MALAYA newspaper.

Lim's example and legacy to his men will serve as a beacon of hope for our struggling AFP.'

'Orphaned' Rangers
THERE have been numerous insinuations about the recent revelation of President Joseph Estrada that he gave P8 million pesos to the Scout Rangers, the Philippine Marines and the dependents of the Magdalo.

While I cannot speak on how the Philippine Marines and the Magdalo kin spent their share of Erap's donation, I can speak with authority on how the "deposed" First Scout Ranger Regiment commander, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim spent the money donated to the Scout Rangers.

When Lim assumed command of the Scout Rangers, one of the first things he did was put up a lending cooperative. Aware of the pitiful salary of his soldiers, he knew many of them were deep in debt to loan sharks. He then put up the cooperative charging only 2 percent instead of the 20 percent that the soldiers had to pay other lending entities. He was able to get capitalization from civilians who were supportive of his project.

President Estrada was able to up the capitalization to P10 million with his P4 million donation.

The cooperative is only one of the many projects that showed Lim's concern for the welfare of his men.

Camp Tecson is now home to 50 heads of cattle, 100 lambs, 100 goats, 100 turkey-like birds (whose name escapes me at the moment), a number of deer and several ostriches. These animals are slaughtered for food every now and then when the Rangers celebrate an occasion. All these were again, donations from civilians who ask nothing in return from the low-key but charismatic general.

The lending cooperative has also provided livelihood for the wives of his men who are assigned to the garrison. The coop acquires "ukay-ukay" apparel and sells them to the wives at minimal cost on a consignment basis. The wives then sell these goods at a reasonable margin of profit thus providing these homemakers additional income to augment their husband's salaries.

Lim was also able to get a donation of 50 hectares from a landed and prominent family to use as site of a housing project for the Rangers in San Miguel, Bulacan.

As far as I can remember, my "tukayo" is the only commander to have ever put up such a project for the country's elite Army unit. He is also the only AFP general I know who still does not have a house of his own. In fact, when in Manila, he resides in very simple quarters at the Philippine Army Officers' Village – a home which he will soon be ejected from when he is retired.
Being Scout Ranger commander, one would naturally assume that he would have decent quarters in his command. But no. When he was told that there were funds available for the construction of a commander's quarters, he refused the offer and asked that the money be used to construct the soldiers' barracks instead. His present quarters is made of nipa.

This is why many of the Scout Rangers, despite having a new commander, have referred to themselves as "orphaned."

With all the talks of corruption involving the police and military, Lim's example and legacy to his men will serve as a beacon of hope for our struggling AFP. It is after all, still possible for this nation to produce upstanding officers. I underscore nation, not administration.

Too bad this government does not deserve his kind.