Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim could run for any political post in the coming elections because he has not yet been convicted of the charges he is facing before the military court for his involvement in the failed February 2006 coup.
In a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday, Teodoro said it is the right of retired military officers to pledge support for the jailed officer because they are already out of the service.
But he emphasized that currently, no one from the Armed Forces on active duty who is not facing an offense supported Lim.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has ruled out destabilization as the motive behind the paid advertisement declaring support for Lim in the coming 2010 elections, but said it would determine the possible liability of active military officers who signed the manifesto.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, AFP public affairs office chief, said they would try to determine if active military officers who signed the manifesto could be held liable for violating certain policies that prohibit soldiers from taking part in partisan politics.
The manifesto of support came out as a paid advertisement in one of the broadsheets (not The STAR) on Monday.
Torres said if there is evidence that active officers have participated in partisan politics, they could be charged under the military court-martial for violation of Articles of War 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline), which is punishable by discharge from the military service.
He reiterated that the manifesto would not cause a stir within the ranks and would not trigger any move to destabilize the government because the document was basically a statement of support and an expression of the general aspirations of the people.
An alternative leader
Meanwhile, a former military officer announced that they have plans of fielding Lim as their presidential standard bearer in next year’s polls.
“There are great possibilities that General Lim will run for president in 2010. This all depends on several factors which include his being granted bail by end of this year (or early next year),” said former Army Maj. Norberto Santiago Jr., one of the officers linked to the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.
Santiago is the national vice president of Samahang Magdalo, the civilian component of the Magdalo group headed by Lim and former Navy lieutenant and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
“I think the people should consider General Lim as an alternative leader for our country, which is why we reformist groups have chosen him to lead us,” he said.
Aside from the presidency, the Magdalo is also considering Lim as a candidate for congressman or senator.
“Definitely, he will not be running for mayor (of Solano, where he hails),” Santiago said, clarifying earlier reports that the cashiered military officer is also setting his eyes on the town’s mayorship. . — Charlie Lagasca