Mutiny suspect Col. Querubin freed from military detention

(Updated 12:10 p.m.) Former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin walked free from his detention cell Wednesday, more than four years after he was arrested in connection with a failed attempt to overthrow the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Querubin was freed after Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David signed the detained official's provisional release papers Tuesday night. GMA News reported that Querubin walked out of his cell at noon to the warm welcome of his family and supporters. In an interview with reporters at Camp Aguinaldo, Querubin said he did not request for his release from detention. “Let’s be clear about it, this is not my initiative. Initiative ito ng AFP," said Querubin, who is facing trial before a military tribunal for a charge of mutiny following his group’s alleged plot to march and subsequently withdraw their support from then President Arroyo in February 2006. "Right after ni-release si Danny [Lim] nung June 1, kinabukasan pumunta si Gen. Ordoñez. Nag-offer na ire-release ako provided I will write the chief of staff. But I declined," Querubin said. He will be placed under the custody of Brig. Gen. Reynaldo Ordoñez, head of the AFP's Defense Reform Office. Former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, another leader in the foiled plot against Arroyo, was also placed under the custody of Ordoñez upon his release last May 31 by then AFP chief Gen. Delfin Bangit. More than a week later, Bangit also gave provisional liberty to nine Scout Ranger officers linked to the plot. Querubin said he insisted that he would wait until his motion to dismiss their case would be resolved so the officers accused in the alleged 2006 coup attempt could move on with their lives. He asserted that the officers are not guilty of any crime so he did not file a request for his release. “Yun na lang naiwan sa akin, yung dignity ko at pride, ayaw kong sumulat," he said.
Optional retirement In a phone-patch interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio before his release, Querubin said, "Matagal ko nang hinihintay ito para makasama ko ang pamilya ko. Gusto ko na ring madalaw ang mother ko." Asked about his plans after his release, he said, "I'll be filing my optional retirement after ma-dismiss yung case." To his family, he said, "Magbabayad-utang ako sa kanila, lalo na sa kanilang mga sakripisyo." Querubin also said he will continue his struggles for reform. "Kahit private citizen na lang... tuloy ang laban for good governance." He also called on the officers in the field to work for reforms in the government. Earlier, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta announced Querubin's imminent release following the signing of the release papers by Gen. David. "Anytime today [Wednesday] he is a free man. It depends on him when he wants to get out of detention .... He is given the liberty to leave detention effective today, " AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said in an interview on dwIZ radio. But Mabanta said Querubin will still have to attend all the hearings in his general court martial and is not allowed to leave the country. "Di pupuwede (No he cannot)," he said, when asked if the release order meant Querubin can leave the Philippines. Querubin was deemed resigned from the military service when he ran for senator in the May 10 elections under the Nacionalista Party. He did not succeed in his electoral bid. No such "privilege" for Trillanes On the other hand, Mabanta said the AFP cannot grant a similar "privilege" for detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who figured in a mutiny in 2003 and a hotel siege in 2007. "Ang kanya sa civilian court ito (Trillanes' case is with a civilian court) ... It really depends on the courts of law," he said.— LBG/YA, GMANews.TV