From GMA News:
The general court martial on Thursday ordered 11 Magdalo soldiers discharged from the military service, more than a month after the accused military officers changed their not guilty plea in connection with the failed July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
The sentence was promulgated against 11 junior military officers who faced charges for violating Articles of War 96 or conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.
“The 11 accused officers listed below are adjudged guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Wherefore premises considered, this general court martial… of the charge covered by article of war conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman,” the court said in its ruling.
“The 11 accused AFP officers… are sentenced to be dismissed from the military service pursuant to article 96 of the articles of war… This military court emphasizes that this judgment and sentence will become final and executory only if and when approved by the president and commander in chief,” it added.
Those ordered discharged from the military service are:
• Lieutenant Senior Grade James Layug;
• Captain Gary Alejano
• Captain Segundino Orfiano Jr;
• Lieutenant Senior Grade Eugene Louie Gonzales;
• Lieutenant Senior Grade Andy Torato;
• Lieutenant Senior Grade Manuel Cabochan;
• Lieutenant Junior Grade Arturo Pascua;
• 1 Lt. Billy Pascua;
• 1 Lt. Francisco Ashley Acedillo;
• 2nd Lieutenant Jonnel Sangalang; and
• Ensign Arman Pontejos.
Alejano and Layug are known hardcore leaders of the Magdalo group.
In the ruling the court martial also said it will not stop the payment of salaries and allowances to the sentence officers, saying this decision rests solely on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
“(U)nder military law only the president and commander in chief has the authority and prerogative to order the stoppage of payment of the pay and allowance of military officers. Without expressed instructions from the president and commander in chief thereon, this general court martial will make no pronouncement of the matter except that no changes in the status quo shall be made those among the accused officers who are presently receiving any pay and or allowances shall continue to do so unless and until otherwise directed by the president and commander in chief,” the court martial ruled.
Despite the court ruling, however, the 11 junior officers will remain in detention because they are still facing coup d’etat charges before the Makati Regional Trial Court. Also, 10 out of 11 are facing rebellion charges before the Makati court.
To recall, the 11 junior officers changed their original plea and pleaded guilty for violating Articles of War 96 or conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman last June 10 after emerging from a meeting with Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano.
Following the change of plea, the group’s lawyer requested the court to consider the group’s voluntary surrender on July 27, 2003 and their subsequent change of plea as mitigating circumstances.
In its ruling, however, the court martial denied the group’s request, saying: “The law… is very
clear and leaves no room for doubt and requires no interpretation and when the law is as clear as we see in article of war 96, there is nothing left for all concerned but to apply the law strictly according to its letter and spirit.”
With the group’s decision to change plea, only six other military officers are left for trial in connection with the Oakwood mutiny, including resigned Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade turned-Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and fugitive Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon.
The other officers are Army 1 Lieutenant Warren Dagupon and Marine 2 Lieutenants Alquin Canson, Junnibert Tubo and Edwin Duetao.
Trillanes, Faeldon and Dagupon stand accused of violating AW 96, being the group’s hardcore leaders. They are also facing coup d’ etat charges before the Makati regional trial court.
In addition, Trillanes and Faeldon are accused of rebellion in connection with the Nov. 29, 2007 for their alleged involvement in the standoff at the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City. To date, Faeldon remains at large.
On the other hand, Canson, Tubo, and Duetao are charged for violation of AW 96, 63 (disrespect to the President), 64 (disrespect towards superior officer), 67 (mutiny), ad 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline). – GMANews.TV
Think and feel MANDELA guys. No power is forever and so is Gloria, the fake president and commander-in-chief.
To Sen. Trillanes, Capt. Faeldon, Lts. Dagupon Canson, Tubo and Duetao…MABUHAY!
Kapitan, tago ka lang hangga’t ang Unano ay may pekeng kapangyarihan.
“The law… is very
clear and leaves no room for doubt and requires no interpretation and when the law is as clear as we see in article of war 96, there is nothing left for all concerned but to apply the law strictly according to its letter and spirit.”
Charged Angelo Reyes then!
Is this law applicable only to the enemies of Gloriang Korap? She connived with Reyes, try them and put to jail! Isama si Batchoy at Davide.
Wow, puede ba huwag na silang manloko? Depende daw kay Gloria Dorobo kung babayaran iyong mga sundalong sumuko o hindi! Bakit sino ba siya? Bakit pinapayagan ng mga pilipino na siya na lang ang masusunod when in principle, she is nothing but a public servant regardless of whether or not she cheated in the 2004 election. Bulok talaga ang sistema!
Kawawang Pilipinas! Dito iyan, maghahalo na ang balat sa tinalupan, no doubt!
The law is harsh but it’s still harsh. This evil government has been applying double standard of justice from the very beginning. I’ve said this and I’m going to say this again…we will never get the justice we deserve as long as this Evil Bitch is in power. That’s why we must make sure that a true opposition leader is elected in 2010.
Naisahan ang mga sundalo. Sinabi ko na nga ba e. Di dapat na pinagkatiwalaan nila si Pandack Omama kasi magaling iyan sa lokohan.
Mahirap talagang makipag-deal sa mga demonyo sa totoo lang. Na-hudasan sila. My condolence pero no sympathy!
Wala talaga akong tiwala kay Pandack Omama dahil tingin ko diyan, kampon ni Satanas, and no one should in fact deal with the devil or those he possesses! Sabi nga ng Diyos, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13, Matt. 6:24)
Yuko, what do you mean “naisahan ang mga sundalo”.
When they pleaded guilty to conduct unbecoming, they expected that they would be discharged. That’s the maximum penalty for AW 96.
They didn’t enter into any compromise with the government. They did not apologize to Gloria Arroyo.
They didn’t make any deal with Arroyo.
“Despite the court ruling, however, the 11 junior officers will remain in detention because they are still facing coup d’etat charges before the Makati Regional Trial Court. Also, 10 out of 11 are facing rebellion charges before the Makati court.”
Napakaraming ikinaso sa mga batang opisyales na ito. Madismis man ang isa ay meron pang natitira na dalawang charges. Sinigurado ni GloriaAsspweron na magdadaan sila sa butas ng karayom bago tuluyang makalaya.
Wala na si Ass sa pronta ng AFP, mabagok sana ang ulo ni Unano at hindi na magising.
Well, Ellen, based on what I read in the newspapers, these woes of the Magdalo are far from over with the crooks even hinting that the soldiers, who have been discharged after changing their pleas from not guilty to guilty, may not get the same pardon like the one given to Maestrocampo and company unless they are willing to be stripped totally of their human dignity.
I don’t see how this deal can benefit anyone but the illegal tenant of Malacanang. As far as I am concerned, it is not fair and acceptable. With what I am reading, I don’t see the Malacanang’s illegal tenant willing to compromise but insist on humiliating these men, leaving them nothing, not even their honor and pride, to insure that they are totally destroyed so that they cannot do anything at all to remove her, for she indeed has become an expert in that art of deception, etc.
I don’t know but it must be the influence of my religion that forbids making deals, compromises, etc. with the devil and his servants and followers. Instead, we are encouraged to pray and implore God above to wrought miracles that will cause evil men to tremble and fear.
Now the bruha is even trying to capitalize on the capitulation of Maestrocampo, et al and these soldiers now being encouraged to make a deal with the mother of lies and deceit.
I agree with grizzy that one must not deal with the devil.
There should be no compromise whatsoever. Isn’t there so called “principle”? On the other hand, one is sometimes compelled to give in due to personal reasons. One sometimes places his family over other things. Such should not be entirely blamed for the decision. At the end of the day, he’s the one accountable to the people and God.
There was no deal. There was no compromise.
They did that for reasons that they believe was the best for them given the circumstances. They got their punishment. And they are willing to bear it.
Theirs is not the same case as Gambala and Maestrocampo who made a deal with Arroyo.
i hope so, Ellen. I hope these soldiers will prove that they are not the same as the group of Maestrocampo, Gambala, et al. whom I hoped against hope in fact to be loyal to the principles and ideals they were fighting for or so I thought. Hahanga na sana ako, nasira pa.
BD:
I remember watching members of the families of these men being shown on TV during the Magdalo mutiny and asking them to lay down their arms, and a number of them heeding the pleas of their kin.
For this, we should admire and hail the wives and children, et al of Col. Querubin, et al, who likewise have refused to be used by the dorobo for her own selfish interests and gains.
in a way i could not see that the officers did anything wrong in pleading guilty. it lessen the burden they are carrying. accepting that they cannot work further in the armed forces is probably the most difficult part, i.e., that they have to accept failure in attempting to correct the evils in the armed forces. but who knows, their disgrace or grace may in the end correct these evils when they are gone. they may still have the last laugh.
I hope that after Gloria’s regime (kung matatapos), these dismissed young officers will be given back their ranks and positions so they can serve their country via the only career they loved so much. Pwede namang balewalain ang desisyon ni Gloria, peke nga e!
I don’t know the reason for their change of plea but I continue to believe in them.
These guys have sacrificed a lot for the country. I hope and pray their sacrifices will someday be rewarded by the people.
Norpil, those soldiers might still have a chance of being reinstated in the AFP under a new opposition administration.
From Polly:
Salamat sa updates on magdalo soldiers. My prayer is always with them especially these days that they are harassed by this government. I believe that prayers can move mountains and maybe we can also remove the evil in Malacanang.
Please give my lifetime support to all the heroes that sacrifice everything for our country and the people. Hindi kayo nagiisa.Kahit hindi ninyo ako kilala palagi akong nagdarasal at naghihintay ng command mula sa inyo.
Mabuhay ang Magdalo!
What a crap really! If you disobey the criminal, you are guilty and you will be terminated.
No wonder nauubos na iyong mga idealistic soldiers of the Philippines whose loyalties are not gauged and tested with doleouts distributed to them during visits to the palace by the murky river.
Come wartime, no doubt, these soldiers of the AFP will surrender faster than they can fight and services offered to the enemies for a fee! Yuck!
etcetera Says:
July 15th, 2008 at 12:18 am (Edit this comment)
Hunger strike is the only alternative of Magdalo if they cannot bear anymore the sub-human existence that they are being subjected to by these criminal midget and fatboy pidal.
A hunger strike will reverberate throughout the world and will precipitate the downfall of a pidal gangsters masquerading as government.
They must be ready to die if it comes to that, a hunger strike.
bitchevil Says:
July 15th, 2008 at 12:25 am (Edit this comment)
What the Magdalo soldiers are experiencing right now is as bad as hunger strike. More than physical pain, mental and psychological pain is worse.