Army head warns coup plotters

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - A Philippine Army official has warned soldiers during his visit to Dumaguete City that military adventurism is a serious offense that will be dealt with severely under the law, the Sun.Star Dumaguete reported Friday. Army Chief Alexander Yano, who was in Negros Oriental Wednesday to inspect ground troops, cited the fate of soldiers involved in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 as example. Nine junior military officers who were among those who took part in a mutiny against President Gloria Arroyo's administration were convicted recently and sentenced to jail terms ranging from 12 to 40 years. The nine are among a group of 31 junior officers accused of leading the daylong mutiny in which soldiers took over an upscale hotel and mall complex and rigged it with explosives in Manila's financial district of Makati. They later surrendered peacefully. Yano, who is groomed to be the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the fate of the Magdalo group sends a strong message to those who are trying to bring down the government. Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Regional Trial Court of Makati sentenced Captains Milo Maestrecampo and Gerardo Gambala to 40 years in prison and Captains Alvin Ebreo, Laurence Luis Somera, Albert Baloloy, and John Andres, and First Lieutenants Cleo Dongaas, Florentino Somera and Kristoffer Bryan Yasay to 12 years. They are facing separate court martial charges. Reports said Gambala and Maestrecampo who pleaded guilty to coup charges might get a pardon from President Arroyo. Gambala and Maestrecampo apologized to President Arroyo in 2004 in relation to the failed Oakwood mutiny. The nine convicted junior officers could get a pardon for changing their plea to guilty. Instrumental to their change of stand was Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who has been working with the group of Gambala. General Yano said his visit to Negros Oriental is part of his preparation for taking over the AFP chief of staff post. Yano is to be installed as AFP chief of staff by May 8 or 9, 2008. The President, he said, has announced a three-month extension of General Hermogenes Esperon's term as AFP chief of staff. Yano is currently doing routine inspections of major Army units in the country. The Philippine Army, he said, has 10 infantry divisions, armored division, special operations command, and 29 army brigades. He also admitted he could not finish his routine inspection until May this year. Yano, who hails from Siquijor and Bohol, admitted this is the first time he has visited Negros Oriental. Yano is the elder brother of Colonel Cesar Yano, commander of the 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Camp Leon Kilat, Tanjay City. Sun.Star Dumaguete