Alleged mutineer Faeldon not yet free despite bail

(Updated 5:42 p.m.) Alleged mutineer Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon may have to spend the rest of the holiday season in detention despite posting a P100,000 bail in connection with the coup d’etat case he is facing before a Makati court. According to Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta, Faeldon will remain under military custody because he has pending cases before a military court in connection with the July 2003 and November 2007 attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration. “At this point in time, Capt. Faeldon cannot be released. He remains to be under the custody of the commandant of the Philippine Marines," Mabanta said Thursday. Faeldon is currently detained at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. He is among those covered by the amnesty issued by President Benigno Aquino III although his has yet to decide if he would avail of it. Vice President Jejomar Binay, a reservist Marine officer, posted the bail for Faeldon, who earlier said he couldn’t afford the P100,000 needed for his temporary liberty. Mabanta said Faeldon can be released from military custody if he requests the military leadership for a provisional liberty. “Provisional liberty can only be given with the approval of the chief of staff," he said. Faeldon's lawyer, Trixie Cruz Angeles, said they have already asked Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David to release Faeldon to the custody of a superior officer, and are just awaiting action from the military leader. “In fairness to Gen. David, he was not dragging his feet on the case," Angeles said. Angeles said David promised to act on the request once he receives a recommendation from the Judge Advocate General’s Office under Brig. Gen. Gilberto Roa. Mabanta said he does not know if David will grant Faeldon provisional liberty. – KBK, GMANews.TV