Wednesday, April 02, 2008
9 Magdalo officers plead 'guilty' (2:49 p.m.)
MANILA -- In a sudden turn-around that caught prosecution and defense lawyers by surprise nine junior officers belonging to the Magdalo group including two of the group's core leader changed their original positions and pleaded guilty to charges of coup d'etat for their participation in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
The nine officers, all Army officers were Captains Gerardo Gambala, Milo Maestrocampo, Albert Baloloy, John Andres, and Alvin Ebreo and Lieutenants Lawrence Luis Somera, Florentino Somera, Christopher Brian Yasay, and Cleo Dongga-As.
Gambala and Maestrocampo along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, James Layug, and Marine Captain Gary Alejano were identified as the leader of the group that seized the Oakwood Hotel Premiere at Makati's central business district last July 27, 2003 and denounced alleged corruption in the government and the military.
Gambala and Maestrocampo earlier reneged their ties with the group and pledged allegiance to the chain of command while Trillanes's group maintained their critical stance of the Arroyo administration.
The nine officers out of the 31 accused made their manifestation to change plea during Wednesday's hearing at the sala of Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel.
But five other Army officers, Lieutenants Lawrence San Juan, Warren Lee Dagupon, Rex Bolo, Audie Tocloy, and Nathaniel Rabonza did not change their plea.
Trillanes did not attend the hearing as well as Layug while Alejano was still confined at the Armed Forces Medical Center in V. Luna after contracting dengue. (AH/Sunnex) |
