‘Magdalo set to be freed no longer a threat’
Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. sees no security threat in the release next year of 54 junior military officers involved in the failed July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny who had struck a deal with military prosecutors.
Speaking at the
“I can be their job placement agency, why not?” he said.
“For those that I know have shown remorse and have shown capacity, willingness and capability to work for their families, work for their own good.”
Esperon said that he sees no threat from among the of 54 non-core leaders of Magdalo who were discharged from the service following their guilty plea.
“They are college graduates, they are computer literate, they know a lot of skills, so I’m sure that they can become very useful citizens of the land,” he said.
Esperon said the discharged military officers are expected to be released on Jan. 27 next year after serving four years and six months in detention.
The Magdalo officers should have been jailed for seven and a half years, but their prison terms were reduced by three years due to “mitigating circumstances,” he said.
The discharge orders of the former military officers are set to be approved by President Arroyo and would be handed down on the day of their release, he added.
However, Esperon said the military cannot yet decide whether to release the 12 core leaders of the Magdalo, although they have also pleaded guilty before a military tribunal, because they are facing coup charges before the Makati Regional Trial Court.
“We could not act on that. They have pleaded, that has been approved and in fact, they are expected to be released anytime but they are still facing charges at the regional trial court,” he said.
The 12 officers, led by Army Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo, would remain in military custody until a decision is issued in the case against them before the civilian court, Esperon said.
The 184 enlisted personnel who joined the failed uprising were released from detention two years ago after pleading guilty to the charges filed against them before a court-martial. – James Mananghaya
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