Military – Page 53 – ellen tordesillas

Trial turns into protest forum

Published by Ellen on July 19, 2007

Indeed, the all-powerful unseen hand has a way of spoiling the most calculated plans.

Just like what happened in the court martial hearing of the mutiny case against 28 Marine and Army officers involved in the Feb. 2006 aborted withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo.

If the reason for the holding the hearing a week ahead of the agreed schedule had something to do with rendering the accused irrelevant for whatever the government is planning in the coming days, the opposite was achieved because the hearing served as a forum for the Marines to express their sympathy to their fallen comrades and disgust for the inept manner that the military leadership is handling the situation.

Court martial president ousted by peremptory challenge

Published by Ellen on July 18, 2007

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – Former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda’s lawyer yesterday caused the expulsion of Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano by exercising peremptory challenge against the president of the general court martial that has been trying Miranda and 27 other military officers in the last eight months for last year’s failed power grab.

Under the military justice system, all accused in a court martial have the right to peremptorily challenge any member of the tribunal without cause, a move that automatically disqualifies the challenged member.

Yano, who is the head of the Southern Luzon Command, was forced to inhibit himself. He designated Maj. Gen. Raul Caballes to take over but Caballes was himself peremptorily challenged by another accused, former Scout Ranger Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Why did the honorable Marine officers shave their heads

Published by Ellen on July 18, 2007

The main attraction in today’s court martial hearing in Camp Capinpin was the presence of seven Marine officers in the court room with their shaven heads in sympathy and sorrow with their fallen comrades in Basilan.

Kawawang mga sundalong Pilipino

Published by Ellen on July 14, 2007

Update: Two Marine commanders relieved over Basilan debacle.

Kasumpa-sumpa itong trahedya na nangyari sa Tipo-tipo noong Martes kung saan inambus ang mga Marines ng mga miyembro ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front ng pabalik na sila sa kampo galing sa paghahanap kay Fr.Giancarlo Bossi, ang nakidnap na Italyanong pari.

Labing-apat ang namatay na sundalo. Hindi lang yun. Sampo sa namatay ay pinugutan ng ulo. Mga hayop talaga.

Nag-order si Gloria Arroyo na lipulin raw ang may kagagawan ng karumal-dumal na trahedya. Sinabi ngayon ng military na magpapadala raw sila ng isa pang batallion (mga 500 hanggang 600 na sundalo).

Dapat lang.

Mortars were dud

Published by Ellen on July 12, 2007

Trillanes wants deeper probe of Marine debacle
Inquirer

Click here for GMA-7’s report

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the leaders of the Oakwood mutiny of 2003, wants a deeper inquiry into the ambush.

Speaking through his lawyer Rey Robles, the former Navy lieutenant expressed his “deepest sympathy to the families of the soldiers who perished in the line of duty.”

“It is obvious from television footage that defective ammunition was issued to them [Marines], which may have resulted in their failure to effectively defend themselves against the enemy,” Trillanes said.

Faeldon wants to sue officials responsible for JPEPA

Published by Ellen on July 12, 2007

By DJ Yap

A Marine captain on trial for the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny wants to file graft charges against officials involved in the forging of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

In a surprising move, Captain Nicanor Faeldon sought the permission of a Makati court to file a criminal complaint against officials of the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Economic and Development Authority.

He said he would charge the officials, including Undersecretary Tomas Aquino, with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Office of the Ombudsman.

MILF kills 14 Marines, 10 beheaded

Published by Ellen on July 11, 2007

(Let’s pray for our gallant soldiers)

Hundreds of Abu Sayyaf terrorists on Tuesday ambushed Marine soldiers involved in the search for Italian priest Giancarlo Bossi in Basilan, killing 14 and wounding nine, Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said yesterday.

He said 10 of the fatalities were found beheaded near the encounter area in the village of Ginanta, Tipo-Tipo early yesterday. The identities of the fatalities were withheld pending notification of kin.

Velasco taken off Burgos case

Published by Ellen on July 11, 2007

Update: Velasco said he is not indispensable

Car linked to kidnapping traced to Army chief’s office

Burgos prosecutor sacked after tagging Isafp agents

by Evangeline de Vera

Senior state prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco was relieved yesterday by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez as head of the panel investigating the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, two days after he ordered an investigation of military intelligence agents and two other officers suspected of involvement in the abduction.

In another development the Burgos family asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of habeas corpus compelling the military to produce her son and order his immediate release from detention.

Jason Aquino’s house burglarized again

Published by Ellen on July 8, 2007

The house of Maj. Jason Aquino, who is currently detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, was again burglarized early this morning.

This is the third time in six months that intruders got into Aquino quarters in Camp Aguinaldo. the first time was on Feb. 3. It happened again in March 3.

Maria Fe Aquino, wife of Maj. Aquino, said she was in Tanay visiting her husband when it happened. Her household help called her up early in the morning called her up to inform her of the incident, which she immediately reported to the military camp’s security office.

Officers and gentlemen

Published by Ellen on July 2, 2007

By Patricia Evangelista
Inquirer

On June 26, 2006, at two in the morning a little more than a year ago, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño were abducted from a farmer’s home in San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Armed men bundled the women into a stainless steel jeep with plate number RTF 597. A farmer named Manuel Merino, who had run out in response to the women’s cries, was also bound and blindfolded. The three were driven away towards the direction of Iba, Hagonoy, Bulacan.

When the abduction was reported, human rights volunteers, led by Mildred Benitez, went to the 56th Infantry Battalion headquarters at Iba. A stainless steel jeep with plate number RTF was found parked inside the compound.

The military denies its existence.

Category: Military