Suspicious, lawyer says on transfer of rebel soldiers from Tanay to Camp Aguinaldo

A lawyer for detained soldiers implicated in the failed February 2006 power grab against the Arroyo government scored the Armed Forces Tuesday for moving to transfer the detainees from Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. In a statement, lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the move could be part of a plot to link the detainees to alleged destabilization efforts by “shadowy groups." “Bringing them down to Manila makes the said link appear more tenable to the accusers," she said. Angeles said the transfer of the detainees was the proposal raised by the prosecution to counter the defense's bid to hold the court martial hearings on the detained soldiers led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda in Camp Capinpin. “The defense lawyers proposed that under no circumstances should the detainees be held in the Isafp (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) or ISG (Intelligence Service Group) compounds in Camp Aguinaldo or Fort Bonifacio, respectively," Angeles said. However, Angeles said they have received information Tuesday that the detainees were already asked to pack their belongings despite the fact that the court martial panel is yet to discuss the proposals and counter-proposals made by both parties. The detainees were reportedly told that they will be brought to Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday, Angeles said. “The order to bring down the detainees now is clearly suspicious, coming at a time when the custodial arrangements and trial proceedings are still being discussed," Angeles said. “Such an act speaks of bad faith. Since the talks are ongoing, none of the activities should be executed because they are still subject to the directives of the court martial and to whatever further talks the defense and the prosecution will be holding," Angeles said. She added that “it is clear that the panel has no intention to take the defense lawyers’ proposals into consideration." - GMANews.TV