Ex-Marine convicted of disrespecting president

MANILA, Philippines - A Navy court martial has convicted a former Marine colonel who had called for a change in government in a video he posted just before he was supposed to retire in 2011.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said the tribunal has found Generoso Mariano guilty of violating Articles of War 63 or disrespect towards the president.

Mariano has been sentenced with dismissal from the service and one year’s  imprisonment. The prison sentence, however, was deemed served as Mariano has been restricted to barracks since the video showing him making anti-government statements circulated.

Fabic said the verdict was handed down last week but has not been transmitted to Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Luis Alano.

“Whatever the decision or finding, it will be subject for the approval of the (Navy chief), the convening authority,” he said.

If the Navy leadership approves of the tribunal’s ruling, Mariano will not receive his retirement benefits.

Mariano was also accused of violating Articles of War 91 (provoking speeches) and 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman) but the military court cleared him of the charges.

Mariano’s video message circulated a few days before his compulsory retirement on July 7, 2011. In the video dated July 3, he said the government had failed to 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 said the public should not believe statistics showing that the country is achieving development.

Mariano, however, claimed that he never sought to overthrow the Aquino administration. He said he was not referring to President Aquino when he called for change in his video message.