Maj. Gen. John Martir’s appearance at the court martial hearing last Tuesday of the mutiny case against 28 officers led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danny Lim was enlivened by side incidents. Otherwise, it was boooring.
Before Martir was brought in, the nine accused Marine officers namely Maj. Gen Renato Miranda;Col Ariel Querubin; Col Januario Caringal; Col Orlando de Leon; Col Armand Bañez; Lt.Col Custodio Parcon;.Lt. Col. Achilles Segumallian; Maj Domingo Fernandez; and Lt Belinda Ferrer, the lone military female detainee, positioned themselves in front of the defense lawyers directly opposite the witness who would be sitting near the end of the panel’s table.
In the courtroom at the Daza Park, the accused are seated together enclosed by steel railings in the middle of the room. Some ten feet away from them are members of the panel seated behind a long table in an elevated portion of the room. Between the accused and the panel members are the lawyers seated on opposite sides.
Trixie Angeles, collaborating counsel for Miranda, moved that the officers be allowed to be in a position where they directly face their accuser. Prosecution lawyer Serme Ayuyao objected.
Angeles said the accused have the right to be in a position to look at their accuser in th eye and observe his body language to prevent false testimony.Ayuyao said the accused can always refute later Martir’s testimony.
The military defense counsel, Lt. Col Basilio Pooten, also a Marine officer, supported Angeles motion saying that among the Marines, there’s a “relationship”. “If you look at each other in the eye, that relationship becomes better,” he said.
Before the court could decide on the motion the marine officers, one by one, left their “cage’ and bringing his plastic chair, sat in front of the lawyers facing Martir. The court had to go on a ten-minute break which lasted up to 45 minutes to decide on the motion.
The court denied Angeles’ motion and ordered the officers to go back to the enclosed area. Law member Marian Aleido said it is the court that will determine whether the witness is telling the truth or not.
Martir seemed tense when he entered the courtroom. He crossed his legs, the moment he sat down.
Martir’s testimony centered on what transpired on February 23, 2006 and spilled over to Feb. 24, 2006. Teddy Rigoroso, counsel for Maj. Fernandez and Lt. Ferrer objected to narration of events of Feb. 24 because the amended charge sheet specified “on or about Feb. 23, 2006” but the court allowed Martir to go beyond that date.
In February 2006, Martir was commander of the Marines’ Combat Service and Support Brigade.That was the time when there was deep resentment in the military over what was revealed in the “Hello Garci” tapes, of how the soldiers were used to tamper with the 2004 election results in favor of Gloria Arroyo.
Martir testified that at about 11 a.m. Of Feb. 23, Querubin came to his office to inquire about the laptop promised to him. He said it happened that his brother Col. Victor Martir was also in his office. They joined the other officers in a “boodle fight” lunch.
He said in his conversation with Querubin, they discussed problems of the government arising from the “Hello Garci” tapes. He claimed that Querubin tried to convince him to join in a coup against Arroyo using his unit. He said he will follow the chain of command.
Almost midnight of Feb. 23, he was summoned to the office of Miranda where he saw Querubin and Brig. Gen.Danny Lim of the Philippine Army Scout Rangers. All three he said were talking on the cellphone. He heard Querubin say, “Wala talaga itong si Esperon. Hawak na namin si Senga, nagbago ng isip ng dumating si Esperon.” The AFP chief of staff then was General Generoso Senga and the Army Chief was Maj. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, who later succeeded Senga.
There was a problem with the audio during Martir’s testimony. There was also a problem with the way he speaks: he was eating his words. He may have been nervous.. Many times, the lawyers complained because they could not make out what Martir was saying. Several times Maj. Gen. Jogy Fojas had to tell him to speak slowly and clearly.
At one point an exasperated Vic Verdadero, counsel for Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, told Martir, “Masyado mo kasi sinusubsub ang mike sa nguso mo.”
During a break, an irritated Querubin tried to approach Martir, who is his “mistah” (PMA Class ’79) but he was prevented by the guards. Querubin just shouted at him, “Look at me straight in the eye. Magsabi ka ng totoo.”
Martir, smiling mockingly, made a thumbs-up sign.
In one of the later breaks, when the atmosphere was no longer tense, Querubin approached Martir and shook hands with him. They talked briefly under the watchful eye of the guards.
Querubin said he told his ‘mistah’, “Bok, magsabi ka ng totoo. Buhay namin dito ang nakataya.” He said true, they discussed the resentment in the military at that time related to the “Hello Garci” tapes and rumors of coup but he was the one who told Martir, that they will “follow the chain of command.”
Querubin said he corrected Martir’s version of their conversation and the latter said that’s how he remembered it.
Querubin told him, “Dalawa lang tayo doon. It’s your word against my word.”
Martir is not yet through with his direct testimony. He will again be on the witness stand in the next hearing on May 14.
the cold blooded mgen martir seems to be indifferent with the sufferings of his comrades. he will do all he can to ruin other people’s lives in the name of ambition, power and lust for authority. he does not realize that all these will come to pass, and the more he makes others suffer, the more he will never be at peace. what can we expect from a man deported from the US for wife battery? an officer who went on AWOL, took his pay and never had the balls to face the justice system? an officer whose only way up is to pull others down? we should pity MGEN Martir more than hate him. his holdings are temporary, but his misery forever. MGEN martir, misery does love company. if you are miserable with your own life, why make others too? your miserable family life is your own doing, don’t take others down with you. Hawak mo na lahat, puwesto, ranggo, ano pa gustu mo?
Major General Martir??? Bakit nakalusot ba sa Commission on Appointments?
DKG, nakalusot yata. Lumusot siya kay Jinggoy ang pagka-alam ko. Di ba bata ni Enrile yang Martir at si Enrile ay sumisipsip siya ngayon kay Erap. Kaya pag lumusot si Erap sa eleksiyon, si Martir na ang Chief of Staff. Palagay ko magtatagal pa tayo dito sa Ellenville. Ibang sayaw na naman ang ating iindakin. Kung cha-cha ngayon, maka-erap(rena) naman after 2010.
Hoy Pinoy gisiiiiiing!!!!!!
Marunong ba ng eye contact yang si John Rat? Makasarili masyado itong taong ito. He probably had forgotten that the same officers he wants to put away were the same officers who helped him through during his tough times. Ngayon mas mahalaga and pera at position sa kanya. Sadyang ganyan ang mga buwaya!
Wait until he gets cross examined. How can an awol and wife batterer be a credible witness? Tama ka nazi_general! Halang ang sikmura niyan!
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Diego, wala ng mapagpilian sa marines. Nakakulong ang karamihan ng mga nakakataas na officers nila kaya solong solo ni John Rat ang lahat ng promotions…heh,heh,heh. He will be retiring in less than a year kaya siguro naghahanap ng “pabaon”. Hindi bale ng ipagkanulo niya ang mga “mistah” niya! Di ba si asspweron is “mistah” ni Gen Miranda? Bunk mate pa niya! But the lure of money and power is greater kaya yun nakakulong pa rin si Gen Miranda. Wala na ngayong “mistah”, “mistah”. Mukhang pera-perahan na lang. Very sad. The very same people who are supposed to protect the people only know how to protect the corruptors for MONEY and POWER!
martir? hmmm mukhang mali ang apelyido ng kumag na ito….
sipsip pwede pa.
Duling ata si Martir kaya ang sarili lang niya ang nakikita niya..may araw rin yan at ma-matir-yuhin ang bungo niya..it is pathetic that PMA produced such men…
Actually , Gloria and her minions produced such men. Sila ang nagpa-uso ng bilihan ng kaluluwa. Never has so many institutions been more divided, than now. PMA, CBCP, PNP, the religious, the academe, etc. She proved that money is all powerful , at least in the Philippines except for ” A Few Good Men”.I believe that God will not let it be so for too long. Let us find it in our heart to bless them, that they may see the light.
At least ” These Few Good Men” gives us hope, and the energy to continue the fight on everything that is rotten in our country here in Ellenville. Sila ang nagpapatunay na talagang may dangal pa!
Wow! My Marine-nela Major Repair General Problem Joanna Martir.
Atcheng, magsabi ka ng totoo. Bruha, mamaya mo n’yan magsanga ‘yang dila mo.
Kung hindi nagawa nina Senga at Yano na magpakalalaki sa gitna ng napakagandang pagkakataon upang mabura ang lahat ng masamang pagkakakilala sa matataas na opisyales ng hukbo bunga ng pakikipagkutsaba sa mag-asawang ganid, pagkakataon mo na ito upang maiukit sa moog ng kagitingan ang iyong pangalan. Kahit ganyan ka ay patunayan mong kaya mong ibalik ang dating maayos na pamamalakad sa buong sandatahang lakas.
Ngayon na ang pagkakataon mo, tita!
Psb,
Hindi sanay si Joanna sa eye contact. Pero meron siyang contact lense, kulay pink.
mahilig sa eye contact yan sa Joanna habib. thats how she gets her ahemmm… dinadaan sa tingin, sabay kindat. balita ko dami niya raw boys ngayon. kaya pala mahilig isubsob yung micropono sa bibig, magaling magaling.
Nakupo!
Si John Martir, major general na ngayon? Paanong nangyari ‘yun? Di ba AWOL ‘yan? Bale wala ‘yung halos isang taon at kalahati niyang absence without official leave? Pambihira, oo!
Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw. Kapag nasa laylayan ka ng saya ni gloria, silipin mo na ‘wag mo lamang siyang hipuan, okey ka sa kanya. Kahit ano’ng ‘yung makita, patay malisya ka, may biyaya ka na, mapapabuti pa ang iyong katayuan sa iyong kinatatalagahan, basta’t kapag kinati siya, ‘andyan ka. Basta’t handa mong ipagsanggalang ang anumang baho ng iyong naamoy, aalagaan ka niya.
Pasintabi, kung bulgar na paghahalintulad ang aking ginamit. Ito’y katapat at nararapat lamang sa mga kasalaulaang pinaggagagawa ng mga basurero’t basurerang namamahay sa malakanyang.
Psb, Nazi,
Hindi halang ang sikmura ni Jonnie babe.
Ang halang sa kanya, ‘yung transplanted na matris!
Nazi,
Baka naman akala ni Joanna ay lollipop ‘yung mikropono kaya dinidikit niya sa kanyang bibig. Baka akala niya’y matamis ang lasa.
‘Ala bang piktyur? Makilatis natin kung tuloy pa ‘yung kanyang endorsement ng byuti products at slimming gel.
Martir seemed tense when he entered the courtroom. He crossed his legs, the moment he sat down.
****************************************
A general, sitting crossed legs at the witness (stand) chair?
Teka, paano ba? Gentlemanly or lady like?
Ano ba suot niya, mini skirt na baka masilipan siya o makita ‘yung sanitary napkin kaya siya nag-cross legs?
Hi hi hi hi!
Salbahe itong si pugong_gala. Baka gusto nitong tumuka nu’ng kinukukot na fried peanut ni Majorette General Joana.
‘Yung paghawak sa mikropono, pati pag-upo ni tita pinupuna pa. Paano nga ba umupo ang bruha?
The man on this topic a MG of the service is a dreamer,he will deliberately dishonor the oath and pledges he took when he was commisioned “offiver”of the uniformed forces.
Very few of them still sticking to the pledges and oaths of the “Code of honor”,mostly they became impaired when they mingled with the contaminated dreamers too.How many of Star ranks been involved on violating code of honors. few good ones will remain behind ranks and files if they don’t join the system of dirty play.
Vic Verdadero, counsel for Brig. Gen. Danny Lim, told Martir, “Masyado mo kasi sinusubsub ang mike sa nguso mo.”
Parang mali ang transscript.
Di kaya ang sinabi ni Atty. Vic e “Masyado mo kasi sinusubsub KAY MIKE ANG nguso mo.”
Yung ebidensiya at kopya ng report ng tungkol sa pag-gamit sa Marines sa pandaraya sa Mindanao Elections, nasunog (sinunog?) na! Di ba’t yan ang reklamo nila Querubin, Lim, Miranda?
Inquirer headline: Fire guts home of ex-Navy chief
Wala na rin yatang pag-asa sa AFP.
Puro pambababoy na lang.
I am supposed to be proud of what the accused did but they are denying they did it at all before the court martial. So whats on the table.
Hoy, ang sasalbahe ninyo! Para palang si mareng Romela Neri itong si John rat Martir, pag-upo e right away naka-cross legged kaagad, at kung magsalita naman ay nakasubsob and bibig kay mike. Pareho rin silang balingkinitan.
Namumungay rin kaya ang mga mata ni John Rat kung sumulyap sa mga ka-mistah? Kasi, siguradong hindi maka- eye to eye contact ang traydor na yan.
When I said he crossed his legs, what I meant was naka-de kuatro.
Ito pa when Verdadero told Martir,“Masyado mo kasi sinusubsub ang mike sa nguso mo,” someone among the accused remarked, “Paano kasi, nakasanayan.”
Ay naku Tongue, even without the fire, the people have nothing to expect from Mayuga. He said that he will bring what he knew about the 2004 elections to his grave.
Ha!ha!ha! Nakasanayan ni John rat Martir ang pagsubsob ng mike sa nguso. hi!hi!hi! Ay naku, makaganti man lang sa ganito.
Mamamatay si Mayuga pero hindi ang tunay na nangyari sa paggamit ni Gloria ng Marines sa dayaan ng 2004 elections.
Napitpit ng husto ni Gloria Arroyo ang balls ni Mayuga!
Confused rin ba sa gitna si Martir? paano naging PMAer? paano na kagraduate as a soldier? or was he/she the queen sa Mardi Gras? kung ganyan ang graduate ng PMA ay ambot bakit malambot?
What is being denied is the commission of a crime. withdrawal of support is not a crime; neither is the airing of grievances.
In the case of US v. Jeremy Wilcox (Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces), the accused was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and was recruiting on the web. But that was not considered a violation of any military regulation; freedom of speech daw.
Freedom of speech and assembly are twins. So if speech cannot be curtailed, neither can the right to peaceable assembly, which is what they did in 2006, and what Trillanes and Guingona did at the Pen. All the hot air about danger to the state is just invented crap.
Sorry. Paki-delete na lang yung na-doble. Mabagal ang response ng server.
oo nga ang bagal ng server. but anyway kala ko ba PMA produced good and honorable men? mukhang si martir di alam kung ano ang ibig ng honorable at pati ata slogan ng PMA di nya naiintidihan lalo na ang INTEGRITY.
Rose said – Confused rin ba sa gitna si Martir? paano naging PMAer?
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Magaling siya trumabaho and there are some who are prostituted. Noong bagito pa siya sa PMA, ang tunog nang kanyang fart ay piiiit, pero noong nagtapos siya, ang tunog ay BOH.
Ellen, yung duwag na kagaya ni Mayuga, tinatakot pa lang, di pa nakakanti, kumakanta na. Kaya sinigurong walang natitirang kopya ng Mayuga Report sa labas, kaya sinunog yung bahay. Warning na rin sigurong wag siyang magkakamali mag-doremi.
Iyan ang kutob ko. I’m sure similar things will happen to the Hello Garci Generals and the bootlickers in active duty. Just to remind them of the consequences.
These people who thought they are secure by allowing Gloria Arroyo to buy their silence on what they know about the crimes she committed against the Filipino people should know that their best protection is telling the people the truth.
As long as you hold Gloria Arroyo’s secrets you are in danger.
Take care of yourselves Gen. Garcia, Romy Neri, Cito Lorenzo et al .
It’s not a cakewalk to become a PMA’er. Martir must have been bright then but his brain must have also been damaged
by drugs and booze, etc…
ALL the BLAME goes to all those senators who confirmed his promotions especially the latest – to Major General. Funny politicians we got, they’re being laughed at but they’re laughing too. They don’t seem to get it.
When PMAyers join the other side, they get promoted, given all the medals, fanfares and back pays and further sweetened with lucrative positions in government moneyed corporations when they leave. When they dont join the other side and just howl by themselves or exercise their freedom of spitz courageously, they get busted and not even highend medals could guarantee their freedom and undoubted love of country. Their common denominator though is that at the end, they swear allegiance to foreign constitutions.
mas lantaran ang katiwalian ngayon sa afp, pero di nila aaminin…daming magagaling na sundalo na sadyang inalis sa ghq at itinapon sa visayas at mindanao.
normal lang ngayon na major pa lamang ay may-ari na ng security agency, o consultant o partner at nakapuesto pa sa maselang posisyon sa afp.
normal lang ngayon na major pa lamang ay dami ng magagandang bahay, condo units, daming investment at iba pang assets using dummy or relatives.
normal lang ngayon na pag may special ops at ok sa taas ay may kapalit na “regalo at pabaon”
normal lang ngayon na ang mga opisyal ng afp at pnp ay direktang sumasali sa mga govt procurement using their authority and influence.
samantalang daming enlisted personnel na walang maayos na tahanan, nagtitiis sa kakarampot na sueldo, nakikipaglaban sa mga kalaban ng gobyerno na kulang sa lahat…combat shoes, modern warfare equipments, uniporme and etc.
ito ang bagong mukha ng afp at pnp under glorias regime.
may katumbas na presyo ang lahat…
Ellen,
‘Yun na nga, eh!
Wala sa ethics ng kawal ang umupo ng de kuwatro kahit saan lalo’t nakauniporme, peke man o genuine ang mga nakatapal na dekorasyon pati na ‘yung ranggo.
Sa korte pa? Bastos na, mukhang nagtitigastigasang ang ipinagmamalaking sinasandalan ay mga kawatan.
Taragis na Joanna ‘yan. Sapalin at sabunutan ko ‘yan, eh
“Ito pa when Verdadero told Martir,“Masyado mo kasi sinusubsub ang mike sa nguso mo,” someone among the accused remarked, “Paano kasi, nakasanayan.””
Ay! Talaga?
Atchos, day! Star pala ng snack ay lollipop at ice cream on cone, o, de vah?
Ay, mali! Eto dafat:
“……Star pala ng sing-talong, este sing-along bars ang bruha at ang paborito niyang snacks ay lollipop at ice cream on cone, o, de vah?”
piiiiiit! noon. BOOOH na ngayon.
syria, ano ‘yun? Noong una ay parang straw ng palay na pinag-anihan, ngayon ay parang bass ng banda ng musiko ang tunog ng utot ni Joanna? Ibig sabihin, wala ng sabit?
Kaya ba laging nakasanitary napkin?
an officer sits properly,he does not slouch, nor cross his legs,nor look sideways with shifty eyes at other mistahs.. palibhasa, itong simple lang na good manners, di alam ni martir.. i now understand kung bakit di niya naintindihan ang honor code..
Resulta? just watch him during the hearing …ilan pang graduates kaya ng PMA ang gaya niyang walang honor?
Even broadcaster Anthony Taberna was threatened by this Martir.
gurong pinay,
Meron namang honor si Major General John Martir, akala n’yo lang lahat dito wala.
Di ba’t isa siyang disHONORable and an unGENTLEMAN officer?
Bruhang dalahira kasi,eh!
BE, I heard what he did to Taberna too! Kahit babaklabakla eh may panakot din pala siya. Malakas lang ang loob niya dahil may backing siya…mga corrupt na generals!
That’s correct, parasabayan. But Anthony Taberna was not afraid. He has the backing of INC because he’s a member.
Hoy Martir, magpakatotoo ka naman! Sayang yang apelyido mo!
ellen, baka naman kung pwede, paki-post nga ng hitsura ni martir.
thanks!
ito naman, para may basis tayong i-compare siya kay neri.
kung naka-de kwatro pa habang nag-testify, aba, arogante ang dating!
ganyan ba talaga ang itinuturo na sa pma, para sa mag walang kwentang militar?
they can protect themselves now, but tomorrow’s fate it will never be. those harrasing for truth will never hide after 2010. they will pay for their corruptible conduct. they can hide from their protectors now (GMA, Esperon et al), they can hide from their conscience now, but comes 2010 they will never be. nothing prevails than truth itself.
Yes I want Gloria out of Malacanan, and yes I believe she cheated in 2004. But lets stick to the facts:
Hindi natuloy ang coup kasi nagbago isip ni Senga dahil kay Esperon.
There was a standoff at Fort Bonifacio
There was also a siege at Manila Peninsula
Regardless of who said that they’ll follow the chain of command, the stand-off still happened and someone should be accountable for this.
Mike,
Lahat na lang ba ay kailangang ibatay sa kagustuhan ng nasa malakanyang? Bakit hindi timbanging ang mga dahilan kung bakit merong mga ganitong kaganapan?
Ikumpara natin ang mga sinasabi mo sa pandaraya ni gloria noong 2004, alin ba ang mas mabigat, kung tutuusin?
Kinabukasan natin ang nakataya. Buhay ng ating mga anak at ng susunod na salinlahi.
Oo na lamang ba tayo sa mga bias na katwiran ng mga bayaran ng palasyo?
Hindi naman ‘ata tama ito.
Lagi na lamang ba silang kabig?
Mike, the one who violated the law and the Constitution is Gloria Arroyo. She subverted the will of the people in the 2004 elections. She used the military as her cheating operators. That’s a crime.
She obstructed justice when she bought all the congressmen so that the impeachment process won’t prosper.