DND OKs amnesty applications of Querubin, 84 others

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has approved the application for amnesty of 85 military officers and men, including bemedalled former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the leaders in the failed attempt to overthrow the Arroyo government in February 2006. Querubin was a recipient of the Medal of Valor, the highest military decoration for bravery and gallantry in action. He ran for senator in the May 2010 elections but lost. This development brought to 238 the total number of officers and men whose amnesty papers have been approved by the Department of National Defense (DND). The 85 grantees — 17 officers and 68 enlisted personnel — filed their application papers from Jan. 17 to March 3 before the DND amnesty committee headed by Defense undersecretary Honorio Azcueta. Gazmin previously approved the applications of 153 officers and men, including that of now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer who was among the leaders of the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003. Six of the 85 applicants — Cpl. Alex Pena, Pvt. Jerson Alabata, SN1 Jonathan Perez, PO3 Roulex Magisa, ASN Fernando Pacardo and Pfc. Edwin Canete — cannot be re-instated to the service as they were discharged from the service for offenses not related to mutiny. Under the amnesty proclamation, enlisted personnel with the rank of technical sergeants and down can be reinstated to the service if their applications are approved. All officers and enlisted men with the rank of master sergeant are not allowed to return to the service. The committee deferred the deliberation on the applications of five enlisted personnel — Cpls. Redante Maranan, Eddie Balucanag, Rene Buenacosa, and Fernando Rosello and Pfc. Jesus Moret — pending the presentation of additional proof on their involvement in the coup plots. A total of 267 officers and men and several civilian supporters have so far applied for the amnesty as of last Wednesday. These included former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda. Lim and Miranda’s amnesty applications are still being processed by the amnesty committee after they submitted their papers last Tuesday. Lim and Miranda were with Querubin in the February 2006 plot to march to EDSA Shrine where they were supposed to withdraw their support from then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The 85 new grantees are scheduled to take their oath of allegiance to the Constitution on Monday to formalize the grant of reprieve. Dozens others who were not able to join the previous oath-taking are expected to join in the ceremony. - KBK, GMA News