By Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has ordered the release of 11 military officers earlier cleared by a general court-martial of mutiny charges in connection with their involvement in an alleged plot to topple the Arroyo administration in February 2006.
The order signed by Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, Armed Forces vice chief of staff last, on October 30 directed all custodial officers to release the 11 officers: Col. Januario Caringal and Maj. Francisco Fernandez of the Marines; Lieutenant Colonels Nestor Flordeliza and Edmundo Malabanjot; Captains Ruben Guinolbay, Frederick Sales and Allan Aurino; and First Lieutenants Ervin Divinagracia, Jacon Cordero, Sando Sereno and Richiemel Caballes of the Army Scout Rangers.

“They shall be released to their respective major services through their respective administrative holding centers after compliance with all administrative matters prior to their posting to military duties,” the order stated.

The 11 officers, who have been detained for more than three years, should have been released on October 30. Their release, however, was delayed for several days because they had to undergo medical examination first before they could be set free.

Among the 28 military officers accused of staging a failed coup in 2006, they were charged with violation of Articles of War 67 or mutiny before the military court and cleared last month after the court found them not guilty.

The prosecution, however, subsequently filed a motion to reopen the case against the 11 on supposed discovery of evidence against them but the court junked the motion and upheld its earlier decision.
Col. Romeo Brawner, spokesman for the military, the 11 officers eleven met with Armed Forces Chief of Staff Victor Ibrado, Tuesday afternoon, before they proceeded to their respective units.

“He [Ibrado] considers these officers like his sons because majority of the officers are from the Scout Ranger Regiment, which the chief of staff used to head. Perhaps, he wanted to talk to them and encourage them to do what is right,” Brawner explained.

Seventeen other officers, including Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, are left to stand trial for the charges.

They might spend more time in detention after the military court recently denied their motion to dismiss.
The Special General Court Martial 2, under its president Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas, found no merit in the motion filed by the defense panel, led by lawyer Vicente Verdadero on October 15.

The other officers are former Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda; Colonels Orlando de Leon, Armando Banez, Custodio Parcon and Achilles Segumalian; Majors Jason Aquino, Leomar Jose Doctolero, Isagani Criste, Montano Almodovar, James Sababan, Joey Hontiveros, William Victorino Opano and Dante Langkit; First Lt. Homer Estolas of the Scout Rangers; and Miranda’s aide de camp, Marine First Lt. Belinda Ferrer.