Esperon courted Langkit to testify vs plotters - officer's twin

CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – Armed Forces chief General Hermogenes Esperon Jr offered freedom for alleged coup plotter Captain Dante Langkit in exchange for turning state witness, the detained Army officer’s twin brother, Danzel, said Tuesday. Interviewed at the sidelines of the trial by court martial of suspects in the botched February 2006 coup, Danzel alleged that Esperon made the offer through his executive assistant, Colonel Daniel Lucero, last March 26. “The executive assistant (Lucero) said that it (offer) was from General Esperon. In exchange for his (Langkit) release, he has to turn state witness against the group of (brigadier) general (Danilo) Lim," said Danzel. Lucero could not reached for comment. Lim, the erstwhile commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment, and former Marine commandant Major General Renato Miranda, reportedly planned to lead their men in withdrawing support from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in February last year. Danzel said his twin rejected Esperon’s offer. “He (Langkit) did not agree. If he was to turn state witness, he must be one of those guilty and he is not," he said. “He said, ‘how can I be a state witness when I’m not guilty, I’m not a rebel’," Danzel quoted his brother as saying. Danzel said he went to Esperon’s office last March 26 to inquire on the response to the letter sent by his brother last February 21, seeking his release from detention so he could campaign in Kalinga province, where he is planning to run as congressman in the May elections. “If he (Langkit) wants to be released, he has to turn state witness. He has to be a state witness (before he could be released)," Danzel quoted Lucero as saying. The Army officer also apologized to Esperon in the same letter for the “disappointments" he has caused. Langkit later decided not to pursue his congressional bid but Danzel himself then filed his own candidacy for the same post, saying he wanted to pursue his twin brother’s goal to help Kalinga residents. Langkit, Lim, Miranda and 25 other Army and Marine officers are facing court for violation of several provisions of the Articles of War, including mutiny and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. A former Scout Ranger officer, Langkit was arrested by military intelligence agents at a Quezon City restaurant in April last year over his alleged involvement in the failed plot to overthrow the Arroyo government. Langkit, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1995, was reportedly the brainchild of Operation Gemstone, an elaborate plot to assault Fort Bonifacio, a sprawling military camp in Taguig, Metro Manila. He is being detained at a cell at the custodial management unit inside the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio. -GMANews.TV