77. GUARDIANS

GUARDIANS

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano

13 October 2018

The Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. (PGBI) Cabatuan “Salakot” Chapter hosted the provincial meeting of PGBI Isabela this morning held at the Municipal Session Hall of Cabatuan, Isabela followed by a fraternal luncheon at the PGBI Headquarters of the chapter located within the municipal compound beside the BFP Station. I was marked as a member of the PGBI or Guardians for short on September 1998 and was elected and appointed to various positions in the chapter until my election as Municipal Chairman last June 24, 2018. I carry the pseudonym and rank “RMG TROY”.

The different chapters, affiliations and factions of the Guardians have only one official history and it is posted in the net. The Guardians Brotherhood Organization was first known as the "Diablo Squad" (DS) organization in 1976 and is originally comprised of 11 members with Sgt. Leborio "ABRAHAM" Jangao, Jr. as its founder. The DIABLO word is an acronym which means: D - Dauntless, I - Ingenous, A - Advocator, B - Banner, L - Liberty and O - Oneness. When translated in Tagalog -“Mga matatapang at matapat na tagapagtanggol ng watawat, kalayaan at pagkakaisa”. 

As detachment commander at that time in Sitio Kidama, Parang, Maguindanao, Sgt. Jangao conceived the DS as a fraternity of soldiers carrying with them the symbol of strong brotherhood, unity, solidarity and oneness and with these principles, he was able to convince his men to join the group. In the later part of the year 1976, the Diablo Squad, now mostly members of the detachment under Sgt. Jangao, was transferred in Barangay Baliton, a division of the Municipality of Glan, South Cotabato where they were assigned to conduct peace keeping campaigns. Being a soldier whose assignment is at all times fleeting, Sgt. Jangao was appointed to the Lanao del Norte Constabulary Command in 1979 where he met Capt. Gil "LAPU-LAPU" Taojo, Jr. and Capt. Anastacio "PATTON" Labitad (now a retired Colonel) of the Philippine Army and recruited them into the DS fraternity.

The original 'Dirty Dozen' are as follows: Leborio "GMF ABRAHAM" Jangao (Grand Master Founder, DS/CB/GBI/PGBI), SGT. Cupertino " FGRF BAROK" Bastasa, SGT. Roberto "FGRF ORO" Valconcha, SGT. Philip "FGRF PEPE" Bahian, SGT. Orlando "FGRF VALIENTE" Villabito, SGT. Ernesto "FGRF SERVANDO" Bellezas, SGT. Ernesto "FGRF STA. CRUZ" Metillo, CIC Yolando "FGRF MERCENARIO" Bordios, CIC Carlito "FGRF ARIES" Calica, CIC Willie "FGRF MALINCHE" Pueblas, SGT. Philip "FGRF PHIL" Isla, MSGT. Natalie "FGRF NAPOLEON" Real, and Ex P/CPL Alberto "FGRF PHANTOM" Tinoy. The Supreme Godfather Founders were LT COL Anastacio "SGF PATTON" Labitad (PA), MAJOR Gil "SGF LAPU-LAPU" Taojo, Jr. (PC), and P/LT Lilia "SGM AMASONA" Buala (INP).

Furthermore, the original Magic Group known as the Magic 5 was organized as the 1^st civilian members of the squad. DS Crime Buster were all lawyers: MG FISCAL Ulyses Lagcao, MG FISCAL Felipe Salise, MG ATTY. Bert Albulario, MG ATTY. Alan Flores, and MG ATTY. Angel Mencias. SGF LAPU-LAPU was also instrumental in drafting the Constitution and By Laws of the DSCB Organization, after which a National Convention was held in Iligan Institute of Technology in 1982. Due to the popular support of the organic members who massively joined the DSCB organization, GMF ABRAHAM, SGF LAPU-LAPU, and SGF PATTON were named as the National Triumvirate of the organization.

The DS Organization became controversial due to some unfounded accusation manipulated by some unscrupulous individuals, accusing the DIABLO as the author of salvaging and other violation of human rights cases and blamed also the creation of the DSCB as a threat to the AFP for being an Army within an Army, placing the AFP in a bad light.  Due to these damaging issues, Gen. Fidel V. Ramos ACSAFP, called for a conference among top leaders of the AFP and leaders of the DIABLO Organization at Camp Aguinaldo in November. It resulted with an agreement to disband the DIABLO Organization effective December 25, 1984. GMF ABRAHAM; however, requested Gen. Ramos to allow the renaming of the organization to “Guardians Brotherhood, Inc.” in order to continue carrying the noble cause and objective of the group. Gen. Ramos gave his blessing, thus the birth of GBI Organization which was registered with the SEC on December 10, 1984, 15 days before the deadline on disbandment. On the next decade, GBI flourished and many affiliations and factions were born.

On December 11, 1998, Senator Gregorio "GS GRINGO" Honasan II was conferred as the Interim National Chairman of the GBI. On March 18-19, 2000, the 1^st National Unification Assembly was called by the National Chairman in Metro Manila attended by the different Regional Representatives. The delegates from different regions were able to ratify and adopt a Constitution and By Laws paving the way to unify the Guardians members of various affiliations so that matters of national interest will be addressed effectively. This was also the time when GBI was renamed to Philippine Guardians Brotherhood, Inc. (PGBI).

GAURDIANS in Cabatuan, Isabela was founded on July 1998 with DECS Cabatuan District Supervisor Renato “RMG LIBRA” L. Gozum as the first Municipal Chairman and SPO1 Dominador “FGRF BULUK” P. Siballuca as the first Chapter Founder. The official name of this non-government organization was Guardians Centre Foundation, Inc. (GCFI) and Cabatuan hosted the 1^st Cagayan Valley Regional Assembly in October of the same year with the Grand Supremo, Philippine Senator Gregorio “GS GRINGO” B. Honasan II, as guest of honor and speaker.

In the year 2000, the various Guardians chapters in the country unified to become PGBI with PGBI Cabatuan “Salakot” as the official name of the local chapter in Cabatuan. Also in 2000, Chairman Libra was elected Provincial Vice Chairman and served until 2002. Ramon "RMG CRISEL" V. Abad, RCC III of the Municipal Treasury Office of LGU Cabatuan, was elected as the 2^nd Municipal Chairman. In 2006, Chairman Crisel migrated to Toronto, Canada and his position was filled up by DepEd Head Teacher Jesus "RMG JENO" E. Ramirez who served up to 2008. DepEd TI, Rodolfo " RMG PONG" D. Molina, became the 4^th Chairman and served until 2009. Former Chairman Jeno assumed the leadership up to 2009 until DepEd TIII, Eliseo " RMG ELY" S. Garcia, Jr., assumed in 2010 and served until 2017. Former Chairman Libra, who served as Provincial Chairman for 15 years from 2002 to 2017, became the next Chairman until I was elected this year. After Founder Buluk, two others served as Chapter Founders: Irenio “FGBF RENZ” A. Antonio and Albino "FGRF BING" R. Lucero.

The start of my one-year tenure was marked with the celebration of the chapter’s 20^th founding anniversary (1998-2018) with the theme: “Dalawang Dekadang Patuloy na Kaakibat ng Pamahalaang Lokal sa Pagsisilbi sa Lipunan.” The celebration was immediately supported by a clean-up drive against dengue and repacking of goods during Typhoon Ompong in coordinated efforts with the LGU of Cabatuan. For two decades now, PGBI Cabatuan continues to be a partner of the local government in nation building.