MANILA, Philippines – Army Chief Lieutenant General Alexander Yano has discharged from the service 26 elite enlisted personnel linked to the alleged February 2006 coup plot, after they languished in detention for over a year without being served formal charges, his spokesman said.
The administrative discharge took effect on Wednesday, and the 26 enlisted men were set for transfer from their detention cell at Camp Capinpin in Tanay town, Rizal province, to Fort Bonifacio, where they will undergo "processing" before their release, said Army public affairs chief Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres Jr.
"Effective Wednesday, 26 of the 40 EPs [enlisted personnel in Tanay, who were among those investigated for involvement in the February [incident] were discharged administratively from the military service and relieved from detention," the spokesman said.
"They will not receive separation benefits because they were discharged for a cause," he told Camp Aguinaldo reporters.
Fourteen other elite Army soldiers will remain detained at Camp Capinpin for "continuing investigation" while awaiting charges, he said.
Yano discharged the 26 based on separate recommendations of an ad-hoc investigating team, led by former Armed Forces Inspector General Rufino Lopez and the Army Inspector General last year, Torres said.
Yano's predecessor, retired Lieutenant General Romeo Tolentino, put off the implementation of the discharge pending the arraignment on mutiny charges of the 19 Scout Ranger and nine Marine officers linked to the supposed plot, the spokesman said.
The officers have not been arraigned since their trial opened in December 2006 after they repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the court handling their case and ejected several presidents of the seven-man tribunal through a peremptory challenge.
"It's been dragging for a long time, so upon the advice of military lawyers, the CG [commanding general, Yano] decided to remove the condition [that the officers should be arraigned] and discharge them effective Wednesday," he added.
The investigations found "preponderance of evidence" that the 26 soldiers violated Articles of War 67 (mutiny) and 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline), Torres said.
Torres added it was within Yano's power as commanding general, under Memorandum Circular 1017, not to extend the enlistment of foot soldiers, which has to be renewed every three years.
Formerly stationed in the Bicol region, the 26 soldiers were halted in Sipocot town in Camarines Sur province, while allegedly on their way to join anti-government protests on February 24, 2006, the 20th anniversary of the 1986 People Power revolt that restored democracy in the country, Torres said.
Ex-Army Scout Rangers chief Brigadier General Danilo Lim and Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin allegedly planned to use the protests as a springboard for a mass withdrawal of support from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is hounded by allegations of election fraud.
Torres said Tolentino put off the discharge of the 26 soldiers since they could not be reinstated in case the court martial acquits their officers for mutiny.
"If the officers are exonerated, the damage to the soldiers will be irreparable," he
said.
He said the 26 soldiers would remain at the Custodial Management Unit (CMU) compound in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City for medical and dental tests and other administrative matters.
"They will be released as soon as possible," he said.
