Exposed to have overruled the recommendation of the panel that conducted pre-trial investigation on the failed February 2006 coup, AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon wants to know who leaked a copy of the report to media.
“He is furious. He wants everybody investigated,” a Malaya source said.
We got an unsigned copy of the PTI report by Col. Al Perreras, Maj.Erwin Victoriano Machica and Maj. Agustin Matavia last Monday which we posted here.
AFP Chief of staff Hermogenes Esperon was asked by Philipppine Daily Inquirer about the unsigned recommendation of the Perreras panel dismissing the charge of mutiny against the 38 officers and recommended court martial only for Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman. His reply: “Whatever it is, it’s still my decision.”
Asked if the JAGO had recommended the dismissal of mutiny charges, Esperon said: “I will not confirm that.”
Sources said the original Oct. 25 findings of the panel headed by Col. Al Perreras was changed upon orders of Esperon.
Sources said the Esperon , upon seeing the original recommendations, expressed his displeasure and “suggested” that the panel take another look at the evidence.
AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon today ordered the court martial of 30 military officers led by Brig. Gen. Renato Miranda for the Mutiny and Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman in connection with the February 24, 2006 alleged planned withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo and the Fort Bonifacio standoff on Feb. 26, 2006.
We, however, obtained an unsigned report of the preliminary trial investigation conducted by the factfinding body headed by Col. Al Perreras of Office of the Judge Advocate General (Click here) which showed recommendations that the charge of “attempting to create or begin mutiny” be dismissed and the charge of “Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman) be referred to trial for court-martial.
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City 25 October 2006 SUBJECT: Pre-Trial Investigation…
Following are scenes from today’s preliminary investigation of 51 persons, both military and civilian, accused of rebellion against Arroyo’s bogus presidency.
MGen. Renato Miranda. To his left, partly hidden is Col. Ariel Querubin
Today, the Department of Justice will start the preliminary investigation on military officers and civilians accused of rebellion in connection with the February 24, 2006 activities.
The hearings will be at 10 a.m at the DOJ Multi-purpose building.
Among those accused are 21 military officers, two police officers, six retired military officers, 21 civilians and several John Does.
Included in the list are Brig. Gen. Renato Miranda; Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim; Col. Ariel Querubin; Col. Orlando de Leon; Col. Januario Caringal; Ct. Col. Armando Bañez; Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon; Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian.
Also included amoing the accused are former Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan , and former UP President Franciso Nemenzo, whom they erroneously listed as “Prudencio ‘Dodong’ Nemenzo” apparently mixing him up with former president of the Polytechnic of the Philippines, Nemensio Prudente.
Nemenzo issued the following biting statement on today’s investigation:
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported today that Col. Januario Caringal, former deputy commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, is in a critical condition after falling ill while in detention at Fort San Felipe in Cavite City.
Marine Spokesman Ariel Caculitan said Caringal was rushed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (former V. Luna Hospital ) in Quezon City on Nov. 3 and transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit on Nov. 6. Doctors found him to be suffering from acute hepatitis B and hypertension.
Caringal with five other marine officers namely Col. Ariel Querubin, Col. Orlando de Leon, Lt. Col. Armando Bañez ,Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon, and Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian were transferred to Fort San Felipe from the Marine Custodial Center in Fort Bonifacio past midnight of Oct. 29 upon orders of AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon who cited intelligence reports of a plan to spring Querubin from prison.
Is AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon laying the ground for a more vicious and sinister plot against the six Marine officers transferred to Cavite in the darkness of the night first hour of Monday?
Navy Spokesman Giovanni Carlo Bacordo had said that intelligence reports uncovered a plot to spring them out. He specifically mentioned the bemedalled Col. Ariel Querubin.
But there are also talks that Esperon is merely laying the ground for the elimination of Querubin.
“They’ll make it appear that he was shot while escaping. The over-used script, you know,” a source said.
While we rejoice over the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the fake People’s Initiative initiated by Malacañang, the honorable men in uniform who are detained at…
(This is Malaya’s update on the case of Marine Col. Orlando de Leon. Newsbreak magazine also has something on Col de Leon’s resignation:www.newsbreak.com.ph) THE Armed…