Navy completes probe on Marine who made ouster video

MANILA, Philippines - A Navy investigating committee yesterday completed its probe on retired Marine Col. Generoso Mariano, who was accused of calling for the ouster of the Aquino government in a video message uploaded on the Internet last month.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay said the committee was set to submit its recommendations to Navy chief Vice Adm. Alexander Pama yesterday. He said Pama is expected to act on the committee’s recommendations today.

The committee wrapped up its investigation after Mariano’s camp submitted its memorandum yesterday morning.

Tonsay said the memorandum contained Mariano’s position on the investigation directed against him but could not provide other details.

“The deliberation includes the review of the testimony of Col. Mariano that he gave before the SIC (Special Investigating Committee) during the open proceedings of the July 20 hearing, where he took oath prior to the question and answer,” Tonsay said.

“This testimony and other evidences gathered by the committee form the basis of the deliberation and the subsequent recommendation,” he added.

Tonsay said the committee, which was headed by Marine deputy commandant Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen, completed its probe at about 1:30 p.m. yesterday.

Tonsay said the committee rendered a fair decision on Mariano’s case.

“The Navy chief gave strict guidelines on this investigation. He said the committee should respect his human rights, observe the rule of law and follow procedures,” Tonsay said.

Copies of Mariano’s video message spread on social networking sites last month after they were distributed to major camps and to media.

The video circulated a few days before Mariano’s compulsory retirement last July 7.

In the video dated July 3, Mariano said the government could not find ways to address the hunger and poverty being experienced by Filipinos.

“If the incumbent government has no intention or has failed to save the lives of the majority, it is the duty, it is the right of every Filipino including soldiers to replace the government,” Mariano said in the video.

Mariano, who served as deputy commander of the Naval Reserve Command, said the public should not believe statistics showing that the country is achieving progress.

Pama formed the team that investigated Mariano’s video and has restricted the retired Marine officer to quarters.

Mariano’s friends in the military are at a loss as to why he issued the statement a few days before his retirement.

In earlier media interviews, Mariano claimed he was not referring to the Aquino administration in his video message.

He also expressed readiness to apologize to President Aquino, the military, and his family for the inconvenience his video has caused. Mariano, however, maintained that he never intended to incite sedition. “What I will say is it was never my intention (to incite sedition). Now, if I would apologize, I would direct it to my family, the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces,” Mariano said in a recent interview with radio station dzRJ.

Mariano claimed that he was calling for unity and not the ouster of the present administration.

He said the video that circulated on the Internet was just a portion of his speech that lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes.