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By Angelo S. Samonte Reporter
President Gloria Arroyo will not
testify in the trial of Magdaló soldiers implicated in a mutiny
case, the Palace lawyer said.
“It’s nonsense,” Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said, referring to the
subpoena. “She’s the President, and the court should not issue
subpoena to the President. President Arroyo will ignore the
invitation.”
Apostol also said the Arroyo
administration has a strong case against the Magdaló leaders who
staged a failed coup on July 27, 2003.
“This would be a precedent, and
it should teach future mutineers not to engage in military
adventurism,” Apostol said. “We want this trial to proceed and
reach a verdict against these military adventurists.”
It was earlier reported that the
camp of the Magdaló soldiers wants the President to testify about a
promise she made to the mutineers that government will not press
charges against them.
Rene Saguisag said that since
it’s a criminal case, the President doesn’t have immunity, and
it is not covered by executive privilege.
He recalled that Mrs. Arroyo made
the promise in the presence of former Armed Forces chiefs of staff
Narciso Abaya and Roy Cimatu, who led the negotiations, and the late
publisher of the Philippine Star, Max Soliven.
Saguisag said Mrs. Arroyo made
the commitment through government negotiators who had persuaded the
Magdaló leaders to peacefully return to their barracks, along with
the 300 enlisted military personnel they have taken with them to the
Oakwood Premier service apartments in Makati.
Saguisag, counsel for one of the
accused Magdaló officers, 1st Lt. Nathaniel Rabonza, said he will
ask Judge Oscar Pimentel of Branch 148 of the Makati Regional Trial
Court to subpoena Mrs. Arroyo and several military officials, many
of whom had retired since the 2003 uprising.
The core Magdaló group is
composed of detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th, then a Navy
lieutenant senior grade who acted as the group’s spokesman; Army
captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrocampo; Marine captains
Nicanor Faeldon and Gary Alejano and Navy Lt. Senior Grade James
Layug.
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