17 Army officers linked to coup transferred

Seventeen Army officers implicated in the supposed failed coup last Feb. 24 were moved to a military stockade at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal yesterday.

Maj. Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, said the detained military officers, whom he did not identify, carry the ranks of lieutenant and captain.

"They were placed under the custody of the Philippine Army detention center at Camp Capinpin," he said. "They were transferred based on a commitment order issued by the Army commanding general last July 12."

Six other Army officers are set to be transferred to the Army detention center, Torres said.

Meanwhile, the aide de camp of former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda said yesterday she will face any summary dismissal proceedings against her.

Appearing at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila, Marine 1Lt. Belinda Ferrer said she was Miranda’s confidential assistant when he was Marine commandant.

The 30-year-old Ferrer arrived at the NBI-Special Task Force (STF) at around 11:20 a.m. yesterday to answer the summons sent to her last week.

Ferrer was reportedly one of the 12 Marine officers who were relieved because of their alleged involvement in the supposed failed coup last Feb. 24.

Arnel Dalumpines, NBI-STF supervising agent, said Ferrer will return to the NBI on Friday to submit an affidavit more elaborate than the confession she had given to military investigators.

"When I asked her about being allegedly among the 12 relieved Marines, she said that she was willing to face the accusations," he said.

"She was reported to be one of the Marine officers who chanted the withdrawal of support," he said.

Dalumpines said that as Miranda’s aide de camp, Ferrer’s duty was to screen her commander’s meetings and know those who would be seeing him.

"From Lt. Ferrer, we would want to know what took place on the dates from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26, the day when there was a standoff at the Marines (headquarters)."

Ferrer has already admitted that Miranda met with Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former First Scout Ranger brigade commander, and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, former commander of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Marawi City.

Lim and Querubin are suspected of plotting a supposed coup to topple the government during the 20th anniversary of the EDSA 1 people power revolt.

Meanwhile, two civilians charged with the illegal possession of explosives and firearms as part of an alleged plot against President Arroyo pleaded not guilty in court yesterday.

Christopher Belmonte, a lawyer with alleged ties to communist guerrillas, and Michael Yangzon entered pleas of not guilty, Judge Rosana Fe Maglaya said.

The men were held early this month along with six military officers after a raid over an alleged plot to take legislators hostage at the nearby House of Representatives.

The government said the arrests turned up firearms and explosives as well as a blueprint of the House complex.

Belmonte belongs to a wealthy political family and had been arrested previously due to his ties with Magdalo, a military renegade group linked to a supposed foiled coup plot last Feb. 24 and the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003. — With Evelyn Macairan, AFP