Military – Page 2 – ellen tordesillas

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.

Prosecutor’s son airs side

Published by Ellen on January 12, 2009

Philip Kimpo, son of State Prosecutor Philip I. Kimpo, sent me his letter to Philippine Star. It’s important that we listen to both sides so,…

‘Time to grip hands and act’

Published by Ellen on December 11, 2008

All 23 senators, including incarcerated Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, signed resolution opposing charter change without concurrence of the Senate being pushed by allies of Gloria Arroyo in the House of Representatives.
Click here for full report.

Arroyo spokesperson: Let’s talk

In today’s anti- Gloria Arroyo, anti- charter change rally, two of the messages to be read are that of detained officers, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim of the Army Scout Rangers and Marine Col.Ariel Querubin.

Lim and Querubin, together with 26 other officials including Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, have been in detention for almost three years. They have been charged with mutiny for allegedly planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo following the “Hello Garci” expose that showed Arroyo masterminding the tampering of election results in her favor with the help of some military officials.

Lim’s message was released last Nov. 29 to mark the second anniversary of Manila Pen incident where he, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and other Magdalo officers made a stand against the unabated corruption in the Arroyo government.

‘Tanay boys’ motion to dismiss raps junked

Published by Ellen on December 8, 2008

A military tribunal yesterday dismissed the motion of defense lawyers to dismiss the mutiny charges against Army and Marine officers linked to the alleged power grab attempt in February 2006, saying the motion was premature.

At least 19 of the 28 accused officers, through their lawyers, earlier filed motions citing lack of evidence. They said evidence and exhibits marked by the prosecution were not enough to prove their guilt.

The 19 include Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, former Marines commandant, and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former commander of the Army’s First Scout Ranger Regiment.

The two are accused of attempting to lead their men to a march to Edsa in February 2006, where they were to supposedly withdraw support from President Arroyo.

Trillanes quotes Miriam

Published by Ellen on September 21, 2008

An officer and a gentleman, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, is courteous to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Last Sept. 3, the detained senator filed a resolution questioning Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s meddling in Senate processes by presiding the Senate Technical Working Group on Philippine Baseline Bills on Aug. 14, 2008 in Malacañang.

Trillanes, who is one of the five senators who have filed a bill delineating the country’s archipelagic baseline, said Ermita’s role as presiding officer of a Senate committee meeting is a clear violation of the constitutionally enshrined principle of separation of powers of the three branches of government.

“Secretary Ermita’s actions effectively undermined the independence of the Senate as an institution,” he said.

Book finds

Published by Ellen on September 14, 2008

It’s a sumptuous book buffet at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City where the 29th Manila International Book Fair is being held.

Writer Nelson Navarro and I were happy to get “good buys.” With 20 to 30 percent discounts, it made for a satisfying afternoon.

Nelson was able to find a rare copy of Eusebius Julius Halsema’s biography published by New Day Publishing. Yes, he is the Halsema of the highway going to Baguio City. An engineer, Halsema was the pre-war mayor of Baguio City.

I got several items from Anvil that covered the whole political spectrum from “Right” to “Left”. One is a slim (155 pages) book that tackles a heavy topic: “Before Gringo: History of the Philippine Military (1830 to 1972)” by Honolulu-based Donald Berlin, who worked for many years at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C.

Raymundo case update

Published by Ellen on September 4, 2008

I have received inquires on what has happened to 1Lt Artemio Raymundo who was charged and detained for giving away CDs at an LRT station in September 2006.

Well, he is still detained. He will mark his second year in prison on Sept. 25.

Not only that. He was arraigned for violations of Articles of War 96 (Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman) last August 18, the day Gloria Arroyo declared a holiday. Last Friday, without the assistance of his chosen counsel, Harry Roque, who had requested for a postponement because he would be in Malaysia, he was arraigned for violations of Articles of War 64 (Disrespect Toward a Superior Officer).

Small blessings

Published by Ellen on September 2, 2008

Maybe I should thank the Commission on Human Rights for saying that the arrest of journalists who covered Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim at the Manila Pen on Nov. 29, 2007 “constitutes arbitrary arrest/detention in violation of human rights standards.”

It’s definitely better than the dismissal of our class suit by NBI- agent- turned-judge Reynaldo Laigo of the Makati RTC who said that our arrest, handcuffing, and detention was “justified’ and even added that we were “so lucky” that the police didn’t initiate criminal charges against us.

With a leader who has no respect for the Constitution and disdains truth, CHR chair Leila de Lima gives me some hope. Maybe I should thank her for making the Commission say that “there have been violations of the human rights of liberty, security of person and freedom from arbitrary arrest of the complainants in the Manila Peninsula Siege.”

Let the trial begin

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2008

Former AFP chief Hermogenes Esperon will be the first to take the witness stand when the court martial of 28 officers accused of mutiny in connection with the February 2006 alleged coup attempt starts.

At the pre-trial conference yesterday, Col. Feliciano Loy, head of the prosecution panel, told the court that he will be presenting 20 witnesses who executed affidavits on the alleged plan of the officers to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo following the” Hello Garci” expose that showed her masterminding the manipulation of the results of the 2004 election in Mindanao in her favor.

Esperon was then army chief. His affidavit submitted to the panel that investigated the incident related the meeting with then AFP chief Generoso Senga the night of Feb. 23 where the accused officers talked about the restlessness in the military over the loss of confidence on Arroyo.

Tag: Military