By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) Updated November 28, 2010
MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is drafting a reintegration policy on the possibility that Congress would concur with the presidential proclamation granting amnesty to rebel soldiers.
Military records showed at least 378 soldiers had been involved in three separate coup attempts against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Some of the soldiers have been dismissed from the service while the others were demoted by order of the military tribunal.
Those dismissed from the service included 39 Army Scout Rangers who took part in the power grab in February 2006.
The other enlisted men who took part in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 had been demoted and their salaries were forfeited.
“In preparation for the concurrence of the Philippine Senate and in anticipation of positive action from the Philippine Senate on the proclamation, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. has already ordered the preparation in regard to the implementation of the amnesty grant,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said.
Burgos said the AFP is currently drafting the procedure that would allow the dismissed military personnel to be reintegrated to the service.
Burgos added the AFP would coordinate efforts with the Department of National Defense (DND) regarding the applications for amnesty.
“Granting the amnesty is the prerogative of the President. The AFP welcomes the personnel who will be reinstated in the service as we encourage everyone to treat these incidents in the history of the military as finally closed. We shall now work together with our reinstated personnel as allies in nation-building,” Burgos said.
President Aquino signed the proclamation that would grant amnesty to officers and enlisted men involved in the three uprisings against his predecessor.
Among the military officers accused was detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, the former Navy officer who led the Oakwood mutiny in 2003.
The amnesty covered more than 300 officers and enlisted men, but many had already been freed, except for Trillanes and a handful whose cases are still pending in court.
The amnesty proclamation would reinstate the right of the enlisted men to retirement and separation benefits, if so qualified under existing laws and regulations at the time of the commission of the offense for which the amnesty is extended.
Congress is poised to concur with the amnesty proclamation that was amended after legal questions had been raised on its implementation.
Government prosecutors who had handled the cases against the mutineers earlier criticized the decision, and warned that it undermined the legal process and could encourage more military adventurism.
Aquino’s mother, the late democracy icon Corazon Aquino who led a people power uprising that toppled the 20-year regime of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, herself fought off a series of coup attempts.
The younger Aquino still has fragments of a bullet lodged in his neck fired by rebel soldiers who attacked Malacañang at that time.
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