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Thursday, March 06, 2008
Cimatu confirms 'gentleman's agreement' in coup case (8:12 p.m.)
MANILA -- Former Armed Forces chief now Middle East special envoy Roy Cimatu told the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) that he received orders to negotiate with the mutinous soldiers from then executive secretary Alberto Romulo.
Cimatu took the witness stand on Thursday's hearing of the coup d'etat case agains the Magdalo soldiers.
He also confirmed he was the official government negotiator tasked to talk to the Magdalo soldiers led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and James Layug, Marine Captain Gary Alejano, and Army Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrocampo who seized the Oakwood Hotel Premiere at Makati's central business district last July 27, 2003.
The existence of the so-called "gentleman's agreement" was the subject of much argument between the defense and the prosecution panel with the defense saying the government has reneged on its promise under the agreement not to indict the accused.
Cimatu, aside from confirming the existence of the agreement, also said that under the agreement, the accused will only be admonished under the military court-martial for violation of the Articles of War, according to defense lawyer Reynaldo Robles. (AH/Sunnex) |
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