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Friday, July 21, 2006
Soldiers linked to failed coup ordered sacked
MANILA -- Armed Forces Chief Generoso Senga ordered dismissal proceedings against 40 officers and over 100 enlisted personnel found to have been involved in the failed plot to overthrow the Arroyo government last February.
In a press conference on Thursday, the fact-finding board that investigated the officers said the dismissal proceedings would be pursued parallel to the pre-trial investigation, preparatory to the conduct of court martial, against them for violation of several provisions of the Articles of War.
The board also formally named former Marine commandant Renato Miranda, former Scout Ranger commander Danilo Lim, and Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin, former chief of the 2nd Marine Brigade.
On Wednesday, Armed Forces information chief Tristan Kison said on top of the 40 officers, 135 enlisted personnel would face pretrial. The board clarified that they only investigated 125 enlisted personnel and all would not be subjected to the pre-trial process.
"The officers (should) be charged and tried before their Major Services' Efficiency and Separation Board (ESB) to determine their fitness to remain in the military service," said board chairman Armed Forces Inspector General Rufino Lopez. Lopez was quoting from the board's recommendation to Senga dated July 7, 2006.
Kison said the recommendation of the board was approved by Senga on Wednesday, two days before his retirement on Friday.
On the case of the 125 enlisted personnel, Lopez said they are mostly from the Army's First Scout Ranger Regiment.
"The ESB is going to determine their fitness in remaining with the service," said Lopez, without naming the 37 other officers recommended to face the ESB and undergo pretrial investigation.
Lopez said the dismissal proceedings against the officers and men should have started with Senga's approval of the board's recommendation. "With the approval of the chief of staff of our recommendation, it should take effect immediately," he said.
He said some of the 40 officers who were not relieved from their posts when the plan was discovered would be removed from their present assignment. However, he could not say how many are still occupying their posts in the military.
A draft of the report that was leaked to the media about two days ago mentioned a number of Marine officers who are still occupying sensitive posts as among those recommended for court martial.
The officers include Lieutenant Colonel Achilles Segumalian, head of the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team, which was deployed to Tawi-tawi last month, Marine chief of staff Armando Banez, and Major Melquiades Ordiales, commander of the 9th Marine Battalion Landing Team stationed in Sulu.
When asked if the officers who are still occupying a post in the military will be immediately relieved, Lopez said: "That's going to be the process. They will be given to the custody of their immediate commanding officers in preparation for their trial and investigation by the PTI (pretrial investigation)."
Sought for comment, Kison said the relief of the officers took effect Thursday as recommended by the fact-finding board but it was not clear if they are already under the custody of their immediate superiors.
Lopez said the charge sheet against the officers has been already prepared for the pretrial investigation.
The 40 officers face charges for violation of the Articles of War 67 (mutiny or sedition), 68 (failure to suppress or report mutiny or sedition), 63 (disrespect to the President), 64 (disrespect towards a superior officer), 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman), and 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline)
The other recommendations of the board approved by Senga includes the referral of the case to the justice department for violation of the Revised Penal Code for attempted coup d'etat, conspiracy and proposal to commit coup d'etat, and inciting to sedition and withholding of the pay of officers and men as approved by the President of those found with probable cause pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 138.
It also recommended that officers involved in past coup attempts or destabilization be barred from the command of specialized units such as the Special Operations Command, First Scout Ranger Regiment, Philippine Marine Corps, Navy Special Operations Group (formerly the Special Warfare Group), Special Operations Wing of the Air Force, Presidential Security Group, Light Armor Brigade, training commands, and major tactical units.
"They shall likewise be barred from occupying sensitive staff positions in the Armed Forces such as intelligence, operations, IG (Inspector General), PMG (Provost Marshal General) and DND (Department of National Defense) military positions," said Lopez.
Miranda, Lim and Querubin, who were among the officers involved in the failed coups in the 80s, had planned to lead their men in an anti-government rally in Edsa last February 24 and there withdraw their support from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The board also recommended that, "officers and enlisted personnel found guilty of participation in any destabilization activities against the government should be removed from military service."
It also asked the Armed forces to draft policies similar to the US whistleblowers law and implementing rules and regulations "to protect whistleblowers from unwarranted retaliatory measures or reprisals from those being complained of."
"This will encourage persons who have knowledge of irregularities or anomalies in the Armed Forces units to come out openly without fear," it added.
Lopez said Army Chief Hermogenes Esperon and Navy Chief Mateo Mayuga were among the 39 officers invited by the board as resource persons in the course of its investigation.
Asked if Senga was invited by the board to shed light because of his crucial role in quelling the plot, Lopez said: "He created our panel. He was the one who created it so why should we investigate him?"
On whether the planned withdrawal of support was tantamount to mutiny, Lopez said: "There were troop movements, there were planning sessions, and there were also several meetings of some of the officers who were involved. Under our military justice system, by our Articles of War, that is tantamount to those things." (VR/Sunnex)
(July 21, 2006 issue)
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