|
The senior military official involved in the Makati standoff
remained defiant on Thursday by not cooperating with military
probers who were tasked to investigate the incident.
Brigadier Gen. Danilo Lim refused to cooperate
by not answering questions from investigators of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) Provost Marshal General’s office.
The AFP Chief, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., has
directed the Provost Marshal to investigate and look for possible
court-martial charges against the military men involved in the
standoff.
Lim’s legal counsel, Lawyer Vicente Verdadero
said they decided not to participate in the probe as not to
“prejudice” a rebellion case filed against his client in a
civilian court for the same incident.
“We did not participate in the investigation
because of the pending case in a Makati court… considering the
subject matter of the investigation now, that would unduly prejudice
General Lim,” Verdadero said.
Despite of Lim’s refusal to cooperate, the AFP
Provost Marshal General, Col. Arthur Abadilla, said this would not
stop them from summoning other witnesses.
Abadilla officer acknowledged that it is Lim’s
right not to answer questions from military investigators, but
said other active military personnel implicated in the standoff will
be summoned together with their security escorts.
Lim is being investigated by the Provost Marshal
for violating Articles of War (AW) 96 or conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman, AW 97 or conduct prejudicial to good order
and military discipline, AW 70 or breach of arrest, AW 67 or mutiny
and sedition, AW 63 or disrespect to the president and AW 64 or
disrespect to a superior officer.
Lim is also facing a court-martial trial with 27
other military officers over a foiled February 2006 coup attempt.
-- Anthony Vargas
|
