Honasan charged with coup d'etat for Oakwood mutiny

The Justice Department on Friday afternoon filed coup d' etat charges against seven people, including former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, in connection with the failed Oakwood mutiny on July 2003. Aside from Honasan, charged with coup d' etat were Felix "Boy" Turingan and other John and Jane Does. Turingan and Honasan were leaders of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), which launched a series of military uprisings against the Aquino government in the 1980s. Honasan tried to act as a mediator between the government and the mutinous Magdalo soliders during the takeover of the Oakwood Suites in Makati City. The Armed Forces placed under investigation earlier Friday Colonel Ariel Querubin, who heads the 1st Marine Brigade in the South, for allegedly plotting to unseat the Arroyo government. Honasan reportedly served as Lim’s mentor during earlier years. The military has also arrested and relieved Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, following the his arrest. Lim and Querubin were among the founders of the Young Officers Union (YOU) that mounted a series of failed coups in the late 1980s against then president Corazon Aquino. Lawyer Argee Guevarra, a counsel for the Magdalo group, was arrested Friday afternoon along with other rally organizers. President Arroyo placed the country under a state of national emergency, and allowed law enforcers to implement warrantless arrests.-GMANews.TV