(Updated) 5 soldiers in Feb '06 coup dishonorably discharged

(Updated 5 p.m.) Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano on Friday ordered the discharge of five Army enlisted personnel implicated in the February 2006 failed power grab, while nine others also implicated in the coup were allowed to return to active military service. In an interview, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said the five were discharged under Special Orders No. 248 following a recommendation by a team of investigators from the Army’s Inspector General (IG), concurred by the Army’s Judge Advocate General. Yano made the order - dated December 28 but was to take effect last December 25 - upon the recommendation of military investigators, Torres said. "The decision is based on the recommendation of the investigators on the case... They (nine soldiers to be returned to full active duty) would be reprimanded and they will be returned to the service," Torres said. Dishonorably discharged were former members of the elite First Scout Ranger Regiment, including: • Sgt. Orlando Valencia, • Cpl. Walter Francisco, • Cpl. Ramon Perania Jr, • Cpl. Reynaldo Pacete, and • Pfc. Leon Ones Jr. They are released from from their detention cell in Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal Friday and would return to the Army headquarters on January 7 for “processing." On the other hand, Torres said Yano issued orders as early as December 13 for the return of nine other soldiers linked to the plot. He said the soldiers have been subjected to the reprimand and are now assigned with the Headquarters and Headquarters Support Command in Fort Bonifacio. They are: • S/Sgt. Reynaldo Bala, • S/Sgt. Marciano Saraste III, • S/Sgt. Alexander Verson, • S/Sgt. Ronnie Dizon and • S/Sgt. Rodellio Tuazon, • Sgt. Nelson Alquisa, • Sgt. Arthur Arienda, • Sgt. Pastor de Guzman, and • Sgt. Richard Javier. Torres said two of the nine soldiers have opted for “dependence discharge" or "resignation" in civilian parlance. “They (five discharged and nine reprimanded) have related cases but the investigation on the nine and five soldiers were conducted separately," said Torres. When asked why there were different recommendations, he said has yet to be read the results of the investigation. “That (reason for the different findings) was not mentioned here (in Yano’s orders). That is in the investigation report but I have yet to read it...I don’t know, I have yet to read their investigation report so I really don’t know their grounds for making such decision," he said. In a phone interview, Francisco - one of those dishonorably discharged - said he and his four companions were given P3,000 each for their return to their family. As of posting time, the soldiers were being transported by the military to Cubao where they are taking a bus ride back to their respective provinces. - GMANews.TV