DND OKs amnesty of Querubin, several others

Former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin and other alleged mutineers whose amnesty applications had been recently approved will take their oath of allegiance to the Constitution on Monday before Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. The oath-taking will be held after the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, the military’s main headquarters, in Quezon City. A total of 280 amnesty applications had been approved by the Amnesty Committee of the Department of National Defense (DND). The number includes two policemen and seven civilian supporters. All the applicants allegedly participated in the three attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration. “That’s the final procedure, it means that their applications had been already approved," said DND spokesman Eduardo Batac of Monday’s ceremony. To join Querubin, a decorated officer, are about 135 officers and men. Of the number of approved applications, only 95 have already taken their oaths. Included in the first batch was Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer who took part in the Oakwood Mutiny in July 2003. Fifty-five other applications, including that of former Scout Ranger chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and former Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, are still being processed. The two are leaders of the February 2006 Marine stand-off. Sought for comment on the approval of his amnesty application and his upcoming oath-taking, Querubin said this will signal his full return to the mainstream society. A recipient of Medal of Valor, the highest military decoration for bravery and gallantry in combat, Querubin is now working as a consultant under the San Miguel Corp. “After all the sufferings, I am now being blessed. I will now take my oath after the approval of my amnesty application. Now, I can finally file for retirement and get my benefits after more than 38 years in the service," said Querubin. - KBK, GMA News