THE Department of Justice yesterday indicted fugitive Marine
Capt. Nicanor Faeldon for rebellion in connection with the Nov. 29, 2007
standoff at the Manila Peninsula hotel preceded by a walk along the streets of
Makati, armed with a high-powered gun, while exhorting people to join them in
ousting President Arroyo.
The DOJ panel found probable cause in the complaint filed by
the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group that Faeldon, together with
detained senator Antonio Trillanes and Army Scout Ranger Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim,
led a group of military officers in forcibly taking over the hotel and calling
for the ouster of Arroyo.
Last December, rebellion and inciting to rebellion charges
were filed against Trillanes and 35 other alleged leaders of Manila Peninsula
caper. No bail was recommended for their temporary liberty.
Prosecutors said firearms were distributed just outside the
courtroom of the Makati trial court before the Trillanes walkout. The panel said
the group conspired to rise publicly and take arms against the government when
they walked out of the Makati court then hearing the February 2006 coup d'etat
case against Trillanes, Lim and their co-accused.
"Faeldon's participation and presence during the uprising is
undisputed. His complicity with the conspiracy to overthrow the government is
clear and his overt acts manifest a concerted plan," said the resolution, signed
by the panel and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno.
The DOJ also said the group's "planned course of action" was
evident in the existence of an escape plan, the rules of engagement in case of
confrontation, the supporters who will join them.
The DOJ, however, dismissed for insufficiency of evidence, but without
prejudice to further investigation, the complaint for similar offenses filed
against private individuals Atty. El Cid C. Fajardo, Tribune columnist Herman
Tiu-Laurel, Leonido Toledo Jr., Evangeline Mendoza, Jose Albert, Eduardo Castro,
Ferdinand Sandoval, Julio Ancheta, Maria Estrella Guingona, Maamor Lanto, Romeo
Dacles, Ryan Custodio, Edgardo Tulalay and Ray Linaac. -Evangeline C. de
Vera
