by Ellen Tordesillas and Tessa Jamandre (Conclusion) Hundreds of junior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who took over the Oakwood Hotel in…
Making life worth living.
Category: Military
Update: Col. Querubin was released this afternoon. An AFP statement quoted AFP Chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo David as saying “ Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Ordoñez will…
The latest reshuffle in the military has Major General Arturo Ortiz taking over as commander of the Philippine Army.
Ortiz is an awardee of the Medal of Valor, the highest military award.
(Two medal of valor awardees- Marine Col. Ariel Querubin and Marine Lt. Vol. Custodio Parcon are among those facing charges of mutiny for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in 2006 following the revelation in the “Hello Garci” tapes where the role of the military in election cheating was exposed.)
Brigadier General Roberto Morales will take over Ortiz’s post as commander of the AFP Special Operations Command. Colonel Aminkadra Undug will take over Morales’ former post as chief of the Army’s Special Forces Regiment.
I have my concerns about Undug (PMA Class’82). He was mentioned in the “Hello Garci” tapes by a certain “Boy” whom then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano was talking with in their plan to kidnap Rashma Hali, an election officer in Tipo-tipo, Basilan who wanted to expose the manipulation of votes in favor of Arroyo.
by Ashzel Hachero
Malaya
A Makati court hearing the coup d’etat case of the Magdalo soldiers on Thursdya junked the bid of the group’s leader, detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to attend the opening session of the 15th Congress on Monday, July 26.
Update: Detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV asked Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 to reconsider his reconsider its decision prohibiting him from attending the opening of the Senate session on July 26.
“It will just be fore five hours,” Trillanes’ lawyer Reynaldo Robles said.
Robles argued that the SC ruling cited by the RTC was “not applicable” in the request for leave-from-detention. “(The SC ruling denied an) omnibus motion, which is a motion (for Trillanes to) attend Senate sessions and committee hearings,” he told GMANews.TV.
In a four page ruling, Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel Sr. sided with the prosecution’s arguments that Trillanes latest bid to leave his detention place to attend Senate sessions has no merit and this was even affirmed by the Supreme Court (SC).
“After due considerations of the pleadings and arguments filed by both parties, the Court is convinced to deny the Motion for leave filed by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV,” Pimentel said in his ruling dated July 15 but which was only released late Thursday afternoon.
by Jocelyn Montemayor
Malaya
Former president Joseph Estrada joined calls for the temporary release of Trillanes, saying that his continued detention is a waste of taxpayer’s money.
Statement of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV:
I am very grateful for the public pronouncements of Pres. Aquino as regards our case. It was truly a display of magnanimity on his part. Still, for now, it will be the court who will decide whether or not I would be able to serve our country once again.
“He is receiving his salary as senator yet unable to render his services in this capacity. By not allowing him to participate in Senate sessions, the courts are rendering Senator Trillanes’ office inutile and indirectly wasting taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Estrada said it should not be too difficult to allow Trillanes a few hours of provisional liberty to participate in the Senate sessions, particularly on July 26.
“He can be brought to the Senate to attend session for a few hours and then brought back to where he is being detained. Why the big fuss?” Estrada said.
More articles on Trillanes case:
. 1.Senator Antonio Trillanes, prisoner of conscience by Ramon J. Farolan
2. Gloria Arroyo’s allies criticize Aquino statement on Trillanes
3.Trillanes may soon walk free
4. Palace: statement on Trillanes not meddling
Nakakapagtaka itong si dating senator na ngayon ay Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon.
Samantalang ang karamihan ay nag-aapela kay Pangulong Aquino na tulungang makalaya si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV at sinabi na ni P-Noy na hindi makatarungan ang pitong taon na pagkakulong ng batang senador , ito naman si Biazon ay nagbabala na dapat daw huwag maki-alam si P-Noy .
Ang dating sa sinabi ni Biazon ay ayaw niyang makalaya si Trillanes.
Ano ba ang kasalanan ni Trillanes? Noong Hulyo 27, 2003, nanindigan siya kasama ang mga 70 na batang opisyal at mga 300 na sundalo laban sa kurakutan sa military at paggamit ng military sa mga gawain na hindi naayon sa kanilang tungkulin na magprotekta sa taumbayan. Sinabi nila na dapat bumaba si Gloria Arroyo sa kapangyarihan.
Aquino says coup charge vs Trillanes ‘unjust’; Trillanes posted bail in connection with Manila Pen November 2007 incident
abs-cbnNEWS.com
President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Friday labeled as unjust a coup charge against former Navy Lt. Senior Grade and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for his involvement in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny.
Update July 18 from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima:
” We abide by the directive of the President. I am reviewing the records of the case and have consulted our prosecutors, especially those handling it before the court.
“I understand that the case will soon be deemed submitted for the court’s decision, upon the filing of the required memoranda by both the prosecution and the defense. At this stage, the options for the prosecution may be limited. And the courts have absolute discretion in the disposal of a case once it has acquired jurisdiction over it.
“On the other hand, the President has the absolute prerogative to direct the Secretary of Justice, as an alter ego, to review the case against Senator Trillanes. It is in consonance with his oath to do justice to every man. That is also part of the thrust and mission of the new DOJ,” Secretary De Lima added.
“I will, however, exercise care and circumspection under the circumstances, given the independence of the judiciary,” Secretary De Lima further added.
Aquino said he has ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to review the coup charge against Trillanes since the elements of a coup were not present during the short-lived mutiny.
“Trillanes was first incarcerated by virtue of the charge of participating in a coup. However, if you review the Revised Penal Code, there is a provision that says a coup is committed if there is a swift, violent attack. Then there’s an enumeration. The enumeration does not include a hotel,” he said at the inauguration of the Philippine National Police School of Values and Leadership (SVL) in Subic Freeport Zone, Zambales.
Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon surrenders.
Media advisory:
The Philippine Navy will hold a presscon tomorrow, 08 July 2010, 9 a.m. at The Villa Cristina Resort and Hotel, Taktak Road, Antipol city on the surrender of fugitive Captain Nicanor Faeldon.
Rear Admiral Danilo, Flag Officer in Command and Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commandant, Philippine Marine Corps will have a presscon and media presentation of Faeldon.
ABS-CBN report July 8, 2010
by Ashzhel Hachero
Malaya
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday asked Makati Judge Oscar Pimentel to allow him to attend the opening session of the Senate on July 26.
Trillanes’ lawyer Reynaldo Robles also asked that Trillanes be allowed to take lunch with Senate colleagues within the premises of the Senate at the GSIS Financial Complex on Roxas boulevard, Pasay City.
Trillanes said he will abide with the security considerations of his custodian.
Trillanes is detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City, in connection with his involvement in the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in 2003.
He was elected senator in the 2007 mid-term election despite campaigning behind bars and with little resources at his disposal.
by Kris Bayos
Manila Bulletin
Although President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III believes that detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the other Magdalo soldiers involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege are not guilty of coup d’etat and rebellion, he cannot promise them executive clemency.
A known sympathizer of Trillanes and ally of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Aquino said he will respect the proceedings against the Magdalo soldiers at the Makati Regional Trial Court.
“The court is a co-equal branch of the executive. As such, mere executive action is not enough to solve the case. There is a process that has to be undergone, which we should respect,” he said in reaction to the suggestion of Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel for the next administration to intervene in the Magdalo soldiers’ cases.