Esperon approves transfer of Tanay detainees to Camp Aguinaldo

By Ronron
February 6, 2008

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff
Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has approved the transfer
of the officers tagged in the alleged February 2006
coup plot from their detention in Tanay, Rizal to Camp
Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Esperon said Wednesday that it stemmed from a
recommendation of the custodial and detention
commander of the Army camp in Tanay, as well as an
earlier motion of some lawyers of the accused before
the General Court Martial (GCM) hearing their case.

“Yes, I have approved that (recommendation),” Esperon
said in an interview at the sidelines of the
celebration of the PNP’s 17th founding anniversary in
Camp Crame.

“The recommendations are primarily coming from the
commander of the Custodial and Detention Center, Col.
Arnulfo Marcos… It will also be good if they are here
in Manila… so that those who are sick can easily be
brought to hospitals,” he added.

As of 6pm yesterday, the transfer of the 24 accused
being detained in Tanay, led by Maj. Gen. Renato
Miranda and Col. Ariel Querubin, have already started,
said Querubin’s wife.

Esperon said the 24 will be detained at the
Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (ISAFP) compound in Camp Aguinaldo. Four
other accused are separately being detained already at
Camp Crame, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City at the Naval
Hospital in Cavite.

The transfer was made amidst the opposition of the
accused and their lawyers.

Querubin’s wife, Maria Flor, said the accused opposed
the transfer because they felt betrayed.

“At first, there was no mention of their transfer.
They were just told that it will be an overnight stay.
But they were told to pack up their things so they
know they will really be transferred for good in Camp
Aguinaldo,” Maria Flor said.

Defense lawyer Trixie Angeles said the transfer shows
the military’s disrespect to due process because the
matter should go through the GCM first.

She and Maria Flor express fear that if the Tanay
detainees stay in Camp Aguinaldo, they will be linked
to alleged destabilization plots.

But Esperon downplayed any destabilization rumor, even
one that could crop up because of the ouster from the
Speakership at the House of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de
Venecia, Jr.

“I don’t see any (destabilization effort) now. If
ever there are those who are planning, I think when
they execute it, they will not get any support or it
will materialize,” Esperon said.

Since last week, the GCM that is trying the Tanay
detainees have started to hold the hearing in Camp
Aguinaldo. The next hearing is set today (Thursday).

According to Maria Flor, yesterday’s transfer of the
accused did not go smoothly because some officers
objected, especially when they were being handcuffed.


She said some of the military personnel then bodily
carried some of the accused officers towards the
waiting military trucks.

The accused, who are facing mutiny and other articles
of war violations, have yet to arrive in Camp
Aguinaldo as of 7pm yesterday./DMS