Photos taken after the hearing Tuesday. The court martial panel instructed the prosecution to review the cases again and see if they could recommend to the new chief of staff “nolle prosequi” or will not pursue further the cases.
Everybody was in high spirits expecting fairer treatment under the new chief of staff. Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano.
by Victor Reyes
Key leaders of the alleged power grab attempt in February 2006 yesterday said they are not going to ask for pardon from President Arroyo.
“I cannot see that we will reach that point. I know we are not guilty. If you ask for pardon, you must first accept your guilt,” said former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda at the sidelines of court martial proceedings against him and 27 other Marines and Army officers.
Arroyo on Monday announced she has approved the military’s recommendation for the grant of pardon to nine officers involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo and the seven other officers pleaded guilty to the coup d’état case filed against them before a Makati court.
Miranda, referring to the standoff at the Marines headquarters on Feb. 26, 2006, said, “If you are talking of the Sunday standoff, it’s not a coup, it’s about me, it’s about my relief.”
The standoff came two days after the alleged power grab attempt to be led by Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former Scout Ranger commander, who would supposedly lead their men to a march to Edsa and air their withdrawal of support from President Arroyo.
The standoff, triggered by Miranda’s relief as Marines commandant, saw the massing of officers and men in front of the headquarters.
“If you can review what happened during the Sunday standoff, it is about the grievances, about how come you treated the commandant that way. Personally, I was very thankful, I was surprised how the men loved the (Marine) leadership,” he said.
Miranda said he was “happy, at least” for the pardoned mutineers. “As to the manner it was done, I’m not privy to it,” he said.
Lim, asked if they were going to ask for pardon, said: “They (nine officers) made their bed, they sleep on it.”
Marine Col. Ariel Querubin said: “I won’t receive any pardon from this administration. I won’t apply… I’ll be cleared.”
It was Querubin who called for support for their protest over Miranda’s relief during the standoff.
Miranda, Lim, Querubin and the other accused are facing a number of offenses before a general court martial. The charges include mutiny, conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.
Marine Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian said they are not going to accept pardon. “Nothing is to be pardoned. We are good and professional soldiers.”
Segumalian, who also figured in the standoff, said his group would pardon former AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. if he showed remorse.
Esperon, who relinquished his post to Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano Monday, has said he recommended pardon for the nine mutineers because they have shown remorse.
The group is blaming Esperon for the “prostitution” of the military brought about by his involvement in the alleged cheating in the 2004 presidential elections.
Segumalian said Esperon “should be going to the Comelec (Commission on Elections).”
Asked why, he said: “Do you have to ask that question? He is good at that,” he said, referring to the alleged cheating.
Querubin said Yano is better than Esperon.
“At least General Yano has no baggage. He comes clean unlike the other (Esperon)… I think he’ll make good as chief of staff.”
Lim said they feel safer with Yano at the helm of the AFP.
“Definitely. Compared to the former chief of staff, most definitely,” he said.
Yano vowed he is not going to meddle in the court martial proceedings.
Miranda’s group has accused Esperon of meddling in the affairs of the military tribunal.
“Let me assure that as the new chief of staff, I will respect and recognize the independence of the court. That I will say because even if I am the chief of staff, there is a separate court martial headed by their president and it’s not apt for me to intervene with the results and proceedings of the court martial. I respect the independence of the court,” he said.
Photo captions:
1. Maj. Leomar Jose Doctolero and daughter, Lea
2. Capt. Allan Aurino ang son, Kim
3. Capt. Isagani Criste and son, Kim
4. Capt. Montano Almodovar with mother Salome and sister, Mary Grace.
5.Maj. Francisco Domingo Fernandez and wife, Anne
6. Back to ISAFP compound: Maj. Jason Aquino, Lt. Belinda Ferrer, Col.Orlando de Leon, Col. Achilles Segumalian (to his right is his security escort), and Col. Edmundo Malabanjot. The rest are security escorts.
7. Maj. Gen. Miranda with Maze Cordero, wife of Lt. Jacon Cordero and Debbie Caballes, wife of Lt. Richiemel Caballes
8. (from left to right)Capt. Almodovar, Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, Capt. Criste, Lt. Homer Estolas, Capt. Allan Aurino, Lt. Sandro Sereño, Lt. Cordero, Capt. Ervin Divinagracia, Col. Custodio Parcon, Lt. Richiemel Caballes, Capt. Joey Fontiveros, Capt. Frederick Sales, Capt. William Upano
9. Berna Lomoton, Maze Cordero, Debbie Caballes and Charmaine Deogracias of NHK TV
10.Brig. Gen. Danny Lim with visiting Balikbayan relatives. To ther ight of Col. Ariel Querubin is Mrs. Aloy Lim. Extreme right is Lyka Lim, daughter of Danny and Aloy.
11. Capt. Divinagracia, Fontiveros and Upano
12. Col. Querubin and Capt. James Sababan
The group picture says it all! Inspite of the two year incarceration of these officers, they manage to smile! Keep smiling coz we are behind you!
I hope Yano will see their case as simply a vendetta of the asspweron!
More power to you guys!
Apparently, these are the men that will defend the Philippines and the Filipino people in times of war. I understand a number of them have earned their medals for their gallantry, and they have deserved those honors bestowed upon them by a grateful nation, not the kind of merits and medals the cheater Esperon received from the criminal with whom and for whom he cheated in the last election, and must have helped grab power even before that for the positions he was promised to get to enrich himself.
3 cheers to these gallant men! I can’t help being optimistic, though, that their situation will be any better under Yano, a recommendee of Esperon. It’s too early to say. We’ll see if this guy is of a good stock, and did not have a creep for an ancestor, and the sin of the father visited upon his posterity to up to the 4th generation and so on. 😛
The Tanay boys exude triumph already.
Hold on a little longer and everyone will be out of unjustified incarceration without a fake pardon from a fake commander-in-cheat.
Lumalaki ang mga bata na wala sa bahay ang mga ama kundi nasa kulungan ni Gloria.
Yano, palabasin mo na sila pronto! Alam mo naman na wala silang kasalanan. Si Gloria ang ikulong mo.
I tried to post in this loop with mention of Esperon, but it did not pass through. This is just a test.
There’s no need for any pardon. The members of the courtmartial are already free from any clout of the former CofS. That includes the TJA or the prosecutor(s).
These honourable men deserve our respect talaga. Men of integrity would not bow down, much less ask for forgiveness, from a wanna-be, second-rate, trying hard president ! They can smell the stench of a cheat, a liar & a thief – all rolled into one. It’s called Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The Philippine trash !
Napabuntunghininga ako habang pinagmamasadan ang mga pictures sa itaas.Sila ang mga magigiting nating sundalo na talagang may pagmamahal sa bayan.Sana nga’y mapawalang-sala na sila ng bagong luklok na si Lt.Gen. Yano.
Alam ko at umaasa kaming magkakasama dito sa Dubai,na may panibagong umagang naghihintay sa mga magigiting na ito.Umagang mapapasakamay nila na punung-puno ng buhay at pag-asa.Malapit na…malapit na.
“Men of integrity would not bow down, much less ask for forgiveness, from a wanna-be, second-rate, trying hard president!”
As Anna would say, ‘Spot on’ Chabs!
Hail to the Tanay boys!!!
Sooner than later…the end is near…right, hold on a lil’… bit more…
Let’s hum for now the classic song: My Way
Mas kahanga-hanga ang mga NPA kesa sa mga sundalo ng ating bansa. Ang sundalo kaya kumikilos dahil may suweldo. ang mga NPA walang suweldo, kaya naging NPA dahil karamihan sa kanila ay mga biktima ng injustice ng ating gobyerno.
Now, who’s saying that we are nothing but conspiracy theorists out to pursue disinformation? Didn’t we first read here that the Magdalos will be pardoned after the plea? Nahiyanga lang dahil basang-basa na sila kaya na-delay lang hanggang mag-last day si Esperon.
Salamat na lang at wala ng buwisit na Espoeron na manggugulo sa AFP (kaya?) Kaya lang tuwing magbo-boot up itong desktop ko, ang laki ng nakalagay sa screen na “Inspiron”. Laging nagpapaalala sa hinayupak na syota ni Pandak.
It’s very encouraging to know that the real soldiers of the Filipino people have not asked for pardon. Why should they. They were dead right in saying that they will pardon Esperon if he shows remorse.
The court martial proceedings will start with a clean slate. Let’s hope for the best for the “tanay boys”. It’s about time they be given a fair trial. After all. Gen. Yano himself gave his word that he would not meddle with the court proceedings.
Mabuhay ang mga tunay na sundalo ng mga mamamayang Pilipino!
Asawa ba ng sundalo yung Mrs. Caballes (naka-white?)? Cute, ha.
tongue,
umuobra ka na naman. Intindihin mo muna ang sigalot sa iyong system loss.
bayong,
hintayin mong lumipat sila sa NPA. Unahan lang sa govt na magbigay ng perks o position. May bayad din mula sa kanilang taxation process. May R & R din at attending normal church sacraments. Mga pare, akala mo ba, gamit ang inverted bayong sa ulo sa confessions.
Tongue,
Grabe kahapon. Hindi makapasok ang mga comments ko tungkol sa mga magigiting ding mga misis ng mga magigiting na sundalong ito. Tindi talaga ng mga gunggong na tsimoy at tsimay ni Esperon sa totoo lang.
Chi,
Ang comment ko tungkol sa sinabi mong kawawa ang mga anak ng mga sundalong magigiting. Sabi ko wala namang problemang alam nilang nakakulong ang mga tatay nila dahil alam naman nilang wala silang kasalanan. Problema lang nga ay kung saan kukuha ng pangtustos ang mga nanay nila sa pag-aaral, etc. nila.
Naalala ko tuloy iyong mga anak ng mga nakakulong dito sa Japan. Wala naman kasing benefits o welfare para makapag-aral ang mga kapos sa bansa. Iyong pagpili na nga sa bigas, sa totoo lang nakakabagbag ng damdamin dahil wala naman talagang magagawa dahil kawawa naman iyong mga hindi naman kayang bumili ng bigas sa mga grocery kundi iyong bigas ng NFA.
Dapat ngang tiyakin kung walang hoarding mismo doon sa AFP na binigyan ng karapatan na siyang nagdidistribute ng NFA rice. Golly, daig pa raw noong panahon ng guerra sabi ng nanay na nakita iyong pila ng bigas sa TV! Napaiyak na lang daw siya. Pasalamat na lang daw siya wala na siyang padadalhan ng bigas sa Pilipinas. Iyon namang mga kamag-anak niya sa probinsiya, may mga bigas naman kasi.
Kawawang bansa!
Yuko, yan talaga ang problema ng mga nakakulong, ang pagaaral ng mga anak nila. Most of their salaries go to their lawyers’ fees, visitations( mahal ang mga pamasahe). Masuwerte yung mga may pro bono na lawyer. All the families of the incarcerated help one another to make sure that those with better lives help those who are less fortunate. Maganda ang tulungan nila Yuko. Inspite of all the odds, they are surviving with the help and support of their families and very good friends. Nakakaiyak ang sitwasyon ng mga iba sa kanila talaga. Last Christmas, yung mga ibang bata ay gusto ng laruan but some of the parents simply could not afford to buy some of the kids any. Some of the wives solicited for the Christmas program and made sure that all of the kids had toys. They had fun afterall.
PSB,
You gave me an idea. Taon-taon nagpapadala ako ng cargo sa Manila ng mga Christmas gifts kung saang charity. This year, siguro, I’ll encourage members of our church to help me fill a box or two para ipadala sa mga anak ng mga Tanay boys at Magdalo. Gotta work this out with Jug hangga’t may time pa. Magaganda iyong ibinibigay ng mga Amerikano, Australiano, etc. sa simbahan namin. It’s the least we can do to cheer up these children. Konting tiis pa siguro!
When the Dorobo is removed, uwi tayong lahat to celebrate. Right now, trabaho tayo kung saan man tayo naroroon and do our best to let the lenders know how the creep squander the money she borrows from foreign lenders, may kasama pang money laundering no doubt, and stop them from continue supporting her administration. Kawawa ang mga pilipino pag nagkataon sa laki ng utang ng Pilipinas ngayon. Dapat lahat nang iyan ipabayad doon sa mga kasama din ng mga Pidal sa nakawang ito ng pera ng bayan at inutang sa ibang bansa.
Thanks Yuko. It will make the Christmas of the kids very memorable. You can just see the happy faces when the kids get even hand me down toys. I have mix emotions whenever I remember their happy faces!
Tongue, the girl in white is Debbie Caballes, wife of Lt. Richiemel Caballes. They have a baby. Hindi lang dala ni Debbie this time.
Ang sweet nga, when Debbie brings their baby, Lt. Richie would hold the baby during break in the court hearing.
I hope and pray they would be free by December.
“One only needs to read Ellen Tordesillas’s blog at http://www.ellentordesillas.com to get an on-going account of the many times the jailed officers felt themselves at the low-end of Esperon’s sense of justice, from unscheduled trials suddenly going on without informing the defense, to the denial of a soldier’s request to see a sister on her deathbed, in order to fully appreciate their present confidence over Yano’s ascendancy.” says Armida Siguion Reyna in her column No Holds Barred.
****
Bida ang Ellenville, thanks Armida.
The new Chief of Staff should NOT try to influence the outcome of the trial proceedings. He should stay by his words ““…. that as the new chief of staff, I will respect and recognize the independence of the court. That I will say because even if I am the chief of staff, there is a separate court martial headed by their president and it’s not apt for me to intervene with the results and proceedings of the court martial. I respect the independence of the court.”
Kung alm ninyo ang address para magpadala ng kontribusyon para sa mga anak ng sundalo natin (lalo na iyong mga napinsala sa Mindanao laban sa MILF at Abu Sayyaf o sa Cordillera o Bicol laban sa NPA) paki-post lang. [Tuwing pasko, nagpapadala ako sa Caritas, pero hindi ko masabi na kalahati ng padala ko ay sana, para sa anak ng ating mga sundalo.)
Thanks, Ellen.
Teka, kung may baby sila, ibig sabihin made in Tanay yung baby? Hindi sana nahagip ng webcam ni Assperon yung…
OO nga, Valdemar, hanggang sa Filipinovoices nakarating. Pero nakita mo naman, tinanggal ko na pangalan mo ng i-post ko sa blog ko.
Pero, talaga namang nakapagtataka, hindi naman nila pinag-uusapan noon yung systems loss bago pa natin tinalakay dito kay Ellen tapos kinabukasan lumabas sa speech ni Gloria.
Tongue,
Ako, naniniwala na monitored tayo ng EK. Tingnan mo ang issue ng bigas. Pagkatapos na pinag-usapan dito na nagkawala ang bigas sa stalls ang Costco, Walmart at commissaries, sinisi ni tianak ang media na siya raw nag-fan ng shortage niya sa bigas kaya tumaas ang world price nito.
Pepito,
Kahit saan puwede i-care of tulad ng mga papers soliciting donations, pero huwag na huwag sa pulis o kay Yap.
Yung mga gustong tumulong sa mga sundalo, idiretso na ninyo sa kanila. Mahirap na baka may namimingwit na naman sa paligid-ligid. Maakusahan pa tayo ritong nagpopondo ng mga rebelde. Merong Kawal Foundation si Beaver Lopez, di bale sila, kayang gumastos para lumaban ng todo sa gobyerno.
Huwag ninyo kaming ipahamak dito, lalo na si Ellen.
Thanks Tongue. I don’t want to use this blog for fundraising.