DND starts accepting amnesty applications from rebel soldiers

MANILA, Philippines - Rebel soldiers tagged in uprisings against the Arroyo administration started applying for amnesty at the Department of National Defense (DND) yesterday.

In a statement, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the DND is now in the process of accepting amnesty applications.

“An ad hoc Amnesty Committee is tasked with receiving and processing of these applications,” he said.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said about 300 applicants are expected to avail of the amnesty.

“The amnesty proposal is being laid down on the table,” he said.

“I think they should take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

DND spokesman Eduardo Batac said they do not have feedback yet as to how many submitted amnesty applications yesterday.

Mabanta said the amnesty proclamation would not encourage military adventurism.

“We believe the Armed Forces is much more professional now,” he said.

“We’re riding on the high mandate given to the President. At this point military adventurism is already a thing of the past.”

Proclamation 75 signed by President Aquino last month, granted amnesty to military personnel accused of trying to oust the Arroyo administration.

The amnesty would cover 378 officers and enlisted men who were tagged in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, 2006 Fort Bonifacio standoff and the 2007 Manila Peninsula hotel siege.

The amnesty would remove the criminal liability of successful applicants.

Enlisted personnel with the rank of technical sergeant and below would be entitled to reinstatement.

The Senate and the House of Representatives separately concurred with the amnesty proclamation last December.

The draft implementing rules of the amnesty state that applicants should admit their participation in the anti-government uprisings staged during the Arroyo administration.

Rebel soldiers would not be asked to recant their allegations against the previous leadership, which has been accused of corruption and poll fraud.

Applicants would be asked to acknowledge that their involvement in the uprisings constituted a violation of the Constitution, existing laws and the Articles of War.

They will also be required to recant all statements contrary to their admission of guilt.

The requirement drew flak from critics who claimed that it contradicts the principle that anyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Those who want to apply for amnesty must personally file their application with the DND within a period of 90 days.

The applications will be processed by the ad hoc Amnesty Committee led by Defense Undersecretary Honorio Azcueta.

Other members of the committee are Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, Assistant Secretary Lamberto Sillona, AFP deputy chief for personnel Rear Adm. Cornelio de la Cruz and AFP Judge Advocate-General Brig. Gen. Gilberto Jose Roa.

Application forms are available at the General Emilio Aguinaldo Room at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Forms may also be downloaded from the official website of the DND <www.dnd.gov.ph and AFP <www.afp.mil.ph.

‘I was acquitted’

The chief of staff of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. decried yesterday his inclusion in a government list of coup plotters seeking amnesty.

Ramon Cardenas said the government list is erroneous, just like Proclamation 75.

“This is really very funny,” he said.

“I appeared in court . . . and based on evidence, I was acquitted, I went through the whole process and I should not even be mentioned in the list.”

Cardenas told The STAR Makati Judge Oscar Pimentel had acquitted him in a decision issued on Jan. 17, 2008.

Government officials should do their job of verifying the names in their list for amnesty before making this public, he added.

Cardenas’ lawyer, former senator Rene Saguisag, said his client does not need to apply for amnesty.

“It disturbs because mention is made of our client, Mr. Ramon Cardenas, as having assisted in crime (coup), and qualified for amnesty,” he said.

“But, certainly, as to Oakwood, he was acquitted by Judge Oscar Pimentel, on Jan. 17, 2008.

“(Cardenas) does not need therefore to apply for amnesty and deal with the cockamamie requirement to put on his butt, ‘Kick Me. I am a No-Good-Nik Criminal,’ which can be used against those not seeking amnesty.”

Saguisag said even Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was acquitted, not by the court but by the Filipino people who voted him into office in 2007.

“The people acquitted Freedom Fighter Senator Sonny in 2007,” he said.

“I hope Senator Gringo (Honasan) — The Usual Suspect — does not mind too much being left out in Oakwood; but I appreciate more than I can say his noble and gallant gesture of applying for amnesty, if push comes to shove, to help others.”

Saguisag said an acquitted man like Cardenas does not need the distinction of being listed as qualified to apply for amnesty.

“Please let him be,” he said.

“Publicity he does not need (such as the type another former client, Mr. Hubert Webb, son of a former distinguished member of your august chamber, is having).”

Faeldon given temporary liberty

Detained Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon was given temporary liberty yesterday on orders of Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David Jr.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said Faeldon left his detention cell at around 10:30 a.m.

“It’s basically a pass after which he (Faeldon) will have to return to the custody of the commandant of the Marines, Maj. Gen. Rustico Guerrero,” he said.

Faeldon must return to Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., he added.

Faeldon’s camp originally requested that he be allowed out from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3.

However, the military brass failed to act on his request.

Trixie Angeles, Faeldon’s lawyer, said the Marine officer would be restricted to his house in Taytay, Rizal.

“Right now we will take what we can get,” she said. “We are grateful for it.”

Faeldon was barred from granting media interviews, she added.

What is important is the transfer of custody because the precedent has been set, Angeles said.

Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin were freed from detention after they were placed under the custody of military officers.

Mabanta said military authorities are still studying Faeldon’s request that he be placed under the custody Armed Forces Western Command chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, a former Marine commandant.

“If approved, he will be under a situation similar to General Lim and Colonel Querubin,” he said.  — With Christina Mendez