Senga wants results of Feb. 24 coup probe

Outgoing Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga wants the results of an investigation into the alleged involvement of several military officers in the reported coup attempt against President Arroyo last February before his mandatory retirement on Wednesday.

Earlier, a senior officer privy to the investigation said that the probe is almost complete and a fact-finding panel will soon submit its findings to Senga, who will order a court-martial if warranted.

The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the head of the panel, Vice Adm. Rufino Lopez, might recommend disciplinary action against Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Col. Ariel Querubin and several young officers.

Lim was relieved of his command as head of the Philippine Army’s crack Scout Ranger Regiment and Querubin as Marine brigade commander.

Querubin later led Marine troops in protesting the relief of Philippine Marine Corps commander, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, resulting in a tense standoff with soldiers.

After several hours of talks Querubin emerged with the new commandant, Brig. Gen. Nelson Allaga, who proclaimed the Marine Corps intact. The troops returned to barracks.

Lim and Querubin allegedly planned to join street rallies, unarmed, on Feb. 24, the eve of the 20th anniversary of dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ downfall in 1986, calling on Mrs. Arroyo to step down over allegations of cheating in the 2004 presidential election.

"I hope it’s finished because my guidance is to finish the investigation as soon as possible," Senga told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, when asked if he wants Lopez’s investigation terminated before his term ends on July 21.

"But not at the expense of hurrying it up. I mean, just for the purpose of hurrying it up at the expense of a poor investigation... We want that it would be thoroughly and properly done," he emphasized.

The alleged involvement of Lim and Querubin later prompted Senga to issue a stern reminder to the armed forces that the military is an instrument of state policy and should remain politically neutral.

Mrs. Arroyo ordered a purge to root out "all residual and anticipated threats of destabilization" in the military and the police force.

Mrs. Arroyo has been under intense political pressure since admitting impropriety in calling an independent election official before Congress had declared the winner of the 2004 vote.

She denies cheating in the election. Opposition groups have vowed to force her from office after she fought off an impeachment bid in September.

The political crisis has raised fears that the military might intervene to resolve the impasse.

On Feb. 24, Mrs. Arroyo issued Proclamation 1017 declaring a state of national emergency to thwart a reported coup attempt by a "tactical alliance" of renegade military officers, communist rebels and their political backers.