AFP justifies detention of Marine colonel

The Philippine military justified on Monday its continued detention of Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, whom authorities have described as the alleged leader in last year’s botched coup attempt against the Arroyo administration. In a news briefing, Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, AFP information chief, maintained that the detention of Querubin, a medal of valor awardee, was in accordance to existing military procedures. "There is nothing irregular about it (Querubin’s detention and trial) if we are looking at it from the perspective of the military justice system," Bacarro told reporters. Last week, the Court of Appeals directed the military to produce Querubin before the court on November 8 after the Marine officer’s wife filed a habeas corpus case against AFP officials headed by Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Likewsie, the military respondents were told to appear and "show cause" why Querubin is being restrained of his liberty. Querubin and 27 other Marine and Army officers are detained at the AFP Custodian Center in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal over the failed Feb. 24, 2006 coup. All stand accused of violating provisions in the Articles of War concerning mutiny and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. AFP justification In filing the petition for habeas corpus, Ma. Flor Querubin said the pre-trial advise (PTA), which served as Esperon’s basis in convening the general court martial, had remained unsigned by the military chief. Without Esperon’s signature, Ma. Flor claimed, the military court had no basis in continuing its proceedings against the 28 officers. To which, Bacarro said: "General Esperon attached a memorandum to the PTA, stating therein the actions that the Judge Advocate (General) should take, relative to the case and it is not necessary for general Esperon to sign the PTA because there was a memorandum attached to it." Bacarro said Esperon had directed the Judge Advocate General in the memorandum "to take necessary actions such as the creation of the court martial." Asked if the memorandum meant the approval of the PTA, Bacarro replied: "There is a legal question relative to that being raised by the defense counsel of the accused so we will leave it to the court to decide." - GMANews.TV