Proof vs mutineers raise more questions

Instead of providing answers regarding the July 27 failed mutiny, the evidence presented by the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) is raising more queries.

ISAFP said it had recovered evidence in the form of partially destroyed computer diskettes, communications equipment and supplies from the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center condominiums in Makati City the day after the failed mutiny.

The Feliciano Commission yesterday turned up the inconsistencies as it heard the testimonies of Oakwood security chief Michael Brown and Josefino Marcellones, corporate security deputy director for Ayala Land Inc.

Brown said a total of eight rooms in Oakwood were inspected on July 28 by the ISAFP team led by Capt. Rex Sagge. He added that some documents, boxes and foodstuff were recovered from three of the rooms.

However, Brown said room 1805 was never used by the mutinous Magdalo group soldiers on July 27. He said the rebel soldiers used an adjacent room, 1804, where some pieces of evidence were recovered.

Brown also said he did not see anything of particular interest to him or to Oakwood management within the three rooms where evidence was found except for the fact that the rooms were a mess.

His statement corroborates an earlier testimony by Oakwood general manager Robert Rosetti, who said nothing of interest was found inside these three rooms.

Brown said the discrepancies between the testimonies of Rosetti and the ISAFP probers could just be a conflict of definitions.

Marcellones said that in the course of his inspection of Oakwood after the 22-hour standoff between the Magdalo group and government forces ended, he discovered 10 partially destroyed floppy diskettes inside the toilet of the condominium’s sixth floor lobby. He placed the time of his discovery of the evidence between 10 and 11 p.m. on July 27.

After finding the diskettes, Marcellones said, he informed Sagge and the other ISAFP team members who were at the ground floor of the building of his discovery.

The data stored within the diskettes were salvaged and eventually yielded detailed plans by the Magdalo group to launch a power grab, as well as a list of its members and supposed leaders.

Marcellones also said he saw a coaster and a number of sedans, which were used by the rebel soldiers as transport to Oakwood.

During the course of his testimony, Marcellones was asked by commission member retired Commodore Rex Robles about his background in the Philippine Navy, where he served prior to his job at Ayala Land.

Marcellones admitted he was a member of the Navy Special Warfare Group (SWAG), a company-mate of Sagge at the Philippine Military Academy and that he was once affiliated with ISAFP.

Robles also questioned Marcellones about the case of Lt. (sg) Anthony Miraflor, a former SWAG member accused by ISAFP of being behind destabilization efforts against the Arroyo administration in 2001.

Miraflor was found in possession of a large cache of explosives, which he failed to turn over to his superiors.

Robles said the allegations against Miraflor caused dissent in the SWAG ranks against then ISAFP chief Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, whose resignation the Magdalo group demanded during the standoff.

Marcellones refused to comment on the Miraflor case.

Sagge, who was also at the hearing as an observer, reiterated that the ISAFP did its job at Oakwood by recovering all evidence left behind by the Magdalo mutineers.

He said the video taken by his companions would prove that the evidence was not planted.

Sagge also argued that the group of Lt. (sg) Antonio Trillanes IV is not brilliant and had committed several "acts of stupidity" — such as trapping themselves inside Oakwood and rigging the surrounding areas with explosives that ran contrary to their intention of soliciting people power.

Because of these acts of stupidity, Sagge said it is not so far-fetched that the rebel soldiers could have left behind vital pieces of evidence, including the diskettes.