OFFICERS implicated in the alleged attempt to
grab power in February 2006 said the Armed Forces may transfer
them to a detention cell in Camp Aguinaldo from the AFP
Custodial Center inside Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.
In a statement, the officers said their
transfer might be effected tomorrow when eight of them are due
to be arraigned in Camp Aguinaldo by a general court martial
that is trying them for several offenses, including mutiny.
"We just got information that if we’ll not be
arraigned Tuesday, they will temporarily house us at Isafp
(Intelligence Service of the AFP), the officers led by former
Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danilo
Lim.
Lim, previously detained at the AFP Custodial
Center, was taken to the Isafp jail days after he figured in the
Nov. 29 standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel but he was
returned to his present detention cell at Camp Crame.
"They know that we will not be arraigned but
their objective really is to transfer us to Isafp. The hearing
is just a ploy," the statement also read, without identifying
specifically who wanted them transferred at Isafp.
Asked if there are indeed plans to transfer
the detainees to Isafp, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes
Esperon Jr. said: "There are no discussions on that but the
trials (court martial proceedings) will go on."
Last week, the court’s spokesman, Maj. Emilio
Felicen, said that eight of the accused would be arraigned
tomorrow. He did not identify the eight but said Miranda, Lim
and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin may be among them they being the
most senior accused.
Felicen said they accused are being arraigned
in batches even as he allayed fears of defense lawyers that the
rights of the accused would be prejudiced. He said the other
accused would be arraigned on dates to be announced later.
Lawyer Trixie Angeles, counsel for accused
Scout Ranger Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, insisted that the accused
should be arraigned together, noting that the charges for which
they are being tried are conspiracy in nature.
"Because precisely the challenges for cause
may be made at any time, arraignment by batches should not be
allowed, since the challenges may be made by the other accused
and may affect the composition of the panel before which the
arraignment shall be made,’ said Angeles.
"This is significant because part of the
arraignment is the making of special pleas, which, in a
conspiracy, interconnects with the other co-accused," Angeles
also said.
Miranda and Lim allegedly planned to lead
their men to a march toward Edsa Shrine and subsequently
withdraw their support from President Arroyo on Feb. 24, 2006.
The plan did not push through when the military leadership
ordered the arrest of Lim hours before the plan was to be
executed. – Victor Reyes
