Esperon testifies vs 2006 coup plotters

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential Management Staff chief Hermogenes Esperon yesterday testified against Army and Marine officers who were linked to the failed February 2006 coup plot against President Arroyo, claiming he has several pieces of evidence in his possession.

Esperon, who was then chief of the Army told the court headed by Maj. Gen. Jogy Leo Fojas that the offi-cers, led by sacked Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin planned to withdraw support for Mrs. Arroyo and join protest actions. He said he has in his possession a copy of a video that shows Lim announcing his withdrawal of support.

Esperon said in his affidavit that when he learned about the plan, he told the officers, some of whom were his former subordinates at the Army’s Special Operations Command, to follow the chain of command. “Gen. Lim told me that they could not back down from their plan because they would lose their face. I told them they were not the only ones who has a face,” he said.

Esperon also claimed he received a copy of a so-called “Diamond Statement,”which contained how the plotters planned to grab power and allow “patriotic Filipinos” to take over government. This document was said to have been recovered in the possession of Army Maj. Jason Aquino, one of the accused officers, who was arrested shortly after the group decided not to push through with their plans.

The defense counsels opposed the presentation of this document, because according to them, this was not included in the evidence that was offered by the prosecution panel during the pre-trial conference of the case.

During the last hearing, former AFP chief Generoso Senga testified before the court and claimed that there was a plan to grab power from the government.