The military of the Philippines is preparing to welcome back to its fold all former soldiers of whatever rank involved in various uprisings since 2003.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, chief of the Armed Forces' Public Affairs Office, said the military was confident that Congress would approve President Benigno Aquino's grant of amnesty to the soldiers and officers who took part in three failed attempts to overthrow then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are deliberating on Presidential Proclamation No. 75, which includes among its provisions the reinstatement of soldiers with ranks lower than master sergeant.
The President has chosen to return only the lower ranking soldiers to their military positions, though the Army has said it would prefer all 378 to be reintegrated into its ranks.
After the amnesty becomes final, "we encourage everyone to treat [the mutinies and rebellions] in the history of the military as finally closed," Burgos said.
He encouraged all soldiers to "now work together with our reinstated personnel as allies in nation-building."
'Positive action expected'
AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David has ordered preparations for the implementation of PP 75 in anticipation of Congress' "positive action," Burgos said.
He said David's office was drafting a policy directive spelling out the "disposition on the aspects of reintegration/adjustment in rank of those who will be reinstated to the service, including some other critical issues."
Burgos said the military would "continue to assist the Department of National Defense in coming up with rules and regulations on the amnesty applications so that the process will be expedited by higher authorities."
Government prosecutors who had handled the cases against the rebel soldiers have criticized the President's amnesty proclamation and warned that it undermined the legal process and could encourage more military adventurism.
Mr. Aquino's mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino who led the 1986 People Power uprising that toppled the 20-year regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, herself fought off a series of coup attempts.
The President still has fragments of a bullet lodged in his neck fired by rebel soldiers who attacked Malaca�ang during his mother's term.
3 uprisings
The military counts a total of 378 military personnel involved in three uprisings in 2003, 2007 and 2009.
A total of 283 soldiers, led by now Sen. Antonio Trillanes, were involved in the so-called Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003.
Of the number, 100 are officers and 183 are enlisted personnel.
Of the 100 officers, 73 were convicted, six are still being tried and 21 have been acquitted.
In the case of the enlisted personnel, all but two were punished with demotions in accordance with the military's Articles of War.
In the February 2006 standoff of the Marines in Fort Bonifacio, 78 military personnel were involved (38 officers and 40 enlisted men).
Nine officers are still being tried by court martial, and 29 cases were either dropped or closed, or the officer involved was acquitted.
A total of 31 enlisted personnel have been discharged, with nine others admonished.
In the November 2007 siege at Manila Peninsula hotel, which also involved Trillanes, 17 soldiers were involved, 12 of whom were officers and five were enlisted men.
Ten officers and the five enlisted men have been convicted. The two remaining officers are still being tried.
Trillanes won a seat in the Senate in 2007 while campaigning behind bars. He remains in detention.
