Deal with military frees 3 Kawal Pilipino soldiers

Three Army captains belonging to the shadowy Kawal Pilipino military rebel group were freed yesterday after spending one year and seven months in detention pending a military jail.

Captains Peter Navarro, Philip Esmeralda and Rembert Baylosis had struck a deal with the Armed Forces.

The three military officers were surprised when Army commander Maj. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon announced that they would be released and returned to active military status.

"By the authority conferred on me as commanding general of the Philippine Army, I hereby order your immediate release and your restoration to full duty status," Esperon told the three military officers after acknowledging their salutes.

"I hereby admonish you to be more circumspect in all your dealings in the future," he said. "Remember that you are with the Army."

Esperon said that, for now, the three will be attached to the Army’s Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group, pending their reassignment to the field.

Navarro, Esmeralda and Baylosis thanked President Arroyo, Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga, and Esperon for approving their release.

"I am thankful to her (Mrs. Arroyo) for giving us another chance," Navarro said.

He also reminded other disgruntled military officers who are entertaining ideas of rebellion against the government to think twice.

"Masayang masaya kami (We are very happy)," he said.

"At last, we can now be with our loved ones. We thank the military leadership," Esmeralda and Baylosis said.

However, family members of the three military officers were not around to welcome them as the decision to free them was only approved by Esperon Monday night.

"I, myself, was surprised when I received the decision this morning," said lawyer Franklin Sunga, Navarro’s lawyer.

Last June 10, Navarro, Esmeralda and Baylosis pleaded guilty to Article of War 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline) in exchange for the dropping of the charge for violation of Article of War 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman).

In exchange, the three were penalized with a two-thirds pay cut and were disqualified from promotion to the next rank for one year.

In January 2004, five junior officers wearing bonnets and calling themselves the Kawal Pilipino demanded the resignation of then defense secretary Eduardo Ermita for allegedly using the military to ensure the election victory of Mrs. Arroyo in last year’s presidential race.

They were subsequently unmasked, arrested, detained and charged with gross violations of military rules and regulations.

Charges were dropped against Captains Marcos Serafica and Yusuf Hassan after they agreed to testify against Navarro, Esmeralda, and Baylosis.

Upon his release, Navarro embraced his elder sister, Blessie Navarro, who was waiting for him at the sidelines, sobbing.

"Wala talagang alam ang lahat na lalaya na sila (Nobody knew that they would be released)," she said. "Ako, nalaman ko lang sa text mula sa kapatid ko (I only knew from a text from my brother)."