‘Magdalo’ lawyer confirms plea bargain offer

The lawyer of the 68 leaders of the 2003 Oakwood mutiny confirmed yesterday that the junior officers had requested a plea bargain agreement to allow the prosecution to speed up their lengthy court martial.

Lawyer Roel Pulido said a plea bargain was his clients’ only option to cut short the legal proceedings.

"They are open to a plea bargain," Pulido told reporters. "For now, they all want their cases resolved at once and for them to be able to rejoin the service and their families."

Military prosecutor Col. Al Perreras earlier told reporters he had received offers of a plea bargain from the 68 junior officers whose ranks range from lieutenant to captain.

The officers do not include the mutiny’s alleged 29 top officers who planned and orchestrated the takeover of the upscale Oakwood Premiere Ayala Center in Makati City’s central business district in July 2003.

However, Pulido hinted that the 29 officers, led by Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV, might also seek a plea bargain. "One at a time," he said.

Malacañang earlier said the mutiny’s 29 top leaders would face the full force of the law, in an effort to dispel fears that the mutineers would get off lightly.

The alleged 29 coup leaders, mostly holding the rank of captain, are being tried separately in a court martial hearing and by the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court on the charge of leading a coup, which carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

Pulido said the 68 officers might plead guilty to lesser charges in order to have their sentences reduced.

"It’s a lie if I say that that (detention) is not one of the factors, but that is not the determining factor. Plea-bargaining is always an option in… criminal proceedings. This has now become a viable option. It’s good for both parties to shorten the proceedings," he said. "We may win in the end but the trial may take several years and may be elevated to the Supreme Court."

Last Wednesday, 184 enlisted men involved in the mutiny were meted a relatively light sentence by a military court after agreeing to plead guilty to lesser charges.

The 184 soldiers were sentenced to a year of hard labor and demotion in rank after they changed their plea to guilty on lesser charges. They also were denied two-thirds of their pay for three months.

However, the tribunal recommended their immediate release, considering the time they had already spent in detention as part of their served sentence.

They will remain in detention until their release is ordered by Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu.

They pleaded guilty to lesser charges of violating "good order and military discipline" and showing disrespect to the president and their superiors." In exchange, the charge of mutiny was dropped.

In July 2003, the mutineers took over the Oakwood condotel and rigged it with bombs.

They accused the military leadership of selling weapons to rebel groups and demanded the resignation of President Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo threatened to use force unless the mutineers surrendered. The rebellion ended after several hours of negotiations.

The government said the mutiny was part of a larger coup conspiracy and the soldiers were used as pawns by some of Mrs. Arroyo’s opponents. The mutineers denied they planned to establish a 15-member junta.