Mutiny suspect Faeldon surrenders to military

(Updated 11:53 p.m.) Fugitive Marine Captain Nicanor "Nick" Faeldon, wanted for at least two attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration, is now in the custody of the Armed Forces after he voluntarily surrendered to his superior officers. Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said Faeldon will be presented to the media at a press briefing in a still undisclosed venue Thursday morning. The briefing will be presided by Navy officer-in-charge Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez and Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho, according to a media advisory issued by the Navy Public Affairs Office Wednesday night. Faeldon, in an interview aired over GMA Network's "Saksi," said he surfaced because the Arroyo administration, which he described as illegitimate, was over. "Wala na 'yung pinaniniwalaan nating walang legitimacy na presidente. Wala nang reason para hindi ako lumabas (The term of the illegitimate government is over, so I don't see any reason to continue hiding)," he said.
Faeldon's legal counsel, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, said Faeldon surrendered because he believes the military's new commander-in-chief, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, has been duly elected by the people. "A duly elected president is now commander-in-chief and Captain Faeldon submits to that authority," Angeles said. Faeldon is facing trial before civilian and military courts for allegedly participating in two attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration, first he July 2003 Oakwood Mutiny and then the November 2007 siege of Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City. Faeldon escaped authorities during the height of the Manila Peninsula siege on November 29, 2007, where he, detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and 25 other soldiers walked out of their trial and marched through the streets of Makati City, called for the ousting of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and seized the second floor of the posh Manila Peninsula Hotel along Ayala Avenue. Prior to that, he escaped from military custody in December 2005 after attending a court hearing, but was subsequently arrested by military intelligence agents a month later in Malabon in the company of military prosecutor Capt. Candelaria Rivas. The government had offered a P1 million bounty for his arrest. Sabban the case against Faeldon will push through despite his surrender. "We've to start from square one, and give everybody a clean slate," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV