THE Armed Forces yesterday said additional charges are being studied against officers implicated in the alleged attempt to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006 for resisting their transfer from an Army camp in Tanay, Rizal to Camp Aguinaldo last Friday.

Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP information chief, said the officers have been classified by their custodians as "high security risk" after their "misconduct."

Bacarro said their behavior appears to be another violation of the Articles of War.

"Likewise, a review is being made for a possible curtailment of their privileges to prevent these officers from repeating the same misconduct," he said.

Bacarro said during the transfer some officers hit Col. Arnulfo Marcos of the AFP Custodial Center.

Bacarro singled out Col. Ariel Querubin and Col. Orlando de Leon who he said displayed "ungentlemanly, impolite and offensive behavior" toward their custodians." He said this manifests "worsening discipline" among the accused.

Bacarro said Marcos detailed in a report how former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Querubin and De Leon refused to attend the court martial proceedings scheduled for that day "claiming that they were sick and that they have their rights."

"The incident report also recounted how co-accused Lt. Col. Archilles Segumalian, Capt. Montano Almodovar and Capt. Frederick Sales prevented the senior officers from being brought out of the detention center," Bacarro said.

Bacarro said a doctor sent to check on the condition of Querubin found that Querubin was fit to travel and "was issued the appropriate medical certificate."

"However, he (Querubin) still resisted to be brought out of the main detention facility, punching Col. Marcos several times on the left hand, abdomen and chest areas," said Bacarro.

Bacarro said Almodovar, who was also present during the incident, started smashing plastic chairs on the floor while shouting profanities and threats at the security escorts. He said Sales joined in the verbal abuse.

Bacarro said De Leon also resisted being taken out of the detention facility in Camp Capinpin.

"He held onto a roughly-made wooden table, leaving minor bruises on his arms. This time, Capt. Sales kicked one of the guards and again shouted profane language and threatening words at the security escorts, prompting the latter to vacate the main detention facility," said Bacarro.

The hearing scheduled yesterday was postponed because of the absence of some of the accused. - Victor Reyes