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No talks on amnesty yet for Faeldon — Palace


The Aquino administration has yet to discuss whether or not to grant executive pardon to Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, a mutiny suspect who has surrendered to the military Tuesday afternoon after more than two years of hiding. At a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it is still early to discuss Faeldon’s possible pardon or even the giving of amnesty to the other soldiers who attempted to overthrow the previous administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “At this point it's too premature to speculate on pardon and amnesty," Lacierda said. Faeldon, who voluntarily surrendered to his superior officers, is now in the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He is facing charges before military and civilian courts for his involvement in the siege of Oakwood Premier Hotel (now Ascott) in July 2003 and Manila Peninsula Hotel in November 2007. The soldiers, collectively known as the Magdalo Group, demanded the resignation of then President Arroyo in both cases. The military said it expects other renegade soldiers to follow Faeldon’s example. Due process Lacierda assured that all the involved soldiers would be afforded due process under the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III. “They (Faeldon and other suspected mutineers) will have to go through the process that’s why we guarantee everyone, including Captain Nicanor Faeldon, that they’ll be afforded due process," he said. Aquino is a critic of Arroyo and is even forming an independent commission that will investigate corruption scandals during her nine-year term. Lacierda said the government welcomes Faeldon's decision to voluntarily submit himself to authorities. “It is an indication of his confidence that the Aquino administration will afford him his constitutional right to due process and fair trial. The administration stands firm on its commitment to uphold the rule of law at all times," he said. Faeldon’s legal counsel, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, had earlier said that her client surrendered because he believes Aquino, the military's new commander-in-chief, was duly elected by the people. - KBK, GMANews.TV

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