3 military men, 9 civilians charged with obstruction of justice for Feb. 24 coup plot

Government investigating agencies filed yesterday obstruction of justice charges against two retired military officers, a detained Army captain and nine civilians for allegedly coddling suspected criminals in connection with the failed Feb. 24 coup.

Regional Director Reynaldo Esmeralda, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy director for regional operations services (ROS), said they filed the charges before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office at 10 a.m. yesterday.

The case was based on the joint investigation conducted by the NBI, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Esmeralda said this was the first part of their ongoing investigation into the failed military coup against the Arroyo administration.

Charged before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office with obstruction of justice were: former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo, lawyer Christopher Belmonte, Betina Balderama, Michael Lawrence Yangzon, Renato Constantino, his daughter Maui Constantino, retired Col. Jake Malajacan, retired Col. Rafael Galvez, Capt. Dante Langkit, Nilo de la Cruz, a certain Sam and others who may be identified later.

Eleven of the respondents allegedly violated provisions of Presidential Decree 1829 or committed obstruction of justice but will be allowed to post P12,000 bail bonds.

Esmeralda said that if the respondents are convicted they face four to six years’ imprisonment: "By filing the case, we are reminding the public that any citizen of this republic should not coddle any person involved in a plot to oust the government because that is a criminal act. As a matter of moral obligation, they should report to the authorities the presence of these wanted persons."

Their investigation showed that the respondents reportedly harbored fugitive Magdalo soldiers — Army First Lieutenants Lawrence San Juan, Patricio Bumidang, Nathaniel Rabonza, and Sonny Sarmiento. The fugitive soldiers escaped from the PA custodial management unit at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on Jan. 17.

Belmonte and lawyers Rafael Pulido and Christina Antonio and Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME) chairman Jaime Relagario reportedly brought the fugitives to a priest’s house in Sta. Queteria, Novaliches, Quezon City and the soldiers later transferred to a convent.

After three days, San Juan and Sarmiento were allegedly brought to the house of Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias in East Fairview, Quezon City.

Bumidang, Rabonza and another Magdalo fugitive, 1st Lt. Aldrin Baldonado, went to the Malajacan residence.

When asked why Tobias was not included in their list of respondents, Esmeralda said: "We are still evaluating other pieces of evidence before we can come up with our final conclusion as to the alleged participation of Bishop Tobias."

Authorities arrested San Juan on Feb. 20, along with Belmonte and Albert de Mesa Guyal at a police and military checkpoint in Barangay San Felipe, Padre Garcia in Batangas province.

Balderama and Yangson had reportedly taken Bumidang, Rabonza and 1st Lt. Angelbert Gay to the home of Constantino, who is also a KME member. Baldonado followed them there.

"They were told by Balderama that a military exercise or withdrawal of support from PGMA (President Arroyo) would soon be launched by the military and the police groups called Para sa Bayan (PSB) to be led by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim of the PA Scout Rangers and Col. Ariel Querubin of the Philippine Marines," the NBI said in its report.

Rank and file personnel from the PA Scout Rangers, Philippine Navy (PN) Marines and the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) were supposed to withdraw support from the Arroyo administration on Feb. 24, in time for the anniversary celebration of the 1986 Edsa people power revolt. Two days later, the standoff at Fort Bonifacio began.