By Bernama
Manila : A Philippine court on Tuesday sentenced nine former soldiers from 6 to 40 years in jail, after pleading guilty to charges of coup d’etat for a July 2003 mutiny.
The Makati Regional Trial Court sentenced Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo, who were among the core leaders of the so-called “Oakwood Mutiny”, between 20 and 40 years of imprisonment.
While seven others were sentenced between 6 and 12 years in jail.
The nine are among 31 military soldiers who were ordered to be dishonorably discharged from the military service in connection with the 2003 mutiny, China’s XINHUA news agency reported Tuesday.
On July 27, 2003, more than 300 junior officers and enlisted men took over the Oakwood Premier Hotel in the Philippines’ financial hub of Makati, allegedly to air their grievances against the government, including graft and corruption in the military.
One year later, the mutineers’ leaders apologized to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and took back their accusations against top military officials.
Since their detention in 2003, most of the mutineers have been released and some escaped military custody.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday lauded the nine Oakwood mutineers for pleading guilty and facing the consequences of their “wrong action” five years ago.
“What is very, very admirable on the case of the nine officers is their courage to accept that they have committed something wrong and they are willing to face the consequences of the wrong actions that they have committed,” said AFP public information officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro.
At the same time, Bacarro dismissed the possibility of the nine re-entering into the military service.
The presidential palace Tuesday welcomed the court ruling against the nine mutineers, saying this would serve as a deterrent to future destabilizers and coup plotters.
Deputy Presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said they respect court ruling which he said was “rendered under due process,” Philippine cable news network GMA reported.
“Those who committed crimes against the government and the Filipino people must pay the price for their anarchic actions. We hope they learned their lessons well,” Golez said.