Independent senatorial candidate Ramon Montaño loves reading books during his free time.
But while he's a bookworm keen on history and autobiographies, the former chief of the defunct Philippine Constabulary did not particularly like one book: Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s memoir.
“I (didn’t finish) reading it because it was full of lies,” Montaño told Yahoo! Southeast Asia in a sit-down interview.
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Montaño, who went with Enrile to break away from the chain of command during the crucial years of Martial Law, said the senate president made up details on his supposed ambush in his book.
In his memoir, Enrile claimed a speeding car opened fire at his escort car while on his way home to Dasmariñas Village from Camp Aguinaldo on September 22, 1972.
The veteran senator added his convoy left the bullet-riddled car and returned to the military headquarters to inform former President Ferdinand Marcos about the incident.
But Montaño, who was part of the team who probed the incident, declared there was no ambush.
“This is one of the major variance from history (contained in his book). He also lied about supporting (former President) Cory (Aquino) during the snap elections,” Montaño said.
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Montaño, who served as presidential adviser on political affairs during the Ramos administration, said Enrile led those who went against then military head Gen. Fabian Ver to support Aquino in the 1986 snap elections.
“Senator Enrile himself said Cory should be president during the snap elections. And all of a sudden, when we are winning already, he did not like to install Cory,” he said.
“They did not try to install Cory as president. They wanted to form a junta,” he added.
Now, the 75-year old military veteran said he wants to help incumbent President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to push for first EDSA People Power’s “dreams” that have yet to be realized.
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Saying Enrile has forgotten about their aspirations, Montaño explained he wants to remind the the nation of its dreams by running for Senate.
He vowed to push for the improvement of the pension system for senior citizens and retired soldiers, a reform which Enrile and other senators with military background like Senators Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV – have forgotten, he claims.
The former government official also promised to revamp policies in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Montaño, who managed to raise about P200,000 for his national campaign starting next week, admitted his independent run for senator may be a long shot but his hopes are high that people would eventually see there are better bets out there other than traditional politicians.
Reelectionist Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV became the last senator-elect to have his arms raised by poll officials after the May 13 elections.
