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Sunday, January 25, 2004
Gov't probing 22 active and retired officers for mutiny (12:15 p.m.)
MANILA -- Authorities are seeking charges against 22 active and retired military officers for alleged involvement in the July mutiny aimed at toppling President Arroyo, documents obtained Sunday revealed.
The group is separate from the 267 officers and men already in the dock and facing court-martial for their involvement in the alleged coup attempt against Arroyo last year.
The Justice Department's chief prosecutor received a list from the Interior Department seeking a preliminary investigation against four retired colonels and 18 active officers ranging in rank from captain to lieutenant, for involvement in the mutiny on July 27.
On that day, over 200 soldiers seized part of the Makati business district in the early hours, planting explosives and briefly taking dozens of tourists hostage. They demanded the resignation of Arroyo and then defense secretary Angelo Reyes who they accused of corruption.
The rebellion fizzled out less than 24 hours later with the arrest of participants in the takeover. A number of civilians allegedly linked to Arroyo's deposed predecessor Joseph Estrada were also charged.
Police superintendent Charlamagne Alejandrino, a senior investigator, said in an affidavit that "the grand plan and its execution was done by a number of active and retired military officers and enlisted personnel and these included not only those present (at the Makati takeover.)"
Some of the 22 openly expressed support for the July 27 mutiny and their names also appeared in computer diskettes recovered from the mutineers.
A military tribunal is due to start court-martial proceedings against the 267 officers and men who took part in the Makati mutiny but this has repeatedly been delayed by legal wranglings.
A Makati civilian court also indicted the 31 leaders of the mutiny on separate charges. AFP |
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