen. Jose Rancudo

9.  Navy Chief Rear Admiral Hilario Ruiz

10.  ISAFP Chief Brig. Gen. Ignacio Paz

11. Metrocom chief Brig Gen. Alfredo Montoya

12.  Rizal province Constabulary Head Col. Romeo Gatan

Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile Chief of Staff of the Philippine Constabulary Fidel Ramos, and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Fabian Ver, were the chief administrators of martial law from 1972 to 1981, and the three remained President Marcos' closest advisors until he was ousted in 1986.

It was believed that the OMEGA 12 was responsible for many human rights atrocities, although the extent of their responsibility is still being investigated. These atrocities include torture, murder, take-over of privately owned properties, displacement from homes, and arrest and detention without due process.

“It was noted that of the "12 apostles," only Air Force Chief Maj. Gen. Jose Rancudo opposed the plan to declare Martial Law--a fight that he continued until his death on April 14, 1987.”

 What Happened to the “OMEGA 12” after Martial Law

Fidel Ramos, together with Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, made a sudden turn around against Marcos and joined the EDSA bloodless revolution in February 1986 and both were hailed as heroes. Many had professed that , Ramos and Enrile, both chief administrators of Martial Law, can be compared to a ship’s officers who conveniently “jumped from a sinking ship”, leaving behind the other  Omega 12 cohorts to sink with Marcos. 

 After Corazon Aquino was installed as President, she appointed Ramos as AFP Chief of Staff in 1986 and later Defense Secretary in 1988. Ramos later won in a massive-fraudulent national election and served as a mediocre President from 1992 until 1998 and is now Chairman Emeritus of the ruling party, Lakas-CMD.

Juan Ponce Enrile , notwithstanding being one of the planners and executors of Martial Law, was appointed by Pres. Corazon Aquino as Defense Minister.  Riding on a high note as an EDSA revolution hero (unlikely) , Enrile was elected a Senator and later become Senate President. At present, he gained his freedom while on bail in plunder cases after spending time in prison.

(It must be noted that prior to his defection, an arrest warrant for Enrile, having been charged for graft and corruption, was about to be served. )

Eduardo “ Danding” Cojuangco Jr., a cousin of former President Cory Aquino and uncle of President Benigno Aquino III,  went with Pres. Marcos when he fled to Hawaii in 1986. Cojuangco ended his self-exile in 1989 and came back to the country and focused on business and politics. Today, he is back as board chair of San Miguel Corp., the country's largest firm, which he once controlled. He also chairs the central committee of the Nationalist People's Coalition NPC.  As such, many national and local politicians are under his “baton”, enjoying his ill-gotten wealth for campaign funds. 

Gen. Fabian Ver was one of the most powerful men and feared by most during Marcos' Martial rule. He was held culpable by human rights groups for the imprisonment, torture and death of countless dissidents. He fled to Hawaii along with the Marcoses in 1986. “He was charged by the majority members of the Agrava Fact-Finding Board as a principal in the double murder of Ninoy Aquino and Rolando Galman. But in late 1985, the Sandiganbayan acquitted him and other military respondents. Ver was charged as an accomplice in a new trial ordered by the Supreme Court. But he was not tried “in absentia” and the case against him was shelved. Fabian Ver died in Bangkok, Thailand on Nov. 21, 1998,

Col. Romeo Gatan, also among those believed involved in the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, has likewise died, along with Espino and Paz.

Cronyism during Martial Law

During the first term of Marcos as President, the country showed a lot of promise for progress. By developing the country's infrastructure and intensifying tax collection. The Philippines enjoyed relatively robust economy. Unemployment rate shrank from 7.20% in 1966 to just 5.20% in 1971. Marcos liberalized trade with the free world, hastening the industrialization of the Philippines. His claim for being responsible for the country's self-sufficiency in rice is highly disputed; however, there is little doubt that rice production was at its peak during his administration.

While the Philippine economy has shown great improvements in Marcos’ first term, the Philippine economy made a downward plunge during the years of Martial Law mainly because of cronyism and economic plunder.

Cronyism during Martial Law was at its apex, affording loans to friends that had little or no collateral, and whose businesses were below the authorized capitalization. Marcos, family and his cronies used the national coffers, the resources of private banks, and even international loans from multinational banks for their business. Aid money from the US and Japan were placed at the disposal of Marcos’ money-making network. “Until today we are still paying for these loans squandered by the Marcos regime.”

The major cronies, as documented in Manapat’s book, were: “Roberto S. Benedicto who controlled the sugar industry, Eduardo Danding Cojuangco Jr. who monopolized the coconut industry, Antonio Floreindo who cornered the banana industry, and Hans Menzi who lorded over the mining and paper industries.”

In addition, Juan Ponce Enrile, Eduardo Danding Cojuangco and Maria Clara Lobregat formed “what militant farmers called the triumvirate for the implementation of Marcos' coconut levies.”

Lucio Tan was one of the closest cronies of Marcos. Benefitting from his closeness to Marcos, Tan became a billionaire and one of Asia’s richest men. He owns Fortune Tobacco, Asia Brewery, Allied Bank and Foremost Farms, among many others.  

Other cronies of Marcos include Edna Guiyab Camcam, Roman Cruz Jr., Andres Genito Jr., Bienvenido and Gliceria Tantoco, Geronimo Velasco, Ignacio Gimenez, Baltazar Aquino, Fe Roa Gimenez, Rolando Gapud. Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez, Herminio Disini, Rodolfo Cuenca  and  Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, among many others.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the “Martial Law years was marred by rampant corruption and political mismanagement by his relatives and cronies, which culminated with the assassination of Benigno Aquino Jr.

“Marcos can be considered the quintessential kleptocrat, having looted billions of dollars from the Filipino treasury. Much of the lost sum has yet to be accounted for. He was also a notorious nepotist, appointing family members and close friends to high positions in his cabinet.”

“It was reported that when Marcos fled, U.S. Customs agents discovered 24 suitcases of gold bricks and diamond jewelry hidden in diaper bags; in addition, certificates for gold bullion valued in the billions of dollars are allegedly among the personal properties he, his family, his cronies and business partners had surreptitiously taken with them when the Reagan administration provided them safe passage to Hawaii.”

Conclusion

The “Omega 12” conspiracy will remain to be the most treacherous cabal that created the “darkest days of democracy” in Philippine history.

While many Filipinos abhorred with intense the hardships brought about by Martial Law that included crony capitalism, political oppression, repression, imprisonment and torture, disappearance and murder, and shameless plunder of the national treasury, there are still Martial Law planners and administrators who are among us, enjoying the wealth they have amassed, being close associates of Marcos, and playing active roles in our country’s business and political landscapes.

More than this, It’s difficult to accept that, contrary to the shouts of despise and hatred for Marcos and his family because of Martial Law, there are close aides of Marcos who were given grand welcome back to our society.  These Martial Law perpetrators are even conveniently revered by both politicians, both local and national, of course being an easy source of campaign funds.

Without doubt, these “thriving” Omega 12 members have already inculcated in their minds that the Filipino people have forgotten their major roles in the atrocities during Martial Law and are judged "not guilty' by the people.  Yet, I firmly believed, as many others do, that they are as guilty as sin... as guilty as their leader, Ferdinand E. Marcos.    

 What an irony, to say the least… or hypocrisy, in its highest form…

Central Valley, California

April 28, 2016