The President’s action came after Navy Lt. Antonio Trillanes and other officers involved in last year’s failed military uprising sent her a letter of apology where they admitted their faults – and the consequences of their actions.
"I accept that apology in my personal behalf. It is time to put our hurts behind and to repair whatever ill-feelings that resulted from the incident. I bear no rancor over the past and it is time to take the high road of national solidarity and nation-building," she said.
In a press conference at the Department of National Defense (DND) Social Hall in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, the six officers saluted the President in a symbolic gesture of allegiance to her as their Commander-in-Chief.
Arroyo also held a closed-door meeting with the six officers along with other defense officials to discuss the recommendations of the Feliciano Commission which investigated the case.
She cited the appointment of a civilian to head the DND in the person of Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. as one of the recommendations she took in addressing some of the demands of Trillanes and his group during the mutiny.
But according to the President, her acceptance of the apology should not be misconstrued that the government is giving up the criminal and civil cases it filed against them.
"The civilian cases were directed against the six (leaders). And they have said time and again that they are ready to face the consequences of their actions. Their appeal was for their followers to be exonerated. But the cases in the civilian court should continue," she said.
Aside from Trillanes, the other officers are Captains Gerardo Gambala, Milo Maestrecampo, Gary Alejano and Nicanor Faeldon and Lt. James Layug. They have been in detention for the past 14 months.
Arroyo then instructed Abaya to expedite the resolution of the charges against Trillanes and his group before the Court Martial for the violation of at least five provisions of the Articles of War.
"Yet as Commander in Chief, I am duty-bound to exercise a sense of fairness and justice in these matters. It must be understood that in the universe of national security, the chain of command is sacrosanct and cannot be breached with impunity.
"I bear faith that even as we clasp hands in the spirit of forgiveness, they shall stoically accept their fate as soldiers and gentlemen. Leniency for the rank and file who were misled, misinformed or inveigled to join a misadventure is in order."
Trillanes and his group face charges of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman (Article 96), disrespect for the President (Article 63), desertion (Article 59), conduct prejudicial to good discipline (Article 97) and mutiny (Article 67).
Oakwood mutineers apologize
Six leaders of the Magdalo Group which led the failed military uprising in Makati City in July 2003 yesterday expressed their apologies to President Arroyo, then declared their support and cooperation to the administration.
The six officers from the Army, Navy and Marine services also apologized to former defense chief and now Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes; Brig. Gen. Victor Corpus, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Civil Relations Service; and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now National Security Adviser retired Director General Hermogenes Ebdane for falsely accusing them of involvement in irregularities in the military and police institutions.
Capt. Gerardo Gambala read a statement on behalf of the other key Magdalo leaders – who were clad in military general office attire – before Arroyo during her visit to the Department of National Defense (DND) at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
"But during our 13 months of incarceration, we have realized that while our country is facing serious problems; there are no short cuts in solving them," Gambala said.
"On the contrary, the road to peace and progress is a long and difficult journey where every Filipino has the responsibility of sharing the burden. We have concluded that the only way to achieve this is for our people to be united in moving towards our vision."
The other Magdalo leaders who were present during a press conference at the DND Social Hall were Marine Capt. Gary Alejano and Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, Navy Lt. James Layug and Lt. Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Capt. Milo Maestrecampo.
"As a result of our actions at Oakwood, we have damaged the AFP as an institution. To this, we are attesting the fact that the AFP is still very much capable of protecting the people and fighting the enemies of the State," they stressed.
"We also have overstated the extent of corruption in the AFP and hereby acknowledge that there were indeed efforts to eradicate this problem even prior to the Oakwood incident." (Aris Ilagan)
Good move - Villar
Sen. Manuel Villar yesterday welcomed the news that some leaders of the failed military uprising in 2003 have apologized and vowed to support the new administration.
"It is really good that the leaders of the Oakwood mutiny apologized to the President," said Villar, who also supports President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s reconciliation effort, including extending a hand to the young military officers who seized the Oakwood Hotel in Makati City last year.
"This is a very welcome reprieve from all the bad news that we have been bombarded with about the problematic state of our economy. This will also enhance our country’s image in the international community – that at the end of the day, the Philippines is a peace-loving nation."
Villar, however, added: "We have laws, and we have to follow them. Those who violate the laws run the risks of being convicted."
He then commended Arroyo for her effort.
"But I think, the President is sincere – she wants reconciliation. And it will help a lot, especially during these difficult times while the country is in the midst of the fiscal crisis. It is good for them to reconcile and to show their commitment to peace and reconciliation.’’
Wrong move - Biazon
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the national defense and security committee, said yesterday the leaders of the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny were wrong in apologizing to President Arroyo for their failed uprising.
Biazon, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the detained military officers mounted the armed action in their "naive desire for change."
Sen. Joker Arroyo, on the other hand, said there are "historical imperatives" that would lead to the President granting them amnesty even as he noted that the entire apology episode was staged.
He said it appeared "scripted…. everything was calibrated…. historically we tend to forgive and forget."
Biazon said the apology does not resolve the criminal cases filed against those who staged the uprising. The cases against the leaders of the Magdalo are still pending before civilian and military courts.
The mutineers’ legal way out is the granting of amnesty, Biazon said, adding that giving amnesty is a power shared by the Congress and the Executive Department.
He said they must apologize to the entire nation.
Senator Arroyo said the President’s body language in the photo session with the mutineers after the apologies meant she was inclined to forgive them. (Mario B. Casayuran)
