Senga reviews case of sacked Rangers chief

With only four months before his retirement, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Generoso Senga is making a concerted effort to leave behind a good legacy in the military by reviewing the recommendations of the Army top brass to try officers and men involved in the coup plot last month in a court-martial.

"We have to do this (investigation) properly, not just to satisfy the clamor to rush it… Those investigated should be given due process," Senga said at a roundtable discussion at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan yesterday.

Senga stressed he is doing his best to accord due process to sacked Army First Scout Ranger Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and the other officers involved in the failed coup plot against President Arroyo last Feb. 24.

Senga, who is bowing out of the military service in July, is also reviewing the verdict on former AFP comptroller, retired general Carlos Garcia, who was sentenced to two years hard labor by a military court.

Senga could not say when he would endorse the recommendations of Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon to put Lim and 19 other officers on trial.

"We can’t say when (the recommendation will be approved)… rest assured, it will be done very expeditiously," he said.

Army Inspector General Maj. Gen. Ferdinand Bocobo, the head of the Army fact-finding team that investigated the involvement of soldiers in the failed coup attempt, said there is probable cause for Lim and 19 other officers to be charged with violations of Articles of War No. 67 for mutiny, and No. 69 for failure to suppress mutiny and for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

Bocobo forwarded his recommendations to Esperon who, in turn, endorsed the same to Senga on March 22 for final review.

Another officer, Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, was also investigated but primarily for his role in the Feb. 26 standoff at Marine headquarters at Fort Bonifacio.

The results of the investigation of Querubin were forwarded to Navy chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga for further evaluation.

Senga said the investigation of Querubin was not confined to his role in the Marine standoff but also looked at his supposed participation in the failed coup.

Lim has denied involvement in the planned takeover and claimed that he was, in fact, instrumental in pacifying some of his restive troops.

Lim was ordered arrested after the general, along with Querubin, allegedly tried to convince Senga to join other officers in declaring their withdrawal of support from Mrs. Arroyo.

Both officers were allegedly planning to make a dramatic announcement of their mutiny during the EDSA I celebration.