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PRESIDENT Arroyo announced on Monday that she has
granted executive clemency to the nine junior army
officers who had been convicted by a court for their
participation in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
The
President made the announcement at the Armed Forces
turnover ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, which
she said would be her “last act” as commander in chief
of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who was replaced by Gen.
Alexander Yano.
“As my
last act as commander in chief of Jun Esperon, before, I
stood up as we were sitting down, while Alex was still
beginning his job as the new chief of staff, my last
approval of General Esperon’s recommendations is to
approve his recommendation on the Magdalo soldiers,” the
President said.
Esperon
earlier recommended to the President the grant of pardon
to the nine Magdalo officers after they pleaded guilty
to participation in the coup attempt in 2003 and
expressed remorse for their actions.
Addressing Esperon, she said: “You have substantiated
your commitment to let the wheel of military justice
roll smoothly. You have shown that no one is above the
law even as you support, and as you have repeated in
your address, the support of the pardon of a number of
Magdalo officers who have shown remorse and utmost
potential for rehabilitation.”
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told reporters that
the President had expectedly signed the pardon order for
the Magdalo officers, which was submitted to her on
Friday, since she already announced it that morning.
“It’s
highly probable the President may have signed it already
because I forwarded it to her last Friday. So I suppose
the President may have signed it already That’s why she
announced it” he said.
Shortly
after they were found guilty of coup d’etat last month,
the concerned Magdalo officers led by Capt. Gerardo
Gambala sought presidential pardon, which was endorsed
by Esperon and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno.
The
others who were granted pardon are Capts. Milo
Maestrecampo, Alvin Ebreo, Albert Baloloy and John
Andres; and Lieutenants Laurence Luis Somera, Cleo
Donggaas, Florentino Somera Jr. and Kristopher Bryan
Yasay.
Gambala
and Maestrecampo were supposed to serve life terms, and
the other seven, six to 12 years in prison.
Puno
earlier said the nine officers would be worthy of pardon
if they show a “clear intention to take the positive
path.” The Magdalo officers apologized to their
commander in chief and urged other soldiers not to
emulate their actions at Oakwood.
In her
speech, the President said “the dismal failure of
destabilization attempts underscore just how out of
touch the plotters are with the mood of the nation.”
“The
nation wants peace, order and stability, not more
political shenanigans. Ninety-nine percent of our
military men and women are good, upstanding and loyal
patriots fighting to protect our country every day,” she
said. |
