Mayuga with Lim and Querubin
Former Flag-officer-in-command Mateo Mayuga was the only witness presented by the prosecution yesterday in the mutiny case against 28 officers implicated in the alleged plan to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006.
Mayuga’s testimony however favored the defendants.
Mayuga, who is more known for the “Mayuga report”- an investigation of the participation of the military in the cheating in the 2004 elections, the results of which have been kept secret by the Arroyo administration, testified about the meeting on Feb. 23, 2006 called by the AFP Chief Generoso Senga.
He said aside from himself, who was there as commander of the Navy, the other service commanders were Gen. Hermogenes Esperon (Army) and Gen. Jose Reyes (Air Force). He said Police Deputy Director General Marcelino Franco, commander of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force.
They discussed the report that some officers were planning to join the protest rally the next day over the rigging of the 2004 elections with the help of the military as exposed in the “Hello Garci” tapes.
He also said of their decision that that would not be allowed.
He said after the meeting with Senga, he went to the Philippine Marines and talked with Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, then the Marine Commander, Col. Ariel Querubin, and others. When he was on his way home, Miranda called him up and told him of the decision that they would stay in the barracks.
Upon cross examination by Miranda’s lawyer, Atty. Rolando Cipriano, Mayuga said, “I would be lying if I would not say that I felt happy. He told Miranda, “Just take care of the Marines.”
Upon cross examination of military counsel Col. Basilio Pooten, who stood as counsel for Maj. Francisco Fernandez, Mayuga said he doesn’t remember having seen Fernandez in the meeting in the Marines headquarters. He also said except for the service commanders, he doesn’t remember who were the other officers in the meeting.
Captions:
1. Rangers at lunch. Lt. Homer Estolas, Lt. Richiemel Caballes, Capt. Erick Sales, Capt. Ervin Divinagracia, Maze Cordero, Lt. Jacon Cordero
2. First row- Maj. Francisco Domingo Fernandez, Brig. Gen. Danny Lim,Col. Nestor Flordeliza, Col. Ariel Querubin, Capt. Ruben Guinolbay, Lt. Homer Estolas.
Second row- Lt. Jacon Cordero, Capt. Ervin Divinagracia, Lt. Sandro Sereño, Capt. Isagani Criste, and Lt. Richiemel Caballes.
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