Convicted Magdalo soldiers say sorry, ask for pardon

(Updated 1:15 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The nine Magdalo soldiers convicted for their participation in the short-lived July 2003 Oakwood mutiny on Friday said they will seek pardon, even as they maintained they did not strike a deal with government authorities over their guilty plea. In a news conference at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala read a prepared statement on behalf of the eight other junior officers in asking for forgiveness for their role in the military uprising nearly five years ago. "We know in our hearts that we are guilty and we accept the verdict of the court. We undoubtedly made a mistake. We apologize to the people...we ask for forgiveness for our rebellion," Gambala said. "I am applying for pardon...we are applying for pardon. What I can do is ask for mercy from (the) authorities and God. The verdict is hard but we have to accept it...if they will give me pardon, I will accept it," he said. Gambala said the request for pardon is being taken cared of by their counsel. "I will ask pardon everyday, every week, every month, every year." A separate report from QTV's Balitanghali said that the convicted coup plotters have already drafted a letter to President Gloria Macagapal Arroyo requesting that she grant them pardon. The television report quoted Gambala as saying that the group viewed the appeal for presidential pardon as their "last remaining option." The report also described Gambala and Maestrecampo as being teary-eyed as they both pleaded that Arroyo give them a "second chance at life." While regretting his involvement in the bungled uprising, Maestrecampo also expressed his disappointment for not being at his father's deathbead in 2006 and failing to attend to his children while in detention. Guilty plea On Tuesday, the Makati Regional Trial Court sentenced Gambala and Capt. Milo Maestrecampo to reclusion perpetua or 20 to 40 years imprisonment. On the other hand, Army Captains Alvin Ebreo, Laurence Louis Somera, Albert Baloloy and John Andres, 1Lt. Florentino Somera, 2Lt. Kristoffer Bryan Yasay and 1Lt. Cleo Dongga were sentenced to prision mayor or 6 to 12 years in jail. The court verdict came a week after they entered a guilty plea, changing their original "not guilty" plea when they were first arraigned for the crime of coup d' etat. Speculations have since spread that Gambala's group had entered into a deal with government. But Gambala maintained that there was no deal with the government. "We have nothing to put on the table to make a deal. We have not entered into a deal whatsoever." "We are not in a position to make a deal...we have nothing to offer," he added. Core leaders Gambala and Maestrecampo are two of five core leaders of the Magdalo group that occupied the Oakwood Premiere Hotel in Makati City on July 27, 2003 to call for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over alleged rampant corruption in the government. The mutiny ended in less than 24 hours. At the time and even during the early days of their trials before the military and civilian courts, the two appeared steadfast on what they did. On Friday, Gambala was apologetic for the incident. "Our action at Oakwood brought political upheaval. We apologize to the AFP and the institutions we severely affected. What we did cannot be justified." - GMANews.TV