he nine junior military officers who have been granted temporary freedom are now under the custody of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, an official said Thursday.
Army spokesperson Maj. Ronald Alcudia said the officers arrived in Fort Bonifacio about 7 p.m. Wednesday. They were previously detained in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal for their alleged involvement in the botched February 2006 coup d' etat.
Those transferred were Majors Leomar Jose Doctolero and Jason Aquino; Captains Montano Almontovar, Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, James Sababan and William Victorino Upano; and 1Lt. Homer Estolas — all members of the elite First Scout Ranger Regiment.
They stand accused before a military court of violating Articles of War 67 or mutiny in connection with the February 2006 coup try. The nine soldiers were earlier granted provisional liberty by Armed Forces chief General Delfin Bangit after the military leadership found them no longer "threats" to the country. [See: 9 officers in Feb. '06 coup try given temporary liberty] While in the Army headquarters, the nine officers will be considered attached without assignments and will not be given designations except for "non-sensitive" ones. They will report to Brig. Gen. Tristan Kison, who had been designated as the junior officers' custodial officer.
Seven other Marine officers also linked to the plot remain in detention, including former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and resigned Col. Ariel Querubin, who failed to win a Senate seat during the last elections.
Another leader of the alleged coup plot, former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, has also been given temporary liberty by Bangit. Like Querubin, he ran for senator in the recent elections but lost. — with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ/KBK
