Oakwood mutineer registers as voter

After getting an unceremonious rejection last Friday, Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV finally made it on his second try to register as a voter on Sunday at the Comelec District 1 Office on Zapote Road, Camarin in Caloocan City.

Trillanes told the media on Friday that he would make another attempt to register yesterday apparently to avoid publicity.

Sheila Rojas, Caloocan District 1 election officer, yesterday confirmed that Trillanes arrived at around 11:30 a.m. Sunday and registered without much fanfare this time.

Last Friday, Trillanes read a statement to reporters declaring his bid for the Senate in next year’s May elections upon arriving at the Comelec — only to be told that no voter registrations were being accepted that day.

In 2003, Trillanes and several other young military officers and their enlisted men staged a mutiny and took over a ritzy condominium in Makati City’s business district complaining of corruption among the military leadership.

They also demanded President Arroyo’s resignation. The mutineers surrendered after several hours of negotiations. They are currently facing court-martial. — Jerry Botial, Pete Laude