|
|
Friday, June 15, 2007
Military chief unhappy with Trillanes' poll victory (9:44 a.m.)
MANILA -- Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said personally the election victory of Magdalo group leader Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV is not “the most welcome thing for me.”
Esperon did not elaborate except to say that Trillanes would have a problem because under the rules of the military court, no soldier facing a serious offense is allowed to post bail or be release from jail.
Trillanes is due to be proclaimed on Friday morning as senator by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), achieving a first in the country's political history because he will be declared a senator despite being detained.
Trillanes, one of the core leaders of the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003, is held in Fort Bonifacio for a charge of coup d'etat pending at the Makati City court.
Trillanes is also facing a violation of the Article of War 96 or conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman before the military’s general court martial. He may be dishonorably discharged from the service if found guilty of the charge.
While Esperon was unhappy with Trillanes' win, National Capital Region Command (NCRcom) chief Ben Mohammad Dolorfino welcomed the proclamation of Trillanes.
Dolorfino said it is nice to see another military officer and a graduate of the
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) securing a seat in the Senate.
Trillanes is the fourth former police or military man in the Senate. The three others are Panfilo Lacson and Gregorio Honasan, both of the PMA Class 1971, and Rodolfo Biazon of the PMA Class 1961. Lacson and Biazon served as PNP chief and AFP chief, respectively.
On the pronouncement of Trillanes that he would be fighting for the welfare of the military when he is already in the Senate, Dolorfino said: ”Maybe it has
to be if he will indeed look into the welfare and interest of the men in uniform.” (VR/JMR)M
|
|
|
|
