MANILA — Retired Marine colonel and senatorial candidate Ariel Querubin said it is important to have a courageous lawmaker who will stand up to anyone and will advocate for the welfare of Filipinos.

“Kailangan siguro sa senado magkaroon ng matapang na senador na walang sinasanto, walang kinakatakutan, at isusulong ang kapakanan ng taumbayan,” Querubin said during a forum at Club Filipino in San Juan City on Friday.

Querubin, a Medal of Valor awardee, was involved in past uprisings, which he described as “military exercises” to fight corruption.

He was involved in a coup attempt against former president Corazon Aquino in 1989. He was detained but was granted amnesty by former president Fidel Ramos.

In 2006, Querubin was part of the Marine standoff at Fort Bonifacio against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which put him back in jail. He was later granted amnesty by former president Benigno Aquino III.

“Ang opisyal ng Armed Forces naging rebelde rin. Dalawang beses tayong nakulong. Dalawang beses tayong nabigyan ng amnesty. I was fighting for what I believed was right. I was jailed fighting corruption, fighting for what I believed was right na dapat ituwid yung pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno. ‘Yan ang pwede nating ipagmalaki na kaya kong panindigan ang tama,” the senatorial aspirant said.

Now, Querubin wants to join the government that he tried to overthrow in the past.

He explained that while the situation is different for him now, one thing in government stays the same: corruption.

“Bakit ganito pa rin? Ako nafufrustrate dahil ano ba ang saysay na nakulong tayo, nabigyan tayo ng amnesty dalawang beses?” he asked. 

“Kung ibalik natin ang nakaraan ko, I was in the active service then. I was armed with the activism and idealism of my youth. But nothing much has changed. Hindi ko kayang nakaupo lang na ganito pa rin ang nangyayari sa atin,” he added.

“I want to devote my remaining time on earth—I’ve dedicated all my life for the love of God, country and people,” Querubin said.

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

Querubin, who served in the Marines, pointed out that the defense forces in the West Philippine Sea may have been overlooked as the country concentrated on modernizing its ground forces in the past.

He underscored the importance of continuously modernizing the armed forces, especially as the country shifts from internal security to external defense.

He also stressed that the Philippines should not rely on any superpower.

“Dapat mapabilis natin (ang modernization) dahil meron na tayong Self-Reliance Defense Revitalization Act,” Querubin said. “We should be able to stand on our own. Hindi tayo forever dependent sa kung sinong superpower.”

“Pwersahan tayong nakasandal ngayon sa big brother dahil binubully tayo eh. Tama lang ginagawa natin ngayon na transparent tayo at nagfafile tayo ng cases against China. Unti-unti, ang ibang bansa nagsysympathize sa atin, pero dapat marunong tayong tumindig on our own,” he continued.

MANDATORY ROTC

Querubin believes that “when push comes to shove”, the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or ROTC program can be relied on.

He is pushing for the revival of the mandatory ROTC, adding that the country needs a strong reserve force.

“Malakas dapat ang reserve force natin, na ang core manggagaling sa ROTC,” Querubin said.

He went on, “Kung ayaw na full military training, pwede namang baguhin ang program of instruction. Samahan ng relief ops, disaster response and many more. That way, matuturuan ang kabataan on leadership and discipline. Ito ang importante sa mga kabataan natin.”