Bangit orders release of 10 rebel soldiers

MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Delfin Bangit has ordered the release of 10 rebel soldiers who participated in the short-lived Manila Peninsula siege in 2007.

In a statement, AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said Bangit has signed the release orders of Marine Capt. Gary Alejano, Navy Lt. Senior Grade James Layug and eight other members of the Magdalo group.

The other officers were Capt. Dan Orfiano, Lieutenants Senior Grade Andy Torrato, Manuel Cabochan and Eugene Gonzales, Lieutenant Junior Grade Arturo Pascua; and First Lieutenants Armand Pontejos, Billy Pascua, and Jonnel Sangalang.

The ten have completed their jail sentence.

“After deliberately reviewing the case, the chief of staff approved the sentence of the court and order that the 10 officers be freed unless there are legal constraints that warrant their continued detention,” Burgos said.

“The military courts have exercised proper impartiality on deciding on this case,” Burgos said.

The release order, however, does not cover the criminal charges against them that are being tried by civilian courts.

The 10 pleaded guilty of violating the articles of war 63 (disrespect to the President), 70 (escape from confinement), 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman), and 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline).

They were detained immediately after joining the military uprising in Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati in November 2007.

Early this month, a military tribunal sentenced the 10 rebel soldiers to a jail term of eight months. They received a lighter punishment from the military court after pleading guilty of the charges.

Since the ten have been detained for a longer time than their jail sentence, the military tribunal, which credited the time they have spent in prison, recommended their release to the chief of staff.

Last February, the Makati Regional Trial Court allowed Alejano and Layug to post a bail of P200,000 each in relation to a rebellion case which stemmed from the Manila Peninsula siege.

The bail, however, did not cover charges being tried by the military court-martial. As a result, the two were not freed and were just moved to Camp Aguinaldo as they were still facing court-martial charges that time.

The two rebel soldiers are eyeing electoral posts this year with Alejano running for mayor of Sipalay City in Negros Occidental and Layug seeking a congressional seat in the 2nd district of Taguig.