by Ashzel Hachero
Former Armed Forces chief Roy Cimatu yesterday testified before the Makati regional trial court in the coup d’etat trial of the Magdalo soldiers that there was indeed a gentleman’s agreement forged between the government negotiating team and the Magdalos that led to the bloodless resolution of the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
Cimatu said he had been given orders by then Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo to lead the negotiations with the Magdalos led by then Navy Ltsgs. Antonio Trillanes IV, James Layug, Marine Captain Gary Alejano and Army Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo who were holding out at the Oakwood Premiere Hotel in Makati.
Defense counsel Reynaldo Robles earlier told reporters the gentleman’s agreement provided for the prosecution in a military court of only the Magdalo core leaders and a mere reprimand for the rest. The defense has been stressing the government’s reneging on the agreement when cases were filed in both military and civilian courts against the Magdalos.
“(Cimatu) not only confirmed that there was indeed an agreement but said that the soldiers would undergo proceedings under the military justice system,” Robles told reporters who were not allowed inside the courtroom. He added that Cimatu did not categorically identify Trillanes, Layug, Alejano, Gambala and Maestrecampo as the Magdalo core leaders.
Quoting Cimatu, Robles said the former AFP chief believed that the agreement was binding and would be honored by both sides. “He said it was an honorable commitment, a binding agreement and honored by the government,” Robles said.
He said Cimatu’s statement that it was the executive secretary who gave him the order to negotiate means the negotiations had the blessings of President Arroyo. He said Cimatu also stated that he submitted a recommendation to the President on the agreement reached with the Magdalos.
Cimatu told the court the negotiations lasted some two hours and the agreement was concluded with a handshake and a salute among the participants. The other members of the government negotiating team were former Scout Ranger regiment commander Brig. General Danilo Lim, Air Force Brig. General Nestor Oban, Commodore Feliciano Ange and the late Star publisher Maximo Soliven.
Lim, Oban and Ange have all confirmed the existence of the agreement which, they said, was not put into writing.
State prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, however, said the agreement has no bearing on the case as its existence does not preclude the Department of Justice from filing cases against the Magdalo officers. He said Cimatu never categorically said the Magdalos will not be charged in civilian courts besides being put through court martial proceedings.
“He only confirmed there was a discussion on whether they would be prosecuted only under the military court martial system. Gen. Cimatu admitted in court that the issues were only proposed. Proposals lang, pero walang napagkasunduan,” Navera said, adding that the agreement should be seen in the context of the government’s effort to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Navera said the issue of who were the Magdalo core leaders was settled by the piece of paper given Cimatu by Trillanes containing the names of those who were going to negotiate with the government team, namely Trillanes, Layug, Alejano, Gambala and Maestrecampo. –
I’m not a lawyer but in law, a verbal agreement is as binding as written. So, if there’s indeed an agreement between Cimatu and the Magdalo officers, Trillanes and his group should now be released. Given the volatile situation in the Oakwood incident, there was no time to put the agreement into writing.
So between and among gentlemen military officers, whatever they have agreed upon is legally binding. Release them NOW !
bitchevil,
Mahihintakutan si Gloria sa iyong panawagan na ‘yan! 🙂
Why Gen. Cimatu came to testify only now is a question. But, it’s better late than never. His testimony confirming the agreement is a big plus to the defense panel. Cimatu might be like other Generals who benefited from this Arroyo government; but so far I don’t think his records are as bad as those of Esperon’s group.
Kahit na anupa ang testimonya sa agreement na pabor sa Magdalo ay wala ring mangyayari dahil si Gloria ay nandyan pa! Takot lang ng judge na pumabor kina Trillanes.
Tama ang ginawa ni Trillanes not to participate and testify in the court hearing dahil hindi nakikinig sa tamang katwiran ang mga huwes as per order of the pResident Evil.
Max Soliven to his dying day invoked the govt’s treachery for what Gonzales & Gonzalez have done… The agreement was that these officers would be brought before the Military Justice system and not before civilian court.
Question is why did Cimatu only raise this today? Why didn’t he fight for the gentleman’s agreement? Is it because Gloria is weaker today? Cimatu is equally guilty for not fighting for the gentleman’s agreement — he was at the head of the negotiating panel and it was his word on behalf of the govt that was given. Instead he chose to be roving ambassador for Gloria. I call that treachery;
Max was right: govt was TRAYDOR!
Cimatu is probably afraid that speaking out the truth may harm his juicy govt job after retirement from the military.
Why only now? That’s my question and that of everyone. Why did JDV come out only now? That’s also our question. The same question would be asked to those who would come out. Ping Lacson says he has a new witness coming out; hopefully attend the next hearing. Without judging them, these new witnesses like Cimatu, conscience could be bothering them. There are also reports that some current Arroyo cabinet members are getting out of the hell in Malacanang. Who would have expected those Hyatt 10 to leave the Palace? We would be seeing more of such people going against Arroyo. But one thing is certain…FG Mike Arroyo will never testify against Gloria.
HW,
Keeping his lips sealed about this agreement was his award from Gloria.
Now, he has come out of his comfortable hideout because his president’s ship is sinking fast. Too late the hero!
Oopps.
HW,
I meant an ambassadorial post was his award from Gloria by keeping his lips sealed about this agreement. Ay naku, nakakahawa ang confusion created by the Supreme Court and all those memos and contracts missing….
Do you see a pattern? Many of the retired Generals are given ambassadorial posts? That’s very unfair to career foreign service officials. What do these Generals know about dealing with other countries? All they know was to say “amen” to Arroyo. The only former General whom I have great respect was Gen. Manuel Yan.
Why only now? This is good for the defense, but, they still won’t get equality in court when that evil bitch is Malacanang.
Well I hope na one of this day ay maki-isa na rin itong mga taong may konsiyensia diyan sa Supreme Court at ibasura itong kaso laban sa Magdalo Soldiers na may katuwiran sa kanilang ipinaglalaban. Sa ngayon ay si Cimatu pa lamang ang nagsasalita, maybe tomorrow or sooner ay marami pa ang susunod, and it is very eminent that this Fake President will soon be overpower by the people’s will.Nakakatulog pa kaya siya and her corrupt cohorts ng mahimbing?
With this gentlemen’s agreement, the soldiers were actually just supposed to be sent to the barracks, their grievances heard and the government ordering some investigation, correct the things that the soldiers were complaining about, and punished those crooks involved in the complaints of the soldiers, not them being punished for the things that they were exposing as anomalies involving their peers.
But what can you expect from a criminal but to cover up for her fellow criminals, the same crooks who helped propped her up in the power grab of 2001? Mahirap bang intindihin iyan.
The Senators now should demand for the immediate release of Sonny Trillanes so he can serve not just the 11M Filipinos who voted for him but the whole Philippines and its people.
Ang dapat nilang ipakulong si Gloria, asawa niya who admitted that he was most responsible for 2001, and their partners in crime, including those they have conveniently placed in the government to help them thwart and circumvent the laws of the land! Saan ka naman nakakita na ang isang criminal ang puedeng magdikta ng batas! Onli in da pilipins!
God be with you, Senator Trillanes! Sabi nga, hindi natutulog ang Panginoon. Faith precedes miracle!
With his admission, hopefully, Cimatu is clean enough for the dorobo not to be able to try to mar his good reputation like the way she does to the people who try to expose her evil deeds. May panira agad ang hinayupak sa totoo lang kaya mahirap talaga ang mga may skeletons in the closet kaya marami ang hindi makahirit at makapiyak! At least, si Lozada confident na kung meron mang ipapanira sa kaniya, konti lang compared sa mga kahayupang ginagawa nina Pidal!
Siyempre iyong anak sasabihin malinis ang mga magulang nila dahil iyong mga ninanakaw ng mga magulang nila ang ipinapalamon sa kanila. Walang pinag-iba doon sa mga pinalalamon ng mga Japayuki sa pagpuputa nila kaya tinawag silang bayani daw kahit na masunog ang kaluluwa sa impiyerno sa pagdungis ng dangal at puri nila at paglabag sa Utos ng Diyos!
Tama Na, Sobra Na, Kilos Na! Ipagpatuloy ang rally every Friday!
Diyan magaling ang mga Pidal! Try hard na manira. Golly, parang sila pa nga ang malinis! I should know, biktima ako ng mga ungas sa mga egroup ng mga pilipino! Buti na lang, I share the sentiments of most of the owners and moderators of the egroups. Ngayon nga panay ang sulat nila sa akin to be active in their groups again. Paminsan-minsan, I still post in my favorite ones lalo na doon sa alam kong dominated ni Luli, et al.
Tomorrow, Cimatu will say he was only misquoted and what we all heard was out of context..the usual turnout! Mabuti pa, ituloy ko na lang and manood kay Obama at Clinton.
Yung mga Marines na inutusang mandaya sa Maguindanao, Lanao, Sulu at Basilan, lalabas na rin ba? Wala ng EO 464! Yung sekretarya ni Garci, nasaan na? Si Genuino? Si Ernest Cheung ng Piatco?
Isa-isahin na iyan para maisara na yang mga isyu na iyan.
TNT na mga yan. Nagpapakasaya na sa mga pera na natanggap nila
kumakanta na si cimatu, ramdam na niya na mainit na para sa kasalukuyang gobyerno ang lahat. Sana ilang araw na lang at magkaroon na ng bagong gobyerno.
Where have all the generals gone? I doubt if Cimatu will ever tell the truth..iba na ang karamihan sa graduates ng PMA..marami na ang nakalimut..nasaan si De Villa?..I am sure pa golf golf na lang..Si Cimatu hindi ako magtataka kung doon uuwi sa Maybatu sa San Jose Antique..his wife is from there..walang golf club doon but he can always have one built there..wala kaming taxi sa Antique but if he builds a golf club doon..wow..puede na akong mamatay sa ligaya at least nagkaroon ng golf club sa amin..
And Mr. de Villa..maganda ang buhay niya sa San Juan Batangas..even before he became General…may kaya ang mga iyon sa San Juan…
taga Antique ako but my late husband was from San Juan Batangas..
“State prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, however, said the agreement has no bearing on the case as its existence does not preclude the Department of Justice from filing cases against the Magdalo officers. He said Cimatu never categorically said the Magdalos will not be charged in civilian courts besides being put through court martial proceedings.”
why are people like this in gloria’s stinking administration try so hard to project they know more about the law but what they say clearly indicate that they are only shielding the worst non-elected president ever housed in malakanyang?
Mabuhay ang mga Magdalo! Kayo ang tunay na dakilang kawal ng bayan.
Ellen,
I am just wondering, whatever happened to the other Magdalos who said sorry to GMA the Evil Bitch? If i am not mistaken, GAmbala, Maestracampo, and some others ang sumuko na sa demonyita. Sinayang nila ang kanilang simulan. Tama ang grupo ni Trillanes!
Bitchevil,
Please add former ambassador Ramon Farolan to your list of deserving generals who were given ambassadorial posts. AmbaYan (that’s how we called Gen. Yan during his stint in Thailand and Ambassador Farolan who was assigned to Indonesia both exemplify the ‘Officer and Gentleman’ tag. Their demeanor and manner of speaking really stand out vs. Generals Esperon and Razon, isama mo pa si Barias. The latter group and their kind couldn’t hold a candle to the group of Retired Generals Abat, Farolan, isama pa natin si Gen. Cimatu who are still around carrying the torch of true officers and gentlemen ( patay na si AmbaYan, di ba?. But I have not given up on General Esperon, et.al. I still hope that even with their sins of omission and commission, they could still do a Lozada. As for Gen. Cimatu, better late than never. Maganda naman talaga ang demeanor ni Gen. Cimatu and I have observed that he has delivered on his ambassadorial assignments, he has served the interests of our OFWs in dangerous zones. I think he has his heart in the right place. Palagay ko, he is really bothered also by the division that 4×4 has caused in the military and police organizations.
my conclusion is that cimatu is not a gentleman, not even gloria since she is not a man but certainly she is not a gentle woman.
A “word of honor” has been a long time and treasured virtue of military tradition. Trillianes,et. al had all this in mind when they entered into “gentlemen’s agreement” with their superiors. This limbo of political persecution the Magdalo soldiers are thrown in is a tragic consequence of deception brewed by the corrupt union of civilian and military mindset of people who want to stay in power unmindful of their immoral acts and injustices committed against the society. Military officials who want to rise in rank, much faster than the rest of the more deserving ones, are perceived as the real violators of the “conduct of unbecoming of a gentleman and officer.” The culprit is the civilian authority who may have prostituted the military to gain power and prominence. Likewise, any corrupt military official maybe in cohort with civilian authorities in pursuit of personal interest. In this sense, corruption then is incapsulated and nortured with impunity on what is percieved as the symbiosys of evil and greed between civilian and military authorities in the government. Unfortunately,Trillianes find themselves languishing in jail for trying to weed out this evil in the government.
Lets take a look at Corpuz who went distraught with the hierarchy and slipped to the other side at a very young age. The he came back for a price. Then went shopping for Xray machines with the first gentleman. Honor has a price always as it appears with many I know. Siempre naman, there comes a great change that goes with age in the pricings.
An officer and gentleman should fight for honor, integrity and respect for the institution he represents to the best he could. Obviously Cimatu left his balls in his bathroom that’s why he was so afraid to fight to defend it. Evil gloria played her usual self as “traidor”, a double-crosser at his expense. It’s gloria’s call and Cimatu’s fault, he allowed himself to be humiliated by not standing up to his word of honor.