This is how the military treats its enlisted personnel:
Today, Philippine Army Chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, through his chief of staff Brig. Gen. Ralph A. Villanueva, discharged the remaining five enlisted Army Rangers detained for almost two years without charges in Camp Capinpin, Tanay.
The order said the five are discharged “without honor” effective Dec. 25, 2007.
Documents speak for themselves
The problem with lying is that once you start, it’s difficult to stop because you have to commit more lies to cover up the original lie.
And in the process of endless cover up, truth manages to come out.
That’s what happened to the unconfirmed Brig. Gen. Jonathan Martir (his appointment to brigadier general is “ad interim”).
Update: Hearing on confirmation of Martir’s promotion to brigadier general was deferred to January 2008.
Tomorrow, when the Commission on Appointments Defense Committee meets, on the agenda is the promotion of Col. Jonathan Martir to brigadier general.
Friday last week, Malaya’s editorial, “Toadies crawling out of the woodwork” was about Gloria Arroyo’s lapdogs in frenzied competition proving what they can do to be promoted to chief tuta. That’s why we have NCR police chief Geary Barias proudly bragging to reporters how he manhandled Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other Magdalo officers after the Manila Peninsula standoff.
And of course, Martir didn’t want to be left behind. Malaya’s editorial said, “Martir pulled a macho stunt at the Pen. He manhandled Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and some members of the Magdalo group while they were lying face down on the floor with their hands cuffed. Asked by a member of the CA from the House why he did so, Martir answered that Trillanes and his companions “deserved it.”
The court martial hearing of the 28 officers allegedly involved in the February 2006 attempted withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo scheduled for today was postponed. Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the AFP public information office, said it was requested by lawyers of Brig. Gen. Danny Lim.
Vicente Verdadero, lawyer of Lim, said he never requested for a postponement.
Who is telling the truth?
by Victor Reyes
Malaya
A military court trying Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and 27 other Army and Marines officers for the attempt to oust government in February last year reset to December 14 the trial scheduled for today because Lim would not be able to show up as he is still under police custody.
There are many things not right about the special general court-martial of Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim and 26 other officers allegedly involved in the plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo’s bogus presidency in February 2006.
But last Friday, there was a feeling among the accused, their lawyers and their relatives that there was something more sinister but they just couldn’t put their hands on it.
One, they didn’t get a notice for the Nov. 23 hearing except for five lawyers who had not been attending the hearings for various reasons, one of them distance. Not surprisingly none of those lawyers notified showed up.
They have rediscovered the word “granted.”
Yesterday, the panel hearing the court martial cases of mutiny and conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman against 28 officers allegedly involved in the plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006, granted the motion of the defense lawyers to adjourn the hearing because of the failure of the Trial Judge Advocate to notify all the accused officers and defense lawyers on the hearing yesterday.
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
Camp Capinpin,Tanay, Rizal — Several outbursts marred Friday’s mutiny hearing for 28 military officers linked to the foiled coup in February 2006, with the accused angered over the handling of the proceedings.
The accused were angered by the military court’s decision to deny First Lieutenant Homer Estolas’ petition to exercise his right to peremptory challenge.
The lead perosecutor, Lieutenant Colonel Jose Feliciano Loy, claimed that Estolas said in the last hearing that he had used his right to peremptory challenge.
After last Friday’s walkout of the officers and their lawyers at the court martial hearing (the first in military history) of those allegedly involved in the plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo on Feb. 2006, I’m anxious to know what’s going to happen in today’s hearing.
Frank Chavez, counsel for Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, the highest- ranking officer among the accused, and Maj. Jason Aquino, has filed a motion to suspend the proceedings until they are presented a copy of a pre-trial advice signed by AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon. The PTA is the basis for the charges of mutiny and conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman against the 28 officers.
Judging from the decisions made by the court in past hearings, I’m willing to bet my much-devalued ten dollars that Chavez’ motion will again be denied.
Update: Army Scout Ranger and Marine officers who walked out of their hearing before a military court last week could be held liable for “breach of discipline,” Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said Monday.
Click photos above to enlarge.Officers pay tribute to Maj. Basilio Pooten, military defense lawyer, (next to Gen. Miranda)who refused to be used by the court to trample upon the rights of the accused officers.
Last Friday, the officers accused of planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and their lawyers walked out of the court martial hearing in Camp Capinpin, Tanay Rizal.
It was an occasion where officers and lawyers were called upon to make a stand. Many courageously responded.One man stood out: Maj. Basilio Pooten, the military defense counsel.
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
The Scout Ranger and Marine officers accused of an alleged coup plot in February 2006 walked out of their court martial hearing on Friday, after military prosecutors insisted on proceeding even with a crucial document remaining unsigned by the chief of staff.
Defense lawyers walked out first, followed by the officers, who allegedly plotted to overthrow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on allegations of election fraud.
“I cannot take part in these sham proceedings because the accused are not legally charged. They have the right to know the allegations against them. They have the right not to participate in these sham proceedings,” defense counsel Francisco Chavez said.