Skip to content

Category: Military

Two trials and confused witnesses

Yesterday, the court martial trial of Lt. Artemio Raymundo was off to an amusing start with the witnesses testifying never having viewed the controversial video that has caused the incarceration of an outstanding officer for more than two years.

Raymundo is facing three charges of violations of Articles of War 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman), 97 (conduct prejudicial to public order and military discipline) and 64 (disrespect towards superior officer) for sharing with fellow soldiers copies of video he got for free at an LRT station.

Those video pieces happen to be former Joseph Estrada’s biopic “Ang mabuhay para sa masa” and documentaries on the 2004 election cheating “At All Cost” and “The Original Sin.”

Arroyo’s praetorian guards

The military’s seniority and merit systems are again being strained to protect the illegitimate presidency of Gloria Arroyo.

One of the military officials whose promotion is awaiting confirmation by the Commission on Appointments is Brig. Gen. John Martir.

Martir is one extremely lucky guy. Despite a pending case of malversation of funds and falsification of documents before the Ombudsman, the Board of Generals recommended him for promotion to two-star rank (major general). This is the Martir’ second promotion in six months. Last June he was confirmed as brigadier general despite his having gone on AWOL (absent without leave) for more than one year ( 477) days during the period July 1998 to January 2000.

Hamon sa sambayanan

Nakakaloka itong si Congresswoman Juana Change.

Nag gate-crash si Congresswoman Juana Change (ginagampanan ng artistang si May Paner) sa anti cha-cha rally noong Biernes at nilait-lait ang mga rallyista. Inulit niya ang sinabi ni House Speaker Prospero Nograles na wala silang paki-alam sa mga rally rally dahil ang desisyon tungkol sa charter change ay sa kamay nila nakasalalay, hindi sa mga mamayan na nagra-rally.

Tamang-tama yun para pumanting ang tenga ng mga nagra-rally. Kaya kahit medyo mahinahon ang simula (siyempre naman inter-faith rally kaya puro dasal ang simula) uminit na rin.

Sinundan ni Harry Roque ng Concerned Citizens Movement na simple lang ang malakas na mensahe: “Ayaw namin ng Cha-Cha, Lalo na kay Gloria.”

‘Tanay boys’ motion to dismiss raps junked


A military tribunal yesterday dismissed the motion of defense lawyers to dismiss the mutiny charges against Army and Marine officers linked to the alleged power grab attempt in February 2006, saying the motion was premature.

At least 19 of the 28 accused officers, through their lawyers, earlier filed motions citing lack of evidence. They said evidence and exhibits marked by the prosecution were not enough to prove their guilt.

The 19 include Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, former Marines commandant, and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former commander of the Army’s First Scout Ranger Regiment.

The two are accused of attempting to lead their men to a march to Edsa in February 2006, where they were to supposedly withdraw support from President Arroyo.

Military tribunal asked to drop mutiny charge

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

The military tribunal hearing the case against 28 Army and Marine officers linked to the alleged withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 will hear today the motion of the defense to mutiny charges for lack of evidence.

In a demurrer, lawyer Vicente Verdadero, counsel for 15 officers including Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, said “assuming the facts alleged by the prosecution to be true, said facts do not in law sustain the charge of mutiny.”

Verdadero said seven of his clients – Lt. Cols. Nestor Flordeliza and Edmundo Malabanjot; Capts. Ruben Guinolbay, and Frederick Sales, and 1Lts. Ervin Divinagracia, Sandro Sereno, and Jacon Cordero – were not even mentioned in the evidence or exhibits of the prosecution panel.

Verdadero also wants dismissed the case against former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim; Maj. Leomar Jose Doctolero; Captains Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, William Victorino Upano, Dante Langkit, and 1Lts. Homer Estolas and Richiemel Caballes.

Tama na, kumilos na

Matindi ang kahulugan ng “Araw ng mga Bayani” ngayon dahil nakikita natin kung paano binabastos ni Gloria Arroyo at ng kanyang asawa at kanilang mga alagad ang saligang batas na nagbubuo ng diwa ng ating sambayanan.

Maraming buhay ang nabuwis para maitaguyod natin ang ating demokrasya at ito ay bastas-basta na lang niyuyurakan ni Arroyo para lamang patuloy isyang manaitli sa kanyang ninakaw na kapangyarihan.

Noong Huwebes, naglabas ng mensahe si Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim na ngayon ay nakakulong dahil nanindigan siya ng ilang beses laban sa mga katiwalian ni Arroyo. Tawag nga ni Lim kay Arroyo ay “pekeng presidente.”

“Dissent without action is consent”

Exactly one year ago, Filipinos were glued to their TV sets watching a few, brave military officers led BGen Danilo Lim and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV take a stand against the trampling by Gloria Arroyo of our Constitution and and our democratic institutions.

Following are links to articles on that day:

< Media Hours, grit at the Manila Pen http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=1915

Photos of the Manila Pen siege

Manila Pen- not a case of rebellion or warrantless arrest

Media concerns in the Nov. 29 incident

Bibeth

Maria Ressa’s paper on the Manila Pen incident

NHK’s Charmaine Deogracias on the Manila Pen incident

Trapped

I think Col. Feliciano Loy’s tantrum near the end of last Friday’s court martial hearing of the mutiny case against Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and 27 other officers was more panic than anything else as reality dawned on him that what he has is a losing case.

“We believe that the prosecution has been trapped, We will have to withdraw from the pre-trial,” he said eliciting surprise, disgust, anger and amusement from the defense lawyers.

Col. Loy is the head of the prosecution team implementing the order of former AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon to have the 28 officers convicted for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 following the revelations in the “Hello Garci” tapes that she cheated in the 2004 elections.