Faeldon denies love affair with military prosecutor

Capt. Nicanor Faeldon and Capt. Candelaria Rivas are not involved in any dangerous liaison because their relationship is purely platonic, the renegade officer’s legal counsel Ruel Pulido claimed yesterday.

Pulido denied claims the two officers were sweethearts and asserted that their friendship was "based on having the same principles and values."

Faeldon had belied the claims, accusing the military of insinuating his romantic involvement with Rivas to cover up the growing support for his cause, Pulido said.

"Ang sabi niya sa akin, hindi totoo ’yun (That’s what he told me, that is not true)," Pulido said, referring to the reported romance between the two. Faeldon had his marriage annulled last year, while Rivas is single.

Pulido said Faeldon had insisted on meeting Rivas last Friday regarding the supposed plans of the military lawyer to go underground and join the Magdalo faction, the group of officers and servicemen which launched the failed Oakwood mutiny in 2003.

Faeldon was recaptured on Friday night while driving a car in Malabon City with Rivas, a prosecution lawyer and spokesperson for the Judge Advocate General’s Office of the AFP.

Agents of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) said they decided to tail Rivas after noticing that she developed a liking to the renegade Marine officer.

After Faeldon escaped last Dec. 14, intelligence officials decided to tail Rivas on the chance that the two would eventually meet up.

The effort paid off when they noticed Rivas being fetched by Faeldon, who was dressed as a woman.

Agents reportedly noticed that the "woman" even kissed Rivas who was waiting for him inside the SM North EDSA shopping mall, hours before they were arrested by ISAFP agents and Malabon policemen.

The military said Rivas could be charged for being an accessory and that she faces possible disbarment from the practice of law.

Faeldon, on the other hand, faces additional charges following his escape, AFP spokesman Col. Tristan Kison said.

Kison said investigation on Faeldon’s case would start today.

After escaping last Dec. 14, Faeldon taunted authorities by issuing media statements urging the ouster of President Arroyo, and by posting Internet pictures and video footage showing him freely moving around inside military camps across the country and the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City amid a nationwide manhunt.

Faeldon even posted a statement on his website challenging the AFP to come after him, saying that no ordinary soldier would turn him in because they were on his side.

Interrogators from the ISAFP have been trying to get Faeldon to recount his "misadventures" during his 44 days as a fugitive.

The ISAFP is also trying to determine who might have financed Faeldon’s call for the overthrow of the government and forceful removal of Mrs. Arroyo from office.

Hours after Faeldon was arrested, a message was posted on his website (www.pilipino.org.ph) that said in Filipino that "the fight is not yet over."

The same website likewise debunked speculations Faeldon could have been in a hurry when the photos were taken.

Faeldon’s supposed allies also explained that the photos were posted in an attempt to show that there are still many among the military and police personnel supportive of his cause.

In the website, Faeldon’s first message, posted at 1:22 a.m. last Saturday, declared "Faeldon’s cause will not be in vain and... his fight would continue even after his capture.

"But the fight does not end here. When he started this, he swore never to give up fighting for a credible government. This fight will end only if they kill him, or if you, the people, give up on him," read the statement posted on the website.

The website also denied claims Faeldon has a romantic relationship with Rivas.

The second message on the website was a full statement emphasizing four principles that the Arroyo administration should adhere to. These are "sacrifice, courage, action and leadership by example," as posted by someone calling himself "J."

In a prepared statement, Faeldon accused the AFP of peddling lies, particularly referring to military disclaimers that the renegade Marine officer had never had the chance to go inside military and police camps.

A postscript noted that Faeldon planned to hold a press conference before he was captured.

The military said this only proves that Faeldon is not alone in updating the website. Investigators noted the website was constantly updated during his 44 days on the run. — With Edith Regalado