Mayuga: There’s no ‘kid glove’ treatment for Querubin

Navy chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga on Monday clarified what seemed to be a “kid glove" treatment of Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who is being linked to a failed plan to overthrow the Arroyo administration last month. Mayuga said the non-restriction of Querubin, pending investigation, is the call of the new Marine commandant, Brig. Gen. Nelson Allaga. Querubin reportedly planned to join erstwhile First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim in the march to the Edsa Shrine on February 24 and subsequently withdraw support from President Arroyo. Mayuga said Querubin could freely move around pending the probe by Marine’s deputy commandant Brig. Gen. Romeo Abayan, unlike Lim and some FSRR officers and men, also linked to the failed coup, who are either detained or restricted in Army camps. “That’s the call of general Allaga. That (non-restriction of Querubin) depends on the assessment of the offense he committed," Mayuga said. Mayuga downplayed observations that Querubin is being given a “kid glove" treatment. He, however, admitted that the investigation is focused more on the standoff at the marine headquarters on February 26, where Querubin led scores of Marine officers and enlisted personnel in protesting the relief of then Marine commandant, Maj. Gen. renato Miranda. At the height of the standoff, Querubin called on the people top proceed to the Marine headquarters and protect them from their “aggressors." A sympathetic officer even went to the extent of saying they want a clean election. Mayuga said Querubin is being probed for possible violation of the Articles of War 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman), 64 (insubordination), and 97 (conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline). Col. Tristan Kison, Armed Forces information chief, said the standoff at the Marines headquarters seemed connected with the failed power grab. He even said that investigators might take the statement of Miranda to shed light on the incident. When asked if Miranda is under investigation, Mayuga said: “I cannot say anything on that yet until after the Marines has completed the investigation." Meanwhile, Army Chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon told officers and men “the need to remain professional and to focus on constitutionally mandated tasks." Alluding to Lim and his cohorts, Esperon noted that military adventurists have their own interpretation of the soldiers’ mandate as protector of the people to justify their efforts to wrest leadership of government. “Such conduct does not in any way depict a professional military organization. This is not the degree of capability that we are trying hard to upgrade. This is not the kind of responsiveness that our stakeholders expect from us," Esperon said. –GMANews.TV