54 Oakwood mutineers to be freed in January next year

A military court on Wednesday accepted the plea bargain offer of 54 junior officers involved in the failed 2003 Oakwood mutiny, paving the way for their release on January 27 next year. Radio station DzBB reported that Anna Vergansoza Espanar, a member of the court martial, said the junior officers were sentenced to seven years and six months in prison but their jail terms were reduced due to "mitigating circumstances". The general court martial was presided by Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Legaspi. The officers, who had already spent 3 years, 8 months and 14 days in prison, will serve a shorter time and will be released on January 27, 2008. The 54 junior officers were among the 321 "Magdalo" soldiers who took over the Oakwood Premier Suites in Ayala Center, Makati on July 27, 2003. The mutiny, led by Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, opposed the alleged corruption of the Arroyo government. DzBB said the officers’ dishonorable discharge" would only be served at the end of their confinement and upon the approval of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The officers struck a plea bargain with military prosecutors, pleading guilty to charges of violating Articles of War 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline) in exchange for dropping of four other more grave charges. The plea bargain agreement, however, exclude 29 other officers to include the hardcore leaders of the Magdalo: former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV who is seeking a Senate seat, Army Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo, and Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon. Earlier, four junior military officers linked to the mutiny were cleared of all charges for lack of probable cause. The four junior officers are 2nd Lieutenants Percival Acanar and Gerald Daen, and 1st Lieutenants Edmun Bandilla and Marcelino Mendoza. The court said they will be restored to full duty status, pending administrative concerns such as counseling. - GMANews.TV List of 54 junior officers linked to the 2003 Oakwood mutiny who will be released from detention and dishonorably discharged from the service on January 27, 2008: 1. 1Lt Wilfredo Camacho 2. 2Lt Jigger Mondellana 3. 2Lt Adrian Alvarino 4. 2Lt Jayvee Macarambot 5. 2Lt Archie Grande 6. 2Lt Mark Dennis Derecho 7. Lt Senior Grade Norberto Santiago 8. Lt Junior Grade Marco Angelo Ancheta 9. Lt Junior Grade Ronald Galicia 10. Ensign Victor Odulio 11. Ensign Ian Luis Badecao III 12. Ensign Ronald Diso 13. Ensign Arjohn Elumba 14. Ensign Brian Babang 15. Ensign Jeffrey Bangsa 16. Ensign Jonah Arugay 17. Ensign Jonathan Jay Adlawan 18. Ensign Emerson Rosales 19. Ensign Elmer Cruz 20. Ensign Rey Galano 21. Ensign Juvenal Azurin 22. Ensign Lyle Rosas 23. Ensign Cesar Tamba 24. Lt Junior Grade Ceferino Diega III 25. Ensign Jeffrey Dakilanea 26. 2Lt Danny Canaveral 27. 1Lt Ronald Ricardo 28. 2Lt Leopoldo Apillañas 29. 1Lt Jonathan Costales 30. 2Lt Oswald Dira 31. 2Lt Samsudin Lintongan 32. 2Lt Mark Damaso 33. 2Lt Giovanni Balian 34. 2Lt Edgardo Aguilar 35. 2Lt Norman Spencer Lo 36. 2Lt Larry Cendaña 37. 2Lt Javelino Sani 38. 2Lt Lexington Alonzo 39. 2Lt Philmore Runn 40. 1Lt Patricio Bumidang Jr. (escaped from Fort Bonifacio in January 2006 but was captured six months later) 41. 1Lt Emerson Margate 42. 1Lt Julius Navales 43. 1Lt Jose Enrique Dingle 44. 1Lt Jeffrey Caoguiran 45. 2Lt Laurefel Caballes 46. 2Lt Warren James Tayaban 47. 2Lt Warren Quasay 48. 2Lt Nestor Jason Gamboa 49. 2Lt Archiebel Rañel 50. 2Lt Jeffrey Tacio 51. 2Lt Regino Orteza 52. 2Lt Noel Tomonglay 53. 2Lt Joel Plaza 54. 2Lt Charleston Tan