Category: Military

By Joel Guinto
Inquirer.net

The military has rejected ex-Marine commandant Major General Renato Miranda’s appeal to release eight of his men co-accused with him for mutiny and leave him to stand trial alone.

“That is not possible because the criminal and administrative liability of one person cannot be absorbed by just one person,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public information officer Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro said on Monday.

“They are charged with conspiracy, for violating the Articles of War. They have to face this,” told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

Ex-Marine Commandant Major General Renato Miranda has urged the military to release eight of his men, who are his co-accused for mutiny before a court-martial, for the “common good,” and that he alone be left to stand trial.

“My position is to release all those who are currently detained and allow them to either opt to leave the service or continue their service to God, country and people,” Miranda said in a statement released on Sunday.

“I strongly reiterate that in the dispensation of justice, my position is — I be found guilty first before my subordinates are even subjected to the process,” said Miranda, who is detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay town, Rizal province with his men, and their co-accused from the Army Scout Rangers.

From the Tribune:

Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol, during a telephone interview yesterday said the statement of Maj. Jason Aquino amounted to influencing the AFP and the PNP not to respect the rule of law and launch rebellion against their Commander-in-Chief.

Apostol urged AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. to impose sanctions on Aquino.

“Who is this Major Aquino? I don’t know him. The media should not entertain his call nor should the media allow themselves to be used by such erring individual,” he said.

According to Apostol, Esperon being the head of the AFP should know how to respond to such call coming from some “disgruntled” groups within the military.

“Esperon should know what to do to (Aquino). He knows how to discipline the AFP,” the Arroyo lawyer said.

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

One of 28 officers on trial for what government claims was a failed February 2006 uprising reminded his fellow soldiers to “serve the country, not Malacañang” amid rumors of a fresh plot to topple the government.

In a statement addressed to soldiers, policemen, and everyone in government service, Army Major Jason Aquino said: “Huwag tayong pumayag na maging instrumento sa katiwalian, intimidasyon at pananakot, pananakit at pang-aapi laban sa taong bayan na siyant tunay nating pinagsisilbihan. (“Let us not allow ourselves to be instruments of corruption, intimidation, fear, hurt, and oppression against the people that we truly serve.”)

The statement was passed to reporters.

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

Officers detained at an Army camp in Tanay town, Rizal province accused the military leadership of cutting off their cellular phone signals during a hearing on their mutiny case on Friday.

“Our signal has been cut off. I know for the fact that convicted criminals, especially those in Muntinlupa, are not allowed to communicate outside. In our case, we are not yet guilty,” ex-Marine commandant Major General Renato Miranda, the highest-ranked of the 28 accused, told the court.

“After submitting ourselves to the process, I cannot see any reason why we are treated this way,” added Miranda.

The injustices done to military officers are so many that even the court seems to be confused.

Last Aug. 31, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition of Ma. Fe Aquino, wife of Army Maj. Jason Aquino, for habeas corpus .

Immediately after the February 2006 aborted alleged withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo, Aquino was arrested and placed in solitary confinement at the Intelligence Security Group compound. He was not allowed contact with his family and lawyers for weeks and months.

It was only in the fourth month of his confinement that he was able to see a lawyer. His wife filed a petition for habeas corpus before the Court of Appeals, which dismissed it . She appealed to the Supreme Court.

Camp Capinpin,Tanay – One of the accused alleged “mutineer” challenged Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon last Friday not to interfere in the court martial proceedings of the 28 miltiary officers involved in the aborted Feb. 2006 withdrawal of support from the Arroyo presidency.

Army Major Jose Leomar Doctolero said, “I pose a challenge to the convening authority not to interfere with the proceedings here.”

Doctolero said from the very beginning of the court martial, all he has been hearing has been, ‘order of Gen. Esperon.’

Something is really wrong when those who are in power are afraid of those they have put in prison. This is a message from Camp…