2 top rebel generals renew pledge to flag

MANILA, Philippines - The two most senior military officers behind several attempts to topple the Arroyo administration swore allegiance to the flag anew yesterday after the Department of National Defense (DND) approved their application for amnesty.

Former Marine commandant, retired major general Renato Miranda, and former Army Scout Ranger commander ex-brigadier general Danilo Lim took their oath of allegiance before Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in his office at Camp Aguinaldo.

The two former military officers pledged that they would fully support the Aquino administration, describing the current dispensation as very different from the previous one headed by now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Miranda now serves as the Task Force Kalikasan commander of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources while Lim works as a consultant of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Both allegedly led 27 junior officers in plotting to oust Arroyo for alleged massive graft and corruption. They were arrested, detained and charged before military and civilian courts.

However, when President Aquino was elected, he offered amnesty not only to Miranda and his group, but also to the Magdalo rebel soldiers behind the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the Nov. 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula Hotel siege in Makati City.

Most of the rebel soldiers welcomed and immediately availed themselves of the amnesty offered by Aquino government except for Miranda and Lim, who waited for the last man to submit his application before coming forward.

“We are all thankful to the President for this amnesty. This is one way of acknowledging our sacrifices in fighting the wrongdoings and irregularities in the government,” Lim said.

So far, the defense ad hoc amnesty committee has received and processed 285 amnesty applications from rebel soldiers. Of this number, 283 were approved and the applicants – 84 officers and 192 enlisted personnel and a policeman – have taken their oath of allegiance.

Two applicants were denied amnesty due to their failure to establish their actual participation in several military attempts to bring down the Arroyo administration.

The ad hoc amnesty committee also approved the applications of six civilians who supported moves to oust Arroyo.