4 Magdalo officers cleared, 54 plead guilty

Four junior military officers linked to the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny have been cleared of all charges against for lack of probable cause, a military prosecutor said Wednesday. This developed as 54 other junior officers have 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. As of posting time, the general court martial presided by Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Legaspi was still deliberating on the plea bargain agreement. The other alleged violations the 54 officers are being charged with are: AW 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman), AW 67 (mutiny), AW 63 (disrespect to the president, vice president and secretary of national defense) and AW 64 (disrespect toward superior officer). In Wednesday's resumption of the court martial proceedings against the Magdalo officers, chief prosecutor Col. Pedro Herrera Davila announced that a special adjudication board had cleared four junior officers from involvement in the July 2003 mutiny for "lack of probable cause." The court approved the recommendation of the adjudication board. The four junior officers are 2nd Lieutenants Percival Acanar and Gerald Daen, and 1st Lieutenants Edmun Bandilla and Marcelino Mendoza. The court said they would be restored to full duty status, pending administrative concerns such as counseling. 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. Davila said five other officers are not included in the plea bargain agreement as well as two other Navy officers who have wished to turn state witness. - GMANews.TV