TRILLANES, OTHER DETAINED OFFICERS SHOULD BE FREED - CHIZ

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday said detained Magdalo leader Sen. Antonio Trillanes III and other leaders of his group should be freed because no one should be persecuted for fighting graft and corruption in the country.

"Pagkakaisa po ang kinakailangan at nararapat para sa isang bansa. Tulad ng nabanggit ko, walang pinipili. Sinuman ang susunod na maging pangulo ng bansa, dapat bigyan hindi lamang ang Magdalo at si Senator Trillanes, kung hindi ang iba pang nakipaglaban lang naman laban sa katiwalian ng pagkakataon gawin ang pwede nilang gawin sa labas ng piitan," said Escudero at his press conference at Club Filipino in Greenhills yesterday.

The 40-year old senator made his position known during a press conference after announcing his resignation from the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

A Magdalo supporter had asked if he will push for the release of the detained military officers if he becomes president.

Trillanes won decisively in the 2007 senatorial elections with over 11 million votes.

Last Sunday, Magdalo had unequivocably expressed support for the presidential bid of Escudero. The senator said he is also pushing for the grant of amnesty to all those soldiers and officers who were allegedly involved in a coup attempt against Arroyo in 2006, in order to heal the divisions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"The government should grant an amnesty to other officers and soldiers still detained for violating Article 67 of the Articles of War (Mutiny and Sedition)," he said.

"Now that 11 military officers have been acquitted of violating said Article, the proceedings against 17 other officers detained for allegedly committing the same violation should be hastened," Escudero stressed.

He reiterated that the families of the detained military officers should not continue suffering, noting that "the absence of a father at home means their economic livelihood as well the educational upbringing of their children will continue to be affected."

Among those detained are former Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Romeo Miranda, former Scout Ranger commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and Medal of Valor awardees Col. Ariel Querubin and Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon.

The 28 military officers were allegedly planning to join anti-government protesters last Feb. 24, 2006 before announcing their withdrawal of support for President Arroyo.