Another key leader in the series of coup attempts launched against the administration of then President Corazon Aquino has come out in the open to express his condolences to the family of the late leader whom now he described as “the mother of our democracy.”

“Out of the pit of a dictatorship, she has brought us back into the community of free nations – leading it through a difficult period in its history, nurturing it with her love and warmth, and defending its freedoms to the very last breath of her mortal life,” Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who is now detained in Camp Crame, Quezon City while facing charges of rebellion, said in a statement.

A graduate of West Point Military Academy in the United States, then Army Lieutenant Lim led more than 300 Scount Rangers in holding out at the Makati Commercial Center for seven days last December 1, 1989 in coup launched by rebel officers then led by Army Lt. Col. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan against Mrs. Aquino, then the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) commander in chief.

Considered the bloodiest coup attempt in AFP history, combined forces from the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) under Honasan, the Young Officers’ Union (YOU) under Lim and the Soldiers of the Filipino People (SFP) led by Brig. Gen. Jose Zumel launched a coup on November 30, 1989 in an attempt to overthrow Mrs. Aquino from Malacanang.

Together with other RAM-SFP-YOU soldiers involved in the thwarted coup, Lim was arrested and charged before civilian and military court for rebellion. However, the rebel soldiers – including Gregorio Honasan – were given amnesty in 1995 by President Ramos after their group forged a peace agreement with the government.

“I, personally, have had an uneasy history with her as our nation's President (Mrs. Aquino). But looking back on it, I have come to realize even more her sterling qualities: her quiet but steadfast faith in God and the simple yet powerful message of hope she conveyed to a nation whose people she has led,” Lim added.

“Out of the pit of a dictatorship she has brought us back into the community of free nations- leading it through a difficult period in its history, nurturing it with her love and warmth, and defending its freedoms to the very last breath of her mortal life,” he added.

Lim was ordered arrested by then AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon for allegedly plotting a coup against President Arroyo last February 2006.

Last Nov. 29, 2007, Lim along with fellow Magdalo officer, former Navy lieutenant senior grade and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, walked out during a hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court and marched toward the Manila Peninsula where they staged a short lived mutiny before they were herded back to their detention cells.

Meanwhile, the Caloocan City government joined the nation Monday in mourning the death of former President Cory Aquino with the offering of prayers and the wearing of yellow shirts of all city employees.

Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri led city officials and leaders of other sectors in offering a memorial mass at the San Roque Cathedral in the city to pay their last respects to the late President.