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Thursday, July 27, 2006
'Coup plotters' in military told to reply to raps
MILITARY prosecutors have asked the 40 Army and Marine officers allegedly involved in the failed coup last February to explain their role in the plot as the pre-trial investigation, preparatory to conduct of court martial, is set to formally start.
Armed Forces public information office Chief Tristan Kison said Army Brigadier General Danilo Lim, sacked commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, was directed to submit his affidavit on Friday when the pre-trial investigation panel convenes.
Lim, who is detained in a secured jail facility in Camp Capinin in Tanay, Rizal, allegedly planned to lead some military officers to a march to the Edsa Shrine and subsequently withdraw their support from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last February 24.
Kison said former Marine commandant Renato Miranda and Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, a recipient of the highest military award Medal for Valor, were told by the pre-trial investigators to submit their affidavits next week.
The pre-trial investigation panel also asked the 37 other officers who were also linked to the plot to produce their affidavits but Kison did not say when they were required to submit their statements before the body.
"He (Lim) was issued subpoena to produce his affidavit on Friday through his lawyer. (Major General) Miranda and (Colonel) Querubin were asked to submit their affidavits next week. This is the start of the pretrial investigation," said Kison.
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Generoso Senga last July 18 ordered a pretrial investigation against the 40 officers after a fact-finding board recommended that they should be tried in a court martial for mutiny, among other charges.
The officers, mostly captains and lieutenants, will also face summary dismissal proceedings by their respective major services on the recommendation of the board, headed by AFP Inspector General Rufino Lopez.
Asked what Lim and the other officers would have to say in their affidavits, Kison said: "What's their position on the alleged coup, what really happened, are they guilty or not."
But Kison said Lim and his men are not required to be physically present before the pretrial investigation panel on Friday. He said Lim's group may opt to send their lawyers to represent them in the proceedings.
"After the affidavits are consolidated, they (Lim and his men) will be summoned to appear. After the submission of their affidavits, the panel will decide when they will be made to appear," he said. (VR/Sunnex)
(July 27, 2006 issue)
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