Court-martial upholds trial against 2006 coup accused

Manila: A general court-martial decided to proceed with the trial of 28 soldiers involved in a failed coup against President Gloria Arroyo in 2006, a military spokesman said.

The court rejected a petition moved by the officers, including former Marine commandant Renato Miranda and former Scout Ranger chief Danilo Lim who headed the failed uprising, to dismiss the remaining cases against them, said Captain Edgardo Abad.

"The tribunal said there were grounds to proceed with the trial of the accused officers. Clearly, there were acts of insubordination to instigate or begin a mutiny," Abad said.

A failed coup would still be deemed a punishable offence despite the absence of evidence to show the soldiers had meant to bring down the government, he said.

Plea deal

The resumption of court proceedings was a legal setback for some of the nearly 200 soldiers who remain in prison over their participation in coup plots. Several of them have since pleaded guilty to lesser charges in the hope of winning remission.

Court records showed that Miranda and Lim led out soldiers at the Epifanio De Los Santos (EDSA) during the commemoration of the ouster of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in February 2006.

They had planned to join anti-government protesters and reportedly let the military leadership in on the plot.

The coup was quelled in less than 24 hours.

The accused officers said they should not be punished for their alleged offence because the prosecution had failed to prove their intention beyond reasonable doubt.

Retired armed forces chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr had earlier approved a proposal that a pre-trial against the soldiers could go ahead.

On June 19, the tribunal had cleared the 28 officers of four lesser offences which it said had been taken into cognisance two years after the alleged crimes.

Arroyo has survived four coup plots.