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Thursday, January 17, 2008
5 ex-soldiers nabbed over new coup plot
MANILA -- Authorities arrested in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon five former soldiers for alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
A military report identified the five as former Corporals Redante Maranan, Walter Francisco, Ramon Perania, Kim Agas, and former Sergeant Orlando Valencia. All are discharged soldiers and are said to be members of the rightist group Para sa Bayan (PSB).
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Agents of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp), PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested the former soldiers at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ramirez Street in Galas, Quezon City.
"The following suspected PSB members were arrested for violating Presidential Decree (PD) 1866 (illegal possession of firearms) relative to their continuous attempt to overthrow the government," police said.
Authorities said the five yielded two M16 rifles, an AK47 rifle, an L300 van and a Honda Civic car that are allegedly used in transporting weapons.
The arrest came three days after Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. revealed intelligence information, indicating another plan to overthrow the government on January 22.
The military and the police said threats of destabilization are continuing but they have not monitored when the plan would be executed.
Last Wednesday afternoon, the five suspects were formally charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for illegal possession of firearms that would allegedly be used in the alleged destabilization plot against the government.
In a charge sheet, the police said they received a military intelligence report regarding a transfer of high-powered firearms in the area, to be perpetrated by discharged members of Scout Rangers and the Philippine Marines.
The three firearms were supposedly brought to the house by the three other suspects aboard the L-300 van and a Honda car.
The document simply stated that "the firearms will be used in destabilization plot against the government."
Arresting policemen saw one of the suspects alighted from the Honda car and approached the two other suspects at the L300 van. They were then carrying long firearms wrapped with newspaper. However, they noticed that the butt of the M16 was protruding.
They then confronted the suspects, but one of the suspects fled inside the house, prompting policemen to pursue him. Upon entry, they saw two other men inside.
During inquest proceedings, Superintendent Michel Amos Filart of the PNP-CIDG confirmed to government prosecutors that the three high-powered firearms seized from the five suspects were not registered with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Division (FED).
However, the issue of whether the soldiers were members of the Magdalo group or if the firearms will be used for destabilization attempts was not raised during the inquest.
Despite the urgings of the prosecutors, the suspects insistently refused to sign the waiver of detention because they said they want to wait until they have hired a lawyer to represent their interest.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. said these developments only confirmed the intelligence reports that he received about another destabilization attempt.
"That's significant. These are the same people who have connections with the Oakwood and Manila Peninsula incidents and (Senator Antonio) Trillanes IV," he said. Gonzalez did not elaborate. (VR/ECV/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (January 17, 2008 issue)
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