Category: Feb ’06

No wonder Trial Judge Advocate General Ukol Paglala was laughing nervously all throughout the court martial proceedings last Thursday in Camp Capinpin in Tanay of 28 officers linked to the February 2006 coup lot against Gloria Arroyo.

He was caught in a difficult situation. The lawyers of the accused officers were demanding a copy of the pre-trial investigation (PTI) report on the February incident which Esperon had said was the basis of his decision to try the officers for mutiny before a military tribunal.

Had Paglala released the PTI as due process requires, he would have exposed his superior, AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, as not exactly telling the truth.

Trial day for the detained men of honor are opportunities for family togetherness, even though how brief. 1. The Langkit twins. Capt. Dante Langkit and…

Victor Reyes report for Malaya:

Court martial proceedings against dozens of officers linked to last year’s alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo government failed to move anew yesterday due to a number of issues, including access by the defense to a pretrial investigation (PTI) report which cleared the accused.

Defense lawyer Abraham Espejo immediately revived the issue on the controversial report shortly after the court convened for the second time since Dec. 14 at the headquarters of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.

Espejo, who represents Scout Ranger Lt. Cols. Edmundo Malabanjot and Nestor Flordeliza, protested the refusal of the prosecution panel to furnish them with a copy of the PTI report.

If you want a good life in the military, just say Gloria Arroyo is the best president the Philippines ever had and that you will die fighting for her. Check out this story by Joel Guinto in Inquirer.

THE Philippine Army admitted on Tuesday that rebel soldiers who have reaffirmed allegiance to the government are detained in more comfortable facilities than their defiant former comrades.

The group of Captain Gerardo Gambala, who have issued two statements of support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, are housed in “comfortable living quarters” complete with accommodations for their visitors, Army spokesman Major Ernesto Torres told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Continue readingRepentant mutineers treated better, Army admits

Following is Victor Reyes’ account of the postponed arraigment yesterday for Malaya:

CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – A military tribunal on Thursday failed to arraign dozens of officers linked to the failed February coup after the proceedings were marred by legal wrangling,

Lawyer Vicente Verdadero questioned the constitution of the general court martial as soon as he was introduced by the plot’s alleged leader, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, as his counsel.

Verdadero told the court, headed by Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, that his appearance does not mean that the defense recognizes the validity of the court.

From today’s Malaya:

BRANDING the military court as nothing more than a “kangaroo court,” detained Marine Col. Ariel Querubin yesterday asked the Court of Appeals to suspend court martial proceedings on December 14 against him and 29 other officers who were linked to an alleged coup attempt last Feb. 24.

In a 18-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, Querubin asked the appellate court to issue a temporary restraining order on the special general court martial created by Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon.

“Petitioner and his co-respondent officers would surely not be afforded fair trial by the respondent court martial, as the person who shall ultimately review and approve the latter’s decision, is no less than their principal accuser-witness and who, in his various pronouncements, already made up his mind about the guilt of herein petitioner and his co-respondent officers that no proofs to the contrary presented by the petitioner shall persuade him to rule otherwise,” he said through counsel Rodrigo Artuz.