Thankful 'mutineers' vow to help Aquino administration

Former military officers who stand to benefit from the presidential proclamation granting amnesty to soldiers who took part in three uprisings against the Arroyo administration on Tuesday vowed to serve the public and help the government in its nation-building efforts. In an interview with GMANews.TV, retired Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim said he was thankful for President Benigno Aquino III's decision to extend amnesty to him and the other accused soldiers. "Gusto nating tulungan ang administrasyong ito in whatever capacity, as public or private individuals," said Lim, even describing the Aquino administration as "totally different from previous administrations."

Lim stands accused of mutiny before a military court in connection with the alleged February 2006 coup and the November 2007 siege of the Peninsula Manila hotel. He ran but lost in his quest for a Senate seat during the May 10 polls under Aquino's Liberal Party. Lim was granted temporary liberty on May 31 this year. Still, Lim admitted he was still uncertain whether the amnesty proclamation would send a good message to other soldiers who might continue to be disgruntled with the government. "Ang [mga accused soldiers] na iyan ay kabilang sa silent majority. What they did was not plain adventurism. They have a deeper form of motivation," he said. "Lalaban at lalaban sila sa ginagawang kalabisan. They are willing to stand up for what is right even if the oppressors are leaders in government," Lim said. New chapter Sharing Lim's sentiment, Air Force 1Lt. Ashley Acedilla, spokesman for the Magdalo soldiers, also believed that the President's amnesty proclamation will surely open a new chapter in their lives. "Hindi [man] namin ito magagawa bilang sundalo at opisyal, pero ipagpapatuloy pa rin namin kung bibigyan ng pagkakataon upang maglingkod sa gobyerno o pribadong kapasidad," Acedilla said. Acedilla stands accused of coup d' etat before a Makati court in connection with the Oakwood incident. Lim said Aquino's decision was merely a "recognition of all the sacrifices" made by the disgruntled soldiers when they attempted to overthrow Aquino. While some of the accused soldiers had either resigned or were dismissed from the service, the accused enlisted personnel still stand of getting reinstated in the service if the amnesty proclamation gets the nod of Congress. "At sana makabalik sila sa serbisyo [I am hoping they get their jobs back]," Lim said, but quickly added that it would be more likely for the officers to give up military service for good and just become private citizens. But just in case some of the enlisted personnel decide to return to the AFP, former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin assured them that their chances of moving up the military ladder later on would not be adversely affected because of their involvement in the past uprisings. Querubin, in an interview on QTV's Balitanghali, expressed confidence that the accused soldiers would still get recognized for their military service since he considered them "the best and the brightest." In fact, the bemedalled officer stressed that he got his Medal of Valor in 2000 - the highest military honor given to a soldier - even after being embroiled in the December 1989 coup d' etat during the time of the President Corazon Aquino. Querubin was given amnesty in 1995 and later rejoined the Marines. Querubin, who was also thankful for the amnesty, said he had learned about Aquino's plan to give them reprieve when the two met at a party. "Sabi niya, pipirmahan daw niya ang amnesty namin para makapag-move on na. At inaasahan niya na makakatulong kami sa kanya sa nation building," said Querubin, who ran but lost in the May elections under presidential bet Manny Villar's Nacionalista Party. He said he was hoping both chambers of Congress would approve the amnesty proclamation. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMANews.TV