Philippine court grants ex-soldiers bail in rebellion trial

Feb 17, 2010, 9:04 GMT

Manila - A Philippine court has allowed 18 former soldiers facing rebellion charges for a 2007 attempted coup to post bail, the court clerk said Wednesday.

The ruling, issued Tuesday by Judge Elmo Alameda gives the accused temporary freedom if they post bonds of 200,000 pesos (4,300 dollars) each.

The accused included ex-navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes, who won the 2007 senatorial elections from his prison cell, and former army General Danilo Lim, who plans to run for Senate in the May elections.

An armed forces spokesman, however, noted that Trillanes and Lim would not be released from detention because they still face charges before a military court.

'Under the military law, there is no such thing as bail,' said Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner. 'So they cannot be freed until after the military has agreed.'

Under Filipino law, rebellion is a non-bailable offence even before civilian courts. The law does, however, allow the judge to grant bail if he feels the evidence is not strong enough to deny the application.

Despite the possible obstacles remaining before their release, Trillanes and Lim hailed the bail ruling.

'I am very happy for my companions as their long awaited freedom is finally at hand,' Trillanes said. 'This is a victory for our justice system.'

'His decision, though granting me and my men only temporary liberty, is a clear victory for those who are fervent in pursuing justice,' Lim added.

In November 2007, Trillanes, Lim and the 16 other soldiers were on day-release from detention to attend their court hearings in Manila's Makati City. They succeeding in leaving the court, and laid siege to the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

The rebel soldiers demanded that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo step down amid allegations of corruption and massive cheating in the 2004 elections, and called on people to support them.

They surrendered hours later, however, when the anti-Arroyo crowds they were hoping to draw did not materialize.

In addition to the charges relating to the 2007 mutiny, Trillanes is also facing various charges for leading a failed rebellion against Arroyo in 2003, and Lim is also accused of taking part in an aborted coup d'etat in 2006.