The court martial hearing the case of remaining nine officers accused of committing mutiny against Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 denied “for lack of merit” the motion to dismiss by retired Marine Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and Col. Ariel Querubin.
Not acquitted
The court however acquitted Scout Rangers Maj. Jason Aquino, former Capt. Dante Langkit, Captains Montano Almodovar, Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, and James Sababan.
Acquitted
The court said no evidence was found that the six were part of the conspiracy to commit mutiny against the Arroyo government.
The six will be eligible to go back to active service.
Querubin said he is happy for the junior officers. Now that they have been acquitted, he will now avail of the amnesty granted by President Aquino under Proclamation 75. He said he will apply tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Update:Col Querubin filed his application for amnesty Tuesday. He said that since the junior officers were already cleared and only 2 senior officers and himself are left to face the mutiny charge in the Special General Court Martial, he decided to avail the amnesty given by President Aquino so he can move on and start to rebuild his life after more than four years in prison.
Narration of facts of his alleged offense is in the comments section.
Last month Atty. Vic Verdadero, lawyer of Lim, Langkit,Almodovar,Criste, Fontiveros,and Sababan filed a motion to dismiss the charges against his clients invoking an earlier cout resolution clearing a group of accused officers as it “found no sufficient evidence to hold that the accused conspired among themselves to commit the offense of mutiny”.
The court granted the motion on the six Scout Ranger.
In staying the charges against Miranda, Lim and Querubin, the court said its previous findings that the acts of the three accused during the Fort Bonifacio Marine Standoof on Feb. 26, 2006 constitute the intent to create ()……to commit a particular crime, and ..the intent.
The court cited statements of the three like Miranda telling then AFP Chief of staff Generoso Senga, “we have listened to the people, we must join them and support them.”.
The cited Lim’s taped video statement which was not released but was obtained by the military later when the Scout Rangers commander was seen declaring that he has witndrawn support from the president of the republic and called for the people support to unseat the president and establish a new governtment.
The court also said that Lim together with Querubin told Senga and then Army Chief Hermogenes Esperon that they cannot prevent their men from joining the march to EDSA and that they will join the protest in EDSA to l provide leadership to their men.
Esperon et al, naunahan na kayo ni presidente, Proclamation 75! kala nyo ha 🙂
What’s the effect of the ruling with Gen. Miranda, he’s retired already?
For Gen. Lim and Col. Ariel Querubin, there’s the amnesty created especially for those denied of the motion to dismiss. We love to see you free via whatever legal means.
Congrats to the six scout rangers acquitted of the mutiny charges. God speed.
Ah, kaya galit ako sa mga heneral ni Gloria lalo na si Asspweron, pakamatay din sana sya!
next – Lacson! tingnan natin kung hindi kakaripas palabas ng bansa ang mga to?
Ngayon at nakalabas na sila,about time na tugisin nila ang mga kurap na nagpakulong sa kanila.Sila ang ipapalit ninyo sa kulungan.Masaya ito.
weder-weder lang iyan.
Mas takot ngayon sila kay Trillanes kasi marami siyang nalalaman sa corruption nila.Hindi na nila siya mabusalan.
Re Miranda, I understand his options would be either to apply for amnesty or go on with the trial.
Congratulations to those who were foud not guilty today! The three senior officers must have anticipated this, that no way will the court get them off the hook kahit alam na nila na walang basehan ang kaso. Baliktad talaga ang AFP natin, yung pagnanakaw ok, yung naninindigan para sa tao, ikinukulong. This is why our AFP has no HONOR and INTEGRITY. Kaya tignan ninyo ang basehan nila ng hero nila, yung nagpapakamatay dahil sa nagnakaw!
The three do not need to go back to military service anyway. Retired na si Miranda. Lim and Querubin ran in the elections and they can no longer go back to service. So it does not really matter if the kangaroo court delays the proceedings anyway. Nandyan naman na yung amnesty ni Pnoy which they can always avail of.
Ellen, until when can these officers avail of the amnesty? Is there a time frame? Because if there is no deadline, why don’t these three just keep appealing and go through the hearings, however long it takes.
Cocoy, magdilang anghel ka sana, na ngayong nasa labas na ang mga Magdalo at Tanay Boys, yung mga corrupt naman na mga tao na nagkulong sa kanila ang dapat pumalit sa kulungan nila nuon. This is my prayer talaga. It will probably take time as bansot’s generals are so knit and they stick together in their lies. But it will come. We just have to keep focused.
parasabayan,
inayos na ni gloria yan, done deal kung baga, pero hindi niya (nila) inasahan na may gagawin ang bagong administrasyon pang kontra, kung ma dismiss okay, kung hindi, may amnesty naman, ayos. Tapos nandiyan na rin si Mar Roxas to help out. Trillanes, and hopefully si Honasan will push for true reforms in the AFP, kulang na lang si Lacson for PNP.
The economic team is in place, doing well, now they need to work on the SC, the office of the Ombudsman, but the people must take the responsibility for congress and the senate. alangan naman sila lang lahat magtratrabaho.
Of course, there’s this pesky issue of the DFA, its high time they realize the significance of this department as a fully functioning one and stop treating it as some sort of retirement home for old politicians and generals, maiba naman ngayon, kung ito ang dati ng kalararan, well, iba na ngayon dapat.
Jug, wala na akong bilib kay Honasan. I am not sure if he is even supporting Trillianes. Panay ang tira niya kay Trillianes. I do not know why Trillianes even gives him importance. Sa tingin ko, matagal ng walang prinsipyo yang taong yan. The bansot humiliated him and purposely caught him when he was with___. So now, parang may utang na loob pa siya kay putot. See how he reacted to Tillianes’ implication of the putotin the corruption issues? Parang ulol na aso itong si Honasan na panay ang sabing where is the proof? He better shut up! Sino sino ba ang mga pinoprotektahan niya ngayon? Ang mga taong bayan ba o si putot at yung mga corrupt niyang generals?
Actually Jug, I am starting to like the style of Pnoy. Hindi siya madaldal but you know he tries his best to do what is needed. He is an enabler, at least for a good cause. Unlike the putot who enabled all her cronies to be thieves.
Salamat, Ellen.
Basta, ayaw ko kay Hudasan!
PSB:
It’s only until March that those who would be interested of the Amnesty Program of Aquino could be avail of it.
But I’ve read in the news that Sir Danny Lim is not opting for the Amnesty since he must admit guilt or regret of the aledged charges against him.
parasabayan, itong style ni Aquino, pwede lang yan ngayon, kasi naglilinis, hindi siya nakikialam sa mga tao na nagtatrabaho naman, tumatahimik siya kung hindi makakatulong magsalita, natuto na rin. pero hindi pa rin siya ang presidente na hinahanap talaga natin. tama ka nga enabler, nasanay na kasi tayo na nasa forefront ang presidente palagi, lahat ng credit sa kanya, kasi may balak pang tumakbo ulit. alamin lang niya kung sino talaga yung ang layunin ay ang kapakanan ng bansa talaga at bigyan niya ng pagkakataong ipakita ito, may pag asa pa tayo. tama din yung hinahayaan niyang magsalita lahat ng panig, open sa lahat, kasama man o hindi. its time people (me included) realize that the country is not defined only by its president, mas mataas pa.
Correction:
“could avail of it”…
lim will have no choice, bottomline, even if he went against a fake president and the evil that came with her, meron pa rin tayong batas na kailangang sundin, malinis man ang ating hangarin. this is also to ensure that the military will not be used to do another coup ala Gloria and Reyes (against Erap).
Thanks Naguilenya for the info. Are you from Naguilian, La Union?
Jug, hindi ko nga rin maintindihan si Gen Lim. At least Col Querubin will avail of the amnesty, he said. Life has to move on. There is life after the military, baka mas maganda pa. I rememebr Col Querubin when he said it does not really matter if he bocomes a general or not coz he is not proud to even have a star in bansot’s time coz to have one, you have to prostitute yourself (to be used by the bansot in whatever wicked endeavor she had). I see his point much more so now.
PSB:
How did you know? Tumayenteng nga Ilokana.
Jug, it really is best for Pnoy to just look and strategize. When he has already put the systems in place and has installed good programs, then he can talk. Si bansot, talk lang ng talk and worse, whatever she said, she did the opposite anyway.
Naguilenya ti nagan mo so it is self explanatory…heh,heh,heh.
But there’s another Naguilian in Isabela. Baka pagalitan tayo ni Ma’am Ellen. Peace Ma’am Ellen.
@#7 OO takot na sila kay Sen. Trillanes.,. I wonder kung saan na ngayong Supt. Gerry Barrias,.. yung sumuntok kay trillanes sa manila pen..??
JaySy1979,
Ikaw naman, nanananimik yung tao para hindi mapansin, pinaalala mo pa. 🙂
Am interesting take.
A tragic turn in the quest for truth and justice
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo
The Philippine Star 2011-02-10
“Under the GMA regime, you felt like a threatened species if you decided to become a whistleblower. We all know the difficulties that Jun Lozada encountered when he testified during the ZTE-NBN Senate probe. It was only recently when Jun Lozada was able to return home with his family. You felt threatened during the GMA regime because you sensed then that the government was out to protect the guilty and annihilate the witnesses.
Unlike P-Noy’s DoJ (Department of Justice) which is quick to extend to whistleblowers the witness protection program — can you recall when the DoJ under then Secretary Raul Gonzalez ever offered whistleblowers the safety of the witness protection program? Didn’t Gonzalez transmit more of fear in the hearts of whistleblowers than a feeling of safety?
One of the most memorable statements of Ninoy Aquino, P-Noy’s father, was this: “Filipinos will tolerate corruption but not injustice.” Ninoy proved his own words. The injustice of his August 21, 1983 assassination triggered the historical events that led to the February 25, 1986 People Power Revolution.
We grieve with the family of Angie Reyes over their loss and the circumstances of his passing. However, we Filipinos must not lose track of our greater grief — the decades of injustice and inequity that we must all collectively address.”
http://www.chairwrecker.com/column.php?col=836
Sinipa yata ni Barias si Trillanes hindi sinuntok. Tama ba, Ellen?
Hahaha@jug, gumawa na ng fox hole si Barrias.
Pasalamat pa si Trillanes kung sisipain siya sa PMA for telling the truth and standing for the right…hindi nakakahiya kahit kailan man ang pagsabi ng totoo..utos ng Dios…ang sundin hindi ang utos ni putot..
..btw nakita ko ang picture ni putot during the funeral of Reyes…nakaitim siya…bagay na bagay sa kanya ang itim..ternong terno sa loob at sa labas…
#13 Ellen, until when can these officers avail of the amnesty? – PSB
April 4.
Congrats sa mga Scout Rangers. Sana bago sila maghiwa-hiwalay nakapag-ayos na sila. Para sa Bansa! Di pa tapos ang laban.
now it is putot’s turn to be in jail…NOW na!
rose,
Hindi siya ang priority ni Kwek Kwek … malabong makulong yang si Bansot.
Hindi daw priority … gng pangulong kwek kwek … ipakulong mo ang mga nagkasala habang maaga pa … tignan mo …. maaayos mo ang ating Bansa. Habang nandiyan at winawaldas ang mga ninakaw nila sa kaban ng Bayan unahan mo na sila … bago nila ipamigay ang inyong Hacienda Luisita sa mga magsasaka.
Hindi tatahimik ang inyong Bansa habang ang mag-asawang Arroyo at ang mga General niya ay humihinga at pakalat kalat pa.
Off topic: The supreme court is allowing the congress to proceed with the impeachment of the ombudsgirl! YEHEY!
But the votes were too close, 7-5. If the ombudsgirl will appeal and the votes tie, the ombudsgirl might even win. But at least it is a good initial decision! At least may chance na matanggal ang Malditas!
PSB, can’t afford ngayon ang putot SC to go against the kapinuyan kasi nakita nila na kumukulo ang majority sa kasong pandarambong ni Reyes. If the SC did not allow congress to proceed with the impeachment of the useless ombudswitch, they would definitely become the next target of the people’s wrath, baling sa kanila ang init ng ulo ni Juan. Sila naman ang ipapanalanging mag-suicide, hehe!
Chi, now getting the bansot and her cronies to account for their sins is within reach.
Agree, psb. As long as PNoy’s attitude remains open towards unearthing of the truth on corruption, yes, as Trillanes said…”it’s not farfetched’. 🙂
And if Merciditas wins an appeal for reconsideration, what next?
That’s the time for Tooting Power.
Surround the Supreme Court with a million people carrying horns and tooters. And blow the deaf and blind dissenting Supreme Court justices down to kingdom come.. ala Jericho.
huwag tayo mag saya tungkol dun sa pagbasura ng impeachment kay merci, hindi ba ninyo napansin, iyong mga kumampi kay merci ay sina midnight appointee justice corona,justice bersamin, de castro, peralta at brion. etong mga justices na ito ay maka arroyo till the end..sana mapansin ng ating mga mamamayang pilipino, gagawa at gagawa ng milagro ang limang ito hanngat nariyan sila sa supreme court..!! mag matiyag po sana tayo..!!
In the 1900s, Gen Antonio Luna, Gen Licerio Geronimo, Maj Torres Bugallón, Pvt Bonifacio Mariano, and all filipino soldiers among us defended the filipino people among us against the north americans who violated our nationhood. They have joined the people. They have protected the people. They are our heroes.
Today, the court cites statements such as, “we have listened to the people, we must join them and support them.” refering to defending the people against those who are collaborating with the violators of our nationhood, being addressed to a highest ranking filipino soldier, as a crime since it has the intention to commit a crime. This is justice. This is the kind of values we have.
To defend the people against those who violate them is now a crime.
Marine Col Ariel Querubin filed for amnesty at ten this morning. Here’s his narration of facts:
After my schooling in Australia in 2003, I was designated Superintendent of the Philippine Marine Corps Training Center.
It was during this time, when US Servicemen and young officers, who either witnessed cheating or they themselves were used to manipulate the results of the 2004 elections, in favor of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; relayed to me various information of rampant election fraud. I became the repository of all their gripes and grievances.
Without delay, I informed my chain of command about all the complaints. But to my astonishment and disbelief, I was told not to rock the boat and not to be naive. They told me, everybody cheated in the election and GMA was the lesser evil.
I reminded my superiors, that the AFP should be neutral and non partisan for it to be credible in maintaining order; and the true will of the Filipino people, should always be respected and upheld. Nevertheless, nobody did anything, even after we brought the matter to the Chairman of the Senate Defense Committee who was a former soldier. The US servicemen were sent back to the States.
I was so disillusioned. When the ‘Garci Tape’ surfaced and the public opinion was growing against GMA, the AFP leadership finally formed the Mayuga committee to investigate. I then informed Admiral Mayuga that there were officers and enlisted personnel who have personal knowledge of the cheating in 2004, who were willing to testify but they were never called to give their statements. Some were already killed in action in Mindanao.
Then I was designated Brigade Commander in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur. Sometime in the 1st week of February 2006, my unit confiscated 34 assorted high powered firearms, all of which were loose with either tampered or defaced serial numbers and thousands of rounds of ammunitions; intended for the Ampatuans. Senior military officers and influential politicians interceded for the release of said firearms but I stood my ground. Cases were filed against a PNP provincial director and a Mayor who escorted the six vehicle convoy carrying said firearms but all the cases were dropped after I was relieved.
These were some of the matters I brought up with the then AFP Chief of Staff, Gen Generoso Senga when I went to see him on February 23, 2006. I clarified with Gen Senga if he instructed MGen Demaala to intercede for the release of the confiscated firearms intended for the Ampatuans. Gen Senga said he did not order MGen Demaala to intercede for the release of said firearms. According to Gen Senga, he told MGen Demaala: “Tignan mo kung paano natin tulungan si Gov.” He further told me that Malacañang called him up to help Gov. Ampatuan.
I also informed him that some officers of the elite units of the AFP and PNP planned to march together with the people, as a manifestation of their grievances and to question the legitimacy of GMA because I wanted a peaceful and non violent demonstration of our complaints. I also told him that if no senior officer will lead them then I will be forced to go with them to maintain order.
However, Gen Senga confided to us his stand; even if he was sympathetic, he said he was sorry he can not lead us. But then he ordered us to talk to the junior officers to abort our plans, which we obeyed. That was the reason why there was no soldier in the protest march to commemorate Edsa Anniversary last February 24, 2006.
The Marine Standoff took place only after the AFP leadership removed our commandant on February 26, 2006 which was a Sunday without any proper turnover.
The commandant just presided over a meeting to listen to all our sentiments with the presence of the Flag Officer in Command, Admiral Mateo Mayuga. The commandant even dissuaded the officers from joining the peaceful rally.
Thereafter, I was relieved from my post as Brigade Commander, and was subsequently detained for four and a half years with a pending case for mutiny up to now.
In the pre-trial investigation report, three military lawyers said that there was no probable cause to charge us with mutiny.
However, former AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. who took over after Gen. Senga, overturned the results of the investigation; and jailed without any legal basis or explanation, 9 Marine Officers, 19 Army Officers and 40 Army enlisted personnel.
Ayan na, Mikey d’Horsey, ang hinihingi mong ebidensya. Babay na kay Mercy na protektor ninyo, pag sinimulan na rin yang pandaraya ng nanay mong kurap, sasama na rin si Col. Querubin na magra-Rabusa.
Manigas ka, hindi kita kukuning kasosyo sa itinatayo kong punerarya. Customer, pwede pa, ako mismo magke-cremate sa yo. Supleteng oxy-acetylene ang bagay sa yo.
supleteng oxy-acetyline bagay sa yo..
tw: anu yan pulutang aso..?? pig ang erpat.. e di piglet
yan..!! be kind to animals naman.!!
hehehe…
What is supleteng oxy-acetyline?
supleting oxy- acetylin is a blow torch..!!
Ellen,
I don’t understand why the charge of mutiny was not thrashed. Was there a mutiny at all? I thought the three guys (granted they were all together when they spoke to Senga about marching out of Bonifacio) obeyed Senga’s orders to confine themselves to barracks?
Were they forcibly confined to their barracks by armed soldiers?
Even the stand-off in Fort Bonifacio didn’t sound like a mutiny at all. They were discussing, weren’t they? They didn’t march out of Bonifacio. So, what’s the real score? If they committed mutiny, how come we didn’t hear of it, i.e., marched out of Bonifacio to go to Edsa or wherever they wanted to march?
Mutiny is such a serious offence. Until a few years ago, the penalty in the UK and in France was death by firing squad.
The non-dropping of the mutiny charge against Miranda, Lim and Querubin, is a face-saving decision for the court.
After four years of trial, denying motions after motion of the defense to dismiss the mutiny charge for lack of evidence, the court kept on denying it. Twenty-five of those accused have been cleared of having committed mutiny. If they dismiss the charge against the top three, they would be asked, you only realized it now? After four years of trial?
They have to justify those four years of trial.Which is really unjuts.
To recall, from the very beginning, the pre-trial investigation showed there was no mutiny. It was Esperon who insisted to charge them of mutiny.