Maj. Jason Aquino can still apply for amnesty — Gazmin

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Monday that Major Jason Aquino, one of the key Army officers accused of mutiny during the February 2006 protests against then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, still has about three months, or 90 days, to apply for amnesty. Gazmin also surmised that Aquino was not applying for amnesty because he wanted to be acquitted by the court and thus continue his service with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). However, the Defense secretary warned that if Aquino is found guilty and did not avail of amnesty within the 90-day period allowed by law, he will be jailed. The former Scout Ranger officer told media on December 3 that he was not availing himself of the amnesty offered by Proclamation 75 to soldiers and policemen allegedly involved in attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration. He did not want to be removed from service and was confident that he would be acquitted because there was no evidence against him, Maj. Aquino said. The Army officer, presently on provisional liberty, is facing a charge of mutiny before a military court in connection with the alleged plot to oust President Arroyo in February 2006 which eventually led to what is now called the Marine standoff incident in Fort Bonifacio. Under the final amnesty proclamation, which has been concurred by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, only technical sergeants, lower-ranking non-commissioned officers and rank-and-file soldiers can return to the service when they avail of the amnesty. On the other hand, master sergeants and higher-ranking officers are now allowed to be reintegrated back into the service. Marine stand-off On Feb. 26, 2006, hundreds of Marine troopers escorted by three armored vehicles marched in formation and gathered in front of the headquarters of their elite unit in Fort Bonifacio to protest the relief of their popular commandant, Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda. The marines said that they were also protesting the fact that officials of then President Arroyo had tried to get the Marines to cheat for her in the 2004 election in Lanao del Sur. They insisted that they were only protesting this and were not trying to overthrow the government. The Arroyo administration later charged 16 military personnel from the Philippine Marines and the Scout Rangers — including Maj. Aquino — of mutiny under the Articles of War. Aquino was the first Scout Ranger officer sent to solitary confinement for seven months in Tanay, Rizal, together with his immediate superior then, ex-Scout Ranger commander, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim in connection February 2006 mass action. But on Sept. 28, the case against seven of military men was dismissed for lack of evidence. Among those who remain charged include Maj. Jason Aquino. It was not immediately clear whether there were other soldiers who intended to follow Aquino’s decision. However, his lawyer is also the counsel of the three other officers who remain accused in the alleged coup attempt.—With Dani Molintas, GMANews.TV