By Ronron
June 15, 2007
Some members of the group of military officers charged over the alleged coup plot in February 2006 are elated over the proclamation yesterday of resigned Navy Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes as Senator of the Philippines.
During the court martial proceedings yesterday at Tanay, Rizal, accused Marine Col. Ariel Querubin gave a thumbs-up sign when asked of his feelings towards the successful senatorial bid of Trillanes, who is also a rebel soldier.
“That’s good! He deserves to win,” Querubin told reporters in Filipino.
Asked if he voted for Trillanes, who is part of the core leaders of the 2003 Oakwood mutiny in Makati City, Querubin answered in the negative, saying he and his fellow 27 accused were not allowed to cast their vote.
For his part, Marine Lt. Col. Achilles Segumalian wished Trillanes “good luck” in the performance of his job as lawmaker.
“God bless and serve the Filipino well,” Segumalian said when asked of his message for Trillanes.
Querubin and Segumalian are accused, along with former Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, of plotting to overthrow the Arroyo government last February 24, 2006.
The group of Marines and Scout Ranger officers allegedly allied with rightists, members of the opposition, and communist rebels in their coup plot.
During yesterday’s proceedings, the defense lawyers also manifested their share of the nation’s delight in the proclamation of Trillanes as Senator despite his being in jail by bringing up the matter in their arguments.
Atty. Abraham Espejo, lawyer for accused Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Lt. Col. Edmundo Malabanjot, and 1Lt. Richiemel Caballes, said that with victory of Trillanes, “we will not be surprised to have Miranda, Lim, or Querubin in the next Senate.”
Espejo made the statement when he asked the court to suspend the proceedings yesterday since four of the 28 accused are absent due to illness.
Although out of line, the lawyer initially said: “A few minutes ago, Mr. Trillanes was proclaimed as Senator of the Philippines. You can see where the winds of change are blowing. It’s probable the opposition will take power.”
He was then quick to relate the issue to his motion by saying that it appears the court is railroading the case out of pressure from the present administration.
“You should stop this persecution. In fact, these accused could become heroes in the next administration,” Espejo said.
The military prosecution has accused the defense lawyers of delaying the case by continuously causing the suspension of hearings.
Military prosecutor Lt. Col. Jose Feliciano Loy suspect that the defense is doing it to reach the second year mark of the commission of the crime in February next year, thereby invoking the prescription rule which means, the case can be dismissed if the accused are not arraigned within two years from the alleged offense is committed.
The court martial hearing the alleged coup plotters was created in November last year, while the first hearing happened on December 14, 2006.
Until yesterday, the accused have yet to be arraigned./DMS
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