Magdalo soldier linked to the Makati siege nabbed at NAIA

A soldier linked to last week's standoff in Makati City was arrested while trying to take a flight to the United States before dawn Wednesday. Director General Avelino Razon Jr, Philippine National Police chief, said Pfc. Alvin Celestino, a Marine assigned to the Armed Forces' Civil Relations Group was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 about 4 a.m. "Nahuli siya sa NAIA while attempting to leave for Detroit (He was arrested while attempting to leave for Detroit)," Razon said on dzBB radio. He said police and military personnel at a NAIA checkpoint found a Northwest Airlines ticket and a working visa in Celestino's possession. A separate dzBB report quoted the AFP officials as saying that Celestino was flagged because he had no travel authority. The same report said Celestino filed for discharge although the same has not been acted upon. Lt. Col. Jonas Lumawag, Marines spokesman, confirmed that Celestino was one of those enlisted personnel who took part in the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny and later entered into a plea bargain agreement with military prosecutors. "We are still determining what his supposed participation in the Manila Pen incident is," Lumawag said. But Razon said Celestino was part of "Team 3," one of four teams reportedly out to grab power in last week's standoff at the Peninsula Manila Hotel. As this developed, speculations that Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon may already be in government custody grew after the Immigration bureau admitted it has not issued a hold departure order for him. Radio dzBB reported before dawn Wednesday that the Immigration bureau issued hold departure orders against 50 persons linked to last week's Makati City standoff, but Faeldon was not in the list. It said Immigration officials at the NAIA merely "promised" to keep their eyes peeled for Faeldon, who gained a reputation for being slippery. Hold departure orders were issued for the so-called "November 29 family," including Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez ordered the hold-departure orders to make sure none of the "suspects" leave the country. Faeldon remains "unaccounted for," even as his lawyers voiced fears he may already be in military hands. The military had denied the claims. Senior state prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco had given Faeldon and three others up to December 18 to submit their counter-affidavits, or risk being charged with rebellion as well. Shortly after Faeldon disappeared after the Nov. 29 standoff, his website Pilipino would redirect visitors to an online forum at Trapo.ph. From a forum asking visitors if they favored Trillanes' action, the online forum had expanded to posts for and against the senator. As of Wednesday morning, the forum now accommodates posts on who would best replace President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. - GMANews.TV