Marine colonel’s video to 'overthrow government' was spliced — lawyer

Military investigators grilled retired Marine Col. Generoso Mariano on Wednesday regarding his call for a change in government caught on video, but which his lawyer claimed was spliced, not seditious, and taken out of context. The military panel, headed by Marines vice commander Brig. Gen. Eugenio Clemen, asked Mariano about the clip he had posted on the video-sharing site YouTube last week, in which the former Marine officer called for a change in government due to the alleged inability of government to stop the rise in the cost of food and medicine. Mariano’s legal counsel, Harry Cedro, said his client’s message was taken out of context in the video, specifically the spliced ones on YouTube, have taken the message of his client out of context and “so blown out of proportion." On Monday, former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin also said Mariano’s words were taken out of context and were said as part of a lecture for “academic discussion." Inciting to sedition Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had written Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Judge Advocate General Brig. Gen. Gilberto Roa to recommend that Mariano be prosecuted for inciting to sedition. [See:Malacañang dismisses claims of Ret. Col. Generoso Mariano] Mariano was also being investigated for possible violation of the Articles of War, in particular Article 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman) and Article 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline). “I am confident that he will not be convicted or indicted for anything seditious or in violation of the Articles of War," said Cedro. The former Marine colonel’s lawyer added that in case the Justice chief does pursue a case against Mariano, he remains ready to file a counter-affidavit to contend there is no such sedition. ‘He aired his side’ Marines spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay told reporters: “The investigating panel was given the chance to question Col. Mariano who was interviewed in the presence of his legal counsel. He aired his side." But Tonsay did not divulge the questions that were asked by the panel of Mariano, lest “it might preempt the results of the investigation." Tonsay added that Mariano was expected to submit his counter-affidavit to the panel at the next hearing, which was set on July 26. No for public viewing? The video was reportedly taken at the Club Filipino in San Juan last June 24, shortly after Mariano had attended a forum organized by the Solidarity for Sovereignty group which was headed by civil society leader Linda Montayre. Cedro insisted that Mariano really had no intention to incite sedition, and that his client never even knew that the video would be made public. Cedro said his client is definitely not out to overthrow the Aquino administration, pointing out that in the video clip Mariano “does not state this present government." “It was just the government, so he speaks of a hypothetical government, not necessarily this specific one because what he speaks of in general is the situation of the Philippines from way back until today," he explained. — MRT/VS, GMA News