Cardenas freed on P360,000 bail

A former Cabinet official of deposed President Joseph Estrada accused of involvement in the July 27 mutiny has been freed after being allowed to post bail, officials said yesterday.

Department of Justice (DOJ) officials expressed confidence that they can secure the conviction of Ramon Cardenas, a former deputy executive secretary of Estrada.

In a 15-page order, Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel allowed Cardenas to post bail amounting to P360,000 but prohibited him from leaving the country without the permission of the court and the DOJ.

Cardenas faces charges of rebellion for alleged involvement in the July 27 mutiny by some 300 rebel soldiers at the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makati’s central business district.

He was detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Hospital at Camp Crame when he complained of heart problems after he was arrested.

The mutiny was quashed in less than a day and the soldiers involved were detained but the government says the political figures behind the plot remain at large.

Officials say that the mutiny was part of a coup attempt intended to topple Mrs. Arroyo and briefly re-install Estrada before a junta took over.

Backpacks, armbands, documents and other paraphernalia of the mutineers were allegedly seized from a house belonging to Cardenas in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City after the mutiny.

Cardenas, alleged to have hosted the meetings of the rebel soldiers, denied the charges and said the house was uninhabited and that he was staying at another house in the same village.

Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño said they cannot prevent Cardenas’ posting of bail but added that "there is nothing to prevent us from presenting evidence against him."

"Our evidence is strong. We would be able to prove the case against him," Justice Undersecretary Jose Calida said.

Estrada was ousted in a military-backed, popular uprising in 2001 due to a massive corruption scandal. He remains in detention while facing graft charges.

Cardenas was invited to the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame shortly after the mutiny was quashed.

Inspector Elbert Pagente of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group allegedly heard Cardenas tell his lawyer, former senator Rene Saguisag, "pinagamit ko kasi ’yun (I allowed it to be used)" when they were on their way to Camp Crame.

Cardenas did not elaborate on the identities of the people he allowed to use his "uninhabited" house. — With AFP