Attempt to rescue Trillanes foiled, says ISAFP chief

The military has foiled a plot to spring Magdalo leader Lt.Sg. Antonio Trillanes from the custody of military intelligence agents while attending a hearing at the Makati regional trial court.

A senior Camp Aguinaldo official said Trillanes would have escaped if a tight security cordon had not been thrown around the Magdalo leaders during their court hearing on Tuesday last week.

The official said Brig. Gen. Marlu Quevedo, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) chief, had to be at the Makati court to oversee security following the discovery of the plot to free Trillanes.

"It’s a plan to rescue him (Trillanes), that’s why Quevedo was there," the source said.

However, Trillanes was able to grant a media interview in which he called on the people to choose between GMA or change, the official added.

It was also on Tuesday last week that four other Oakwood mutiny leaders escaped from jail in Fort Bonifacio, Makati.

The main target of the rescue plan was reportedly Trillanes, who acted as the spokesman for the renegade military officers during the failed Oakwood uprising in 2003, the official added.

It was also at a Makati court that now fugitive Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon was able to flee his security detail during a break in a hearing on the coup d’état charges against him.

Quevedo has been ordered to tighten the security on the detained military officers.

"We are not discounting the possibility that they would again try to spring Trillanes out of ISAFP," said the source.

The military has also intensified intelligence and counter intelligence operations to thwart any attempt to release the remaining Magdalo military officers and soldiers from detention, the official said.