By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
An opposition senator on Thursday told a Makati City court that the so-called Oakwood mutiny in 2003 cannot qualify as a coup d’etat, especially if compared to the 1987 and 1989 coup attempts.
Testifying for the defense, Biazon said there was no attack, even as the members of the so-called Magdalo group of rebel soldiers seized the Oakwood luxury apartments in the Makati financial district, said lawyer Ernesto Francisco, who represents eight of the 22 junior officers accused of leading the mutiny.
Biazon was among those who negotiated for the surrender of the 300 rebel troops. He was, however, not asked about the negotiations since he left Oakwood at 5 p.m., two hours before the chief negotiator, retired general Roy Cimatu, reached an agreement with the group, Francisco said.
The senator’s testimony was similar to that of retired general Narciso Abaya, the chief of staff during the Oakwood incident, who also said that the incident did not include an attack, Francisco said.
The lawyer had asked that Biazon be subpoenaed to testify at the coup d’etat trial of the officers, who include Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, by Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Regional Trial Court branch 148.
Biazon said he was among the first government officials to listen to the grievances of the junior officers who, he said, did not demand the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, only for those of then defense secretary Angelo Reyes, Philippine National Police chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) chief Victor Corpus.
“They [Magdalo] did not even ask for the President’s resignation. That’s what he [Biazon] was saying. There was no coup d’etat,” said Francisco, whose clients include Navy Lieutenants Eugene Gonzales and Manuel Cabochan, and Marine First Lieutenant Jonnell Sangalang
Biazon also observed that the rebel soldiers did not mean to detonate the explosives they had set up around Oakwood since these were covered with pieces of cardboard, Francisco said.
“If you compare the Oakwood incident to 1987 and 1989, it was not a coup d’etat. He only described Oakwood as a venue for the soldiers to air their gripes,” Francisco said of Biazon’s testimony.
Biazon was commanding general of the National Capital Region Defense Command during the December 1989 coup attempt, and the commandant of the Philippine Marines in 1987.
“The senator also recalled that the soldiers did not demand for the resignation of the President, but only those of Secretary Angelo Reyes and Generals Hermogenes Ebdane and Victor Corpuz,” the lawyer added.
In explaining why the Oakwood incident was not a coup attempt, Biazon said the rebel soldiers in the 1987 and 1989 attempts attacked Camp Aguinaldo, Malacañang and other military installations -– an element missing in the Oakwood mutiny.
“He added that he was even quoted after the Oakwood incident that ‘there is no serious attempt to mount a coup because the mainstream military still supports the duly constituted authorities’,” Francisco said.
The trial of the alleged Oakwood takeover leaders has been held under heavy security and closed to media coverage since the walkout of several accused officers, led by Trillanes, in November last year.
The walkout led to a seven-hour standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel, which the officers occupied to demand the resignation of Arroyo. The incident led to a new rebellion charge against the officers.
On April 8, nine of the accused officers included in the coup case, all from the Philippine Army, were sentenced to between 12 to 40 years in prison after they reversed their plea of not guilty to the charges. They have asked for presidential pardon.
The next hearing of the case, on May 22, will have Reyes and former social welfare secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman taking the witness stand, Francisco said.
Talaga namang hindi coup yung Oakwood.
Pwede na yung “conduct prejudicial to public order” dahil hindi nakashopping ang marami that day pero coup d etat? malayo sa vocabulary.
It was not a coup. It did not qualify as such. Even foreign media for instance did not call it as such. Even before it ended with the early surrendees expecting to be just ordered to go back to the barracks as agreed, everybody was calling it merely as a mutiny against a corrupt regime.
Where si the so-called “word of honor” of these military officials? Namana na ba doon sa No. Unong Sinungaling?
Gabriela,
Tama ka.Regalohan mo nga si Esperon at ang DOJ ng mumurahin na english dictionary at underline mo ang coup detat. Sana mga prosecutor ay madala sa review centers muli. Baka nagbayad lang sila noon para sa codigo. Di naman kailangan pa si Biazon na magsalita sa court. Maari pa siguro sa charge sheet ay kay Esperon, “Katang…”
Big surprise! Many Senators, of all led by Nene Pimentel, now call for a debate on Charter change. Just a couple of months ago, they cried against Malacanang’s move to pursue Cha-Cha. Now, these Senators, all ten of them, are willing to consider it. Very unpredictable, these politicians!
And here’s another surprise: Obviously unable to find a worthy presidential candidate in 2010, Malacanang has included Bongbong Marcos as mong those being considered. Ha, ha, ha.
The concept of federalism has been proposed as a concept of government that would allow economic development outside of the National Capital Region. That is why it is very popular in Mindanao.
Lately, it has reached the Visayas, and some organizations have been formed by those that agree with the idea. One of them is the Cebu Federal, Inc. which is in its final stages of organization (with the SEC). Please see the Primer at http://cefedi.rpweb.ph
Pimentel has been at this since 2001, I understand; so, it is nothing new to him.
Lahat-lahat na lang basta lang malibang ang taumbayan.
True, many big scandals like the ZTE scam are now at the back seat. Malacanang is indeed entertaining the public with some stupid announcements and gimmicks thinking people would easily forget its crimes. To the Senate, it’s now time to return to business. Resume the ZTE investigation and the others…
Off topic ba o related topic? Nagalit na si Senator Biazon, pero mabait pa rin. Hindi pa diretsuhin iyong gunggong na huwag makikialam sa military dahil dapat doon lang siya sa DoJ. Golly, ipapamigay na ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas sa mga intsik dahil talo naman daw. Gago! Sinong inuulol nila e ang linaw naman na ginagawang collateral ni Dorobo ang mga pag-aari at patrimonya ng Pilipinas para sa mga inuutang niya para panglangis doon sa mga katulad nilang mga kurakot at ganid sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas.
Nagpapakita na wala talagang nagmamahal sa bayan sa mga animal kasi pag nagkagulo sa Pilipinas puede naman nilang layasan at manirahan sila sa ibang bansa na kung saan na sila nakabili ng mga properties na binayaran ng perang ninakaw nilang sa bayan.
Sarap pagmumurahin ng mga ungas. Japan nga ang liit na bansa, di natatakot kahit kanino e. Pilipinas pa na may backer na Amerika! Ulol talaga itong mga tuta ni Gloria Dorobo! Ginawa pang duwag ang mga pilipino palibhasa sila sanay tumira ng patalikod! Dugong aso!
Dapat binangit ni Sen. Biazon sa korte ang 2001 EDSA DOS kudeta. Sila Gloria at Jose Pidal ang mga pangunahing coup plotters.
Biazon was part of both Edsa One and Two. As AFP Chief of Staff, Cory didn’t really trust the man. One reason why Biazon is with the opposition today is not only because he belongs to the Drilon faction in the Liberal Party, but Biazon is working hard for his son to replace him. His son would run as Senator in the opposition ticket in 2010.
Lets all forget for a while all these processes and wait for China to take over us. Their courts are swift. They would even charge your family for the bullet they used on you. I’ll be glad to offer to pay bullets to be used on…well, you know who they are.
It was not really coup de etat. it was a tactical movement of mistahs to save their classmate who is gravely threatened by the powers that be when he exposed the anomaly at his mother unit. Everybody knows that the embattled LtJg (senator) seek the audience of his commander in chief and spilled the contents of the worms in the can.. but as subsequent events occurred it was she who is the alleged benefactor of graft and corruption.. what is else is new in the republic of colombia. me myself exposed the anomalies with my unit but what happened.. you can verify this at the Supreme Court case captioned AM Nr. SB-04-12-P panay cover-up and downgrading of incident. Pity Senator Sonny he is incarcerated lucky me I am still alive living free to click the keyboard and mouse in the net whenever Tata Ellen has updates.
Pro admin say the Oakwood incident was a coup. The opposition say otherwise. At the end of the day, the one who has more clout and money to pay the judge wins. This is justice Philipine style. I am sorry to be very cynical but the Philippines has become not just a banana republic but even worse than Bangladesh in more standards than one. Two more years of the evil bitches’ rule and we will be annexed to China!
Toyen, such is the justice system in the philippines. The criminals are the Lords and the upright citizens are the villains either oppressed, killed or incarcerated. Pick your choice!
Bitchdevil: His son would run as Senator in the opposition ticket in 2010.
*****
For all that Raffy is doing, but I would advice him to heed the Bible wisdom of doing charity not for publicity. Surely, in all publicity, magandang tignan iyong medicine on truck niya, but the worth of it is lost with all the publicity and for what it is being actually done—for publicity lang! And if you are gettiing fundings from a crook, the charity becomes another tool for deceit likewise.
I’m not actually impressed with what Senator Biazon is doing. Nakikibagay pa. Why not do things according to his conscience? That is, kung talagang meron siya niyan, ika nga.
I suggest that both father and son to really pray hard and ask God to be their guide—no priest or nun can beat the Holy Ghost as a matter of fact. It’s called prompting of the Spirit or listening to the Still Small Voice. Ingat lang kasi may demonyo din na puedeng mag-pretend. But if they know how to distinguish, garantisado pa iyan, walang palpak!
It’s really just a matter of choosing between God and Mammon.
Sa pekeng gobyerno ni Arroyo, pag nagsabi ka ng totoo kasuhan ka ng inciting to sedition. Kung pupunta ka ng Crame kahit sa harap lang at may dala kang tirador ang bala ay bato kasuhan ka na ng mutiny. Siguro kung maghubad ka sa harap ng mga kampo o sa Malacañang, kasuhan ka ng “exciting to sedition.”
Kung pwede lang sanang madala yung harpoon ng gamit para pumatay ng mga balyena, abangan ang mga gunggong at tirahin ng harpoon sa mukha. Sayang yung utak. May utak nga, common sense wala naman.
Mali pala.
Dapat pala, kung kmaghubad ka sa harap ng mga kampo o sa Malacañang, kasuhan ka ng “exciting to seduction.”
Goldberg…heh,heh,heh…that’s funny!
no coup d’etat. expression of disgust more like.
— and we can empathize.
Traffic violation,puede pa.