9 mutineers in Oakwood coup who pleaded guilty may get 20 yrs in prison

MANILA, Philippines – Nine rebel military officers who pleaded guilty to the crime of coup d’etat last week are expected to be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison today.

The military officers are Captains Gerardo Gambala, Milo Maestrecampo, Alvin Ebreo, John Andres, Albert Baloloy, Lawrence Somera; Lieutenant Christopher Bryan Yasay; and 1st Lieutenants Cleo Dunggahas and Florentino Somera Jr.

Judge Oscar Pimentel of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 is also expected to order their transfer from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame to another prison.

Depending on the extent of their alleged participation in the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the prosecution recommended that each of the soldiers be sentenced from 12 to 20 years imprisonment.

Only 22 Oakwood mutineers are now on trial for coup d’etat, including Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who had announced that he would no longer participate in the proceedings, which he called a “travesty of justice.”

Lawyer Ernesto Francisco, who represents eight of the accused military officers, intends to present more than a dozen witnesses to prove that his clients did not stage a coup d’etat.

He wants President Arroyo to take the witness stand, along with Moro Islamic Liberation Front head Al Haj Murad or spokesman Eid Kabalu.

The prosecution is blocking the move on grounds that the testimonies of these witnesses are irrelevant and immaterial to the case.

“No subpoena can be issued by any branch of the judicial department to the President of the Philippines,” the prosecution said.

“The other personalities being asked to take the witness stand for the defense have nothing to do with whether or not the accused and other members of the Magdalo Group did or did not stage a coup d’etat more than four years ago.”

Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said those being asked to testify have nothing to do with the Oakwood incident.

“No matter how noble” and “no matter how legitimate” their grievances were, the issue is whether Trillanes and the Magdalo Group staged a coup d’etat, Fadullon said. – Michael Punongbayan, James Mananghaya