Nine detained junior Army officers facing mutiny charges before the military’s General Court Martial for their involvement in the 2006 attempt to overthrow the Arroyo administration have been granted provisional liberty by Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Gen. Delfin Bangit, a military spokesman announced Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, AFP spokesman, said the nine officers – Maj. Leomar Jose Doctolero, Maj. Jason Aquino, Captains Montano Almodovar Jr.; Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, James Sababan, Dante Langkit, and William Victorino Upano; and 1Lt. Homer Estolas, are scheduled anytime now to be released from their detention cell in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

The AFP chief received a letter from the officers’ legal counsel, lawyer Vicente Verdadero on May 30 asking for his clients’ release from detention while undergoing trial, which Bangit approved and signed on June 6.

Verdadero, in his request for transfer of custody of the nine officers, gave assurance that his clients while in custody will conduct themselves properly as officers of the AFP and shall abide faithfully by the conditions that the AFP will impose.

From Camp Capinpin, the nine officers’ custody will be transferred to the Philippine Army Headquarters Support Group (HSG) in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig where they will be rendering office duties.

Burgos emphasized that the nine officers are still facing charges before the AFP Special General Court Martial (SGCM) No. 2, and as such will not be given a position or designation. However, since they are still in active service and continue to receive their salary, the officers will be assigned to the Army HSG under Brig. Gen. Tristan Kison where they will do office work.

While the nine officers are now free to leave the camp and go home or anywhere they want to go, Burgos, however, stressed that the Chief of Staff may also recall their temporary liberty at any time and bring them back to detention.

The AFP spokesman also explained that similar to the case of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, who was also given provisional liberty a week ahead of the nine junior officers, the freedom granted by the Chief of Staff is only a privilege that can also be recalled anytime by the competent authority if deemed necessary.

The nine officers, along with Lim, are being implicated in the attempt to overthrow the administration of the Arroyo administration for their participation in the February 2006 Marines standoff at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

This was the second time that Bangit approved the provisional release of a military officer involved in an alleged coup attempt against the present administration, with the first being that of Lim.

Burgos explained that this is because of Bangit’s commitment upon his assumption to office to expedite the cases of the detained officers.