Military – Page 45 – ellen tordesillas

Rise up and be counted!

Published by Ellen on November 28, 2007

On the eve of Brig. Gen. Danny Lim’s appearance at the Makati Regional Court hearing (Nov. 29, Thursday, 9 a.m.) on the so-called Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 by the Magdalo officers, two statements were posted at the Sundalo website.
One is this statement by “Para sa Bayan”:

We presently find in existence a dangerous concept where the armed forces now owe their primary allegiance and loyalty to those who temporarily exercise the authority of the executive branch of the government rather than to the country and the Constitution they have sworn to protect.

Continue readingRise up and be counted!

Arraignment by batches

Published by Ellen on November 25, 2007

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.

Surprise! Surprise!

Published by Ellen on November 23, 2007

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.

Outbursts from coup suspects mar mutiny hearing

Published by Ellen on November 16, 2007

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.

Chavez’ advice

Published by Ellen on November 15, 2007

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.

Walkout for justice

Published by Ellen on November 11, 2007

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.

Accused ‘plotters’ walk out on ‘sham’ court martial

Published by Ellen on November 9, 2007

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.

‘Agreement was to charge only 5 Magdalo leaders’

Published by Ellen on November 8, 2007

by Ashzel Hachero and Evangeline de Vera

Two generals yesterday said government negotiators and junior military officers who staged the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 forged a “gentleman’s agreement” that only five of the core leaders of the Magdalo group would be charged for the mutiny.

Commodore Feliciano Ange, commander of the Ready Force of the Philippine Fleet, and Brig. General Eduardo Oban, commander of the Air Force Air Defense Wing based at Villamor Air Base, took the witness stand at the Makati regional trial court which is hearing the coup d’état case of the mutineers led by now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Defense lawyers have said government reneged on the agreement.

Querubin’s optimistic he’ll get justice

Published by Ellen on November 8, 2007

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

Colonel Ariel Querubin, one of the alleged leaders of the botched February 2006 coup, found an ally in former vice president Teofisto Guingona, who attended the officer’s habeas corpus hearing at the Court of Appeals on Thursday.

Guingona, who wore a button pin bearing Querubin’s face, sat beside the colonel during the proceedings.

“I give full support to Colonel Querubin because I know how it means to be imprisoned,” Guingona told reporters after the hearing.

2 ex-Magdalos as “counselors”

Published by Ellen on November 4, 2007

Update:

At the investigation of the nine enlisted men today, they were given a charge sheet for violations of of Articles of War No. 67 (mutiny) and 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman) without supporting evidence.

In their own handwriting, at the back of the charge sheet, the soldiers denied the charges and explained their whereabouts on Feb. 23, 2006. many of them were at home in their provinces on administrative break pending the transfer to other units aftert eh the Anti-Crime task Force where they were assigned was dissolved.

When the nine of the 40 enlisted men of the Philippine Army’s Scout Rangers detained in Camp Capinpin for 18 months without charges were brought to the compound of the Army’s Intelligence Service last Wednesday night, their custodians didn’t waste time working on them.

And who did they use to try to break the nine? Capt. Milo Maestrocampo and Lt. Lawrence San Juan.

Category: Military