Danny Lim: 'Arroyo, Gutierrez, not I, should admit guilt'

Retired Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim said if someone should admit to committing wrongdoings, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez should, not him. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the retired military official reiterated that he will not admit guilt to mutiny and rebellion charges lodged against him for the two uprisings he participated in. According to the implementing rules and regulations of the government amnesty extended by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to the group of more than 300 "mutinous" soldiers, a "general admission of guilt" is required before their application for amnesty can be processed. However, Lim said: "I have repeatedly stated that I will not admit guilt and/or responsibility to alleged crimes I have not been proven guilty. More so, I will not yield to such a demand, as it would only exonerate [Arroyo], her family and cronies of their colossal crimes against the people." Lim was charged with rebellion for the November 2007 standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City when he and several junior officers linked to the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny withdrew their support from Arroyo. He was also charged before the court martial with violation of Articles of War (AW) 63 (disrespect to the President), 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman), 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline) and 70 (escape from confinement). He was also separately charged before another military tribunal for violation of AW67 (mutiny) for the supposed plan to grab power in February 2006. However, for the former military official, "Ang dapat umamin ng kanilang mga pagkakasala sa bayan ay walang iba kundi si Ginang Gloria Macapagal Arroyo." "Isama na dito si Ombudsman Gutierrez na walang inatupag kundi ang pagtakpan ang mga loyalista ni Arroyo kagaya ng ginawa nito sa kaso ng dating Major General Carlos Garcia... It is they who must admit to their crimes," he added. Garcia was the former military comptroller charged, along with his family, with plunder for allegedly amassing P303 million from bribery while still in the military service. In December last year, Garcia was freed on bail after pleading guilty to a lesser offense of bribery, as agreed upon on his plea bargaining agreement with the Ombudsman. Lim urged Aquino to make Arroyo and Gutierrez accountable for their "transgressions" and punish "the true enemies of the people." Aside from Lim, the other high-profile "mutinous" soldiers who figured in at least one of the three uprising in the last decade included former Navy Lt. Sr. Grade and incumbent Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who along with over 100 soldiers had already applied for amnesty earlier in the month. – VVP, GMANews.TV