Feb 2006 withdrawal of support – ellen tordesillas

An then, nobody’s left in Tanay

Published by Ellen on June 10, 2010

Wednesday evening, I talked with Maj. Leomar Jose Doctolero, who said they were already in Fort Bonifacio from Camp Capinpin in Tanay where they were detained the past three and a half years. “Wala nang naiwan sa Tanay,” he said. He said they would be going home to their families the next day while waiting for decision of the court martial of their mutiny case.

He said they are required to be present during the hearing. The next hearing is set for July 9.

9 Army officers facing mutiny charges freed
by Elena L. Aben
Manila Bulletin

Nine detained junior Army officers facing mutiny charges before the military’s General Court Martial for their involvement in the 2006 attempt to overthrow the Arroyo administration have been granted provisional liberty by Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Delfin Bangit, a military spokesman announced Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, AFP spokesman, said the nine officers – Maj. Leomar Jose Doctolero, Maj. Jason Aquino, Captains Montano Almodovar Jr.; Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, James Sababan, Dante Langkit, and William Victorino Upano; and 1Lt. Homer Estolas, are scheduled anytime now to be released from their detention cell in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

11 cleared officers walk out of detention

Published by Ellen on November 3, 2009

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

The Armed Forces yesterday released from detention 11 Army and Marines officers who were recently cleared of mutiny charges in connection with an alleged plan to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006.

The release order was signed on October 30 by Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, AFP vice chief who was acting chief at that time. AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado was then in Hawaii attending a meeting of armed forces chiefs in the Pacific.

Maclang consulted Ibrado before signing the order.

Words do not constitute mutiny

Published by Ellen on October 18, 2009

Guinolbay, Querubin, Verdadero. Lim, and Langkit

Atty. Vic Verdadero was in his element last Thursday when he filed the motion for a finding of “not guilty’ for his clients accused of violating the 67th Articles of War which is “attempting to create, begin, cause or join mutiny” for something that did not happen in February 2006.

Verdadero is counsel for Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, then the commander of the First Scout Rangers Regiment and 14 other Rangers and one member of the Army Special Forces, Capt. Dante Langkit.

The 14 other Rangers are Lt Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Lt. Col. Edmundo Malabanjot, Maj. Leomar Jose Doctolero, Capt. Montano Almodovar, Capt. Isagani Criste, Capt. Joey Fontiveros, Capt. Frederick Sales, Capt. James Sababan, Capt. William Victorino Upano, 1Lt Ervin Divinagracia, 1Lt Sando Sereño, 1Lt Jacon Cordero, 1Lt Homer Estolas, and 1Lt Richiemel Caballes.

Hustisya para sa 40 na tinanggal

Published by Ellen on October 17, 2009

Nag-apela si Capt Ruben Guinolbay kay AFP Chief Victor Ibrado na kung maari ibalik rin sa serbisyo ang 40 na enlisted men na tinanggal sa serbisyo sa paratang na kasama raw sila planong magwithdraw ng suporta kay Gloria Arroyo noong Pebrero 2006.

Si Guinolbay ay isa sa 11 opisyal na napawalang-sala noong Huwebes ng court martial na naglilitis sa 28 opisyal na inakusahan ng mutiny o umalsa laban sa pamahalaan ni Gloria Arroyo noong Pebrero 2006.

Pagkatapos ng tatlo at kalahating taon na paglilitis na ang mga akusado ay nakakulong, sinabi ng korte na walang ebidensya laban sa kanila. Ni minsan hindi man lamang sila nabanggit sa kung anong dokumento o testimonya ng mga testigo na naipresenta sa court martial.

11 cleared of mutiny charges

Published by Ellen on October 15, 2009

(Sitting)Lt. Col Malabanjot, Col. Caringal, Lt. Col. Flordeliza

(Standing) Capt. Guinolbay, Maj. Fernandez,Capt. Sales, Capt. Aurino, 1Lt Sereño, 1Lt Caballes, 1Lt Divinagracia, 1Lt Cordero.

Ruling on 17 remaining defendants deferred

by Victor Reyes
Malaya

A military tribunal yesterday cleared 11 of the 28 military officers facing court martial for the alleged attempt to overthrow the Arroyo administration in February 2006.

Statement of the Magdalo group of officers who are also in detention for the Oakwood and Manila Pen incidents:

We welcome the acquittal of 11 of our brother AFP officers who have languished for more than three years, unjustly detained in several military camps.

We laud the efforts of their defense lawyers, who stuck by these officers despite great odds.

But most of all, we raise our hats to these fine officers and gentlemen, for their unflagging devotion to their principles, and wish them all the best as they continue their service to God and country.

For our other brother officers and lone sister officer still facing the bar of justice, we urge you to stand fast and stay the course.

We sincerely hope that the AFP acts with extreme urgency and utmost fairness in finally bringing the matter to a just and humane conclusion.

Two Marine and nine Army officers were acquitted for lack of evidence.

John Martir, a no-show

Published by Ellen on May 27, 2009

Update:

Looks like Maj. Gen. John Martir’s luck has been stalled. A reliable source said the Board of Generals recommended Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban as Marine commandant.

Martir, the source said, was given the choice of a Sulu assignment. He chose to be where he is now.

Maj. Gen. John Martir was a no-show yesterday at the court martial hearing of the 28 officers accused of allegedly committing mutiny on February 2006.

Yesterday’s hearing was supposed to be the start of the cross examination of Martir by the defense lawyers.

Trial for an unknown crime

Published by Ellen on May 17, 2009

Breaktime, May 5, 2009 hearing

Update: The hearing for May 19 has been reset to May 26.

I never harbored the illusion that the 28 officers accused of mutiny in connection with something that did not happen in February 2006 will get justice as long as Gloria Arroyo is in power.

That view is becoming a disturbing concern by the decisions of the panel presiding in the court martial led by Maj. Gen. Jogy Fojas.

On Tuesday, the defense lawyers will start the cross-examination of Maj. Gen. John Martir.

Prosecution wants to change rules in the middle of the game

Published by Ellen on April 25, 2009

Update of the mutiny case against 28 officers in connection with the February 2006 alleged withdrawal of support from Gloria Arroyo following revelations of the military’s role in the tampering of election results as heard in the “Hello Garci” tapes:

The prosecution asked that the charge sheet, which focused on the Feb. 23, 2006 activities, be amended to include the Feb. 26 Fort Bonifacio standoff because their witnesses can only speak about the Feb. 26 standoff.

The court denied the motion to amend the charges.

More of this on Monday.

Photo caption:

Unspeedy trial

Published by Ellen on March 26, 2009

Click on each of the pictures to view them enlarged.

At the court martial hearing of the 28 officers accused of mutiny for a February 2006 non-event last Feb. 26, it was agreed that the next hearing would be on March 10, 2009.

A day before March 10, the lawyers of the accused were notified that the hearing would be on March 20. No explanation was given why the agreed hearing on March 10 would not push through.

March 20 came and all the lawyers and the accused (except for two officers) were present at the Daza Park hall in Camp Aguinaldo. But there were only three members of the panel who would be hearing the case: Maj. Gen. Jogy Fojas, Commodore Ramon Punzalan and law member Col. Marian Aleido, when there should at least be four of them to constitute a quorum. One member was out of the country. Even the trial judge advocate could not explain the absence of the other members of the panel.

Three years after: no end in sight for detained Marines and Rangers

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2009

by Tessa Jamandre VERA Files Exactly three years ago today, hundreds of Marines marched in full battle gear outside the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio,…

Tag: Feb 2006 withdrawal of support