MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has approved 35 more applications for an amnesty program that was proclaimed by President Benigno Aquino II for military and police personnel and civilians who took part in the attempts to overthrow the previous Arroyo administration.
Gazmin is scheduled to administer the oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the 35 grantees, led by former Scout Ranger Regiment commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
"The oath-taking is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 75 issued November 24 last year, granting amnesty to those who participated in the Oakwood, Marine Stand-off and Manila Peninsula incidents," Department of National Defense spokesman Eduardo Batac said.
Batac said the group that is due to take their oath is the last batch of amnesty grantees.
A total of 284 military and police personnel and civilian supporters have applied for the amnesty over the 90-day allotted period to file their applications since December 31 last year.
Lim is one of the three core leaders of the attempt to oust Arroyo in February 2006. He, along with Oakwood mutiny leader now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, also figured in the November 2007 siege of the Manila Peninsula Hotel.
Lim, a product of the US Military Academy in West Point, was deemed separated from the service when he ran, but lost, in last year's senatorial elections. He is now a consultant at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban said the amnesty offered by Aquino "was an effective way" of bringing back people back in the fold. Only enlisted personnel with ranks of lower than master sergeants are allowed to return to the military service.
Oban expressed confidence that none of the grantees would turn recidivist. "I hope that's going to be the end of it," he said, adding he hopes that these grantees would work "towards unity and peace for our country."
