Bangit gives provisional freedom to 9 soldiers

MANILA, Philippines - Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Delfin Bangit has given provisional liberty to nine rebel soldiers who participated in an anti-government uprising in February 2006.

AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said Bangit granted the request of Vicente Verdadero, the accused officers’ lawyer, for the transfer of their custody with the assurance that the nine will abide by the conditions to be imposed by the military.

The nine rebel officers who will be free pending the resolution of mutiny charges were Maj. Leomar Doctolero, Maj. Jason Aquino, Capt. Montano Almodovar Jr., Capt. Isagani Criste, Capt. Joey Fontiveros, Capt. James Sababan, Capt. Dante Langkit, Capt. William Upanon and 1Lt. Homer Estolas.

Burgos said the request for provisional liberty was forwarded to Bangit last May 30 and was granted last June 6.

“They (nine officers) were detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal. Since it (request) was approved, they will be released temporarily and will be brought to the headquarters of the support group of the Philippine Army,” he said.

The officers are scheduled to be transferred to the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio today. The nine will continue to receive monthly salaries and will be asked to perform office duties.

“They (nine officers) will be attached but unassigned to the Headquarters Group without any designation or position except to perform ordinary office duties,” Bangit said in a statement.

Brig. Gen. Tristan Kison, head of the Army’s support group, will take full charge and responsibility of the officers’ custody. He will have to ensure that they would attend all hearings on their cases.

“Their release followed the procedures of the AFP. The chief of staff, as the confining and convening authority has the discretion on this,” Burgos said.

Burgos said this was also in line with the aim of Bangit to fast-track the resolution of cases of detained soldiers.

The release of the nine officers marked the second time Bangit gave provisional freedom to soldiers who joined moves to overthrow President Arroyo.

The first time was on May 31 when rebel officer ex-Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim was released from his cell in Camp Crame and was placed under the custody of Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Ordoñez.

This meant that the former general would remain a free man pending the resolution of his cases which include mutiny, disrespect to the president, breach of arrest and confinement.

Lim was commander of the Army’s Scout Ranger regiment when he was jailed in February 2006 on charges of rebellion for leading a coup against Mrs. Arroyo.

Last April, Bangit freed 10 Magdalo rebel soldiers who were tagged in the foiled Manila Peninsula siege.

Their release, however, was not a provisional freedom because they already served their sentence.