The November 29 coup attempt at the Peninsula Hotel fizzled, and the dissidents surrendered during an armed assault by national police. Fortunately nobody was killed, or the incident would have been a tragedy. Sedition and rebellion are apparently not taken seriously enough in the Philippines to be drama, so observers may conclude it’s all just comedy.
Courtroom Walkout
The comedy began when former lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV and fellow defendants at a Regional Trial Court hearing, and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim who was testifying at the hearing, walked out of the court, unrestrained by security escorts, and marched to the Peninsula Hotel to start the rebellion. That’s the comic beginning unless it seems funny that the hearing they left was for Trillanes and company’s part leading the failed Oakwood Mutiny in 2003, or that the case was still unresolved after more than four years, or that Trillanes was elected to the Philippine Senate last May while in custody, or funny that Lim was facing mutiny charges over the alleged February 2006 coup plot, or that he was also implicated in the bloodiest coup attempt against the Aquino Administration in 1989.[1]
Charges Filed, Excuse Rejected
After a brief inquest, the Department of Justice (DOJ) on December 3 filed rebellion charges against Senator Trillanes, Gen. Lim, 16 other military officers, and 18 civilians, for taking up arms, leading a public uprising, announcing they were ousting President Arroyo to form a new government, and calling for the military and police to withdraw their support from Arroyo. DOJ rejected a claim that the civilians’ action was spontaneous, stating that joining the senator and military group, while disregarding police advice and evading a police blockade, revealed a conspiracy and mutual intention to overthrow the government.[2]
Charges Dropped
On December 13, a trial court judge dismissed rebellion charges against the civilians, unconvinced they “conspired…in taking up arms against the government,” and noting that the "mere presence at the scene…would not make one a conspirator in the act of rebellion.” They were not there by coincidence, though, and one of the more prominent civilians, former Vice-President Guingona, said, “This is just like EDSA,” referring to the mass demonstration which toppled President Marcos in 1986.[2]
The Sophist Speaks
After learning the rebellion charges against him had been dropped, former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo called on authorities to release Trillanes and the soldiers who supported him. "They were not guilty of rebellion…They were just protesting."[3]
Frivolous and Ridiculous Claims
After charges against the civilians were dismissed, Trillanes and company filed a frivolous motion claiming they were “illegally and arbitrarily arrested for the non-existent crime of rebellion,” and that the element of public uprising was absent. That is, because the masses didn’t rise up and join the rebels before they were arrested, there was no rebellion. Lim made the ridiculous claim of insufficient evidence to establish that he was part of the conspiracy to commit rebellion, even though he publicly announced the rebels’ intentions as they marched to the Peninsula.[4]
In Detention, Still Fomenting Rebellion
The arraignment on rebellion charges was set for February 27.[5] Meanwhile, Senator Trillanes, Brig. Gen. Lim, and 10 other military officers, being detained but allowed to use cell phones, renewed their call for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign and appealed "To all the leaders of the land, and to our fellowmen, join us...”[1]
Conclusion
The government decisively put down the rebellion, and it appeared action would be swift, this time, to bring the rebels to justice. However, courtroom monkeyshines over the past three months and laissez faire treatment of repeat perpetrators demonstrate again a lackadaisical approach to protecting Constitutional process in the Philippines.
References
1. “Trillanes, Lim: ‘Take stand,’ ‘choose new leader’,” Joel Guinto, Philippine Inquirer, Feb. 15, 2008
2. “Trillanes, 35 others charged with rebellion,” Leila Salaverria, Philippine Inquirer, Dec. 4, 2007
3. “Charges vs Guingona, other civilians at Manila Pen dismissed,” DJ Yap, Philippine Inquirer, Dec. 13, 2007
4. “Trillanes Revolt Crushed,” Philippine Inquirer, Nov. 30, 2007
5. “Trillanes arraignment for hotel siege set,” Julie M. Aurelio, Philippine Inquirer, Feb. 7, 2008
Gary W. Elliott - Gary graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a B.S. in International Affairs, emphasis on western Europe, and earned an M.A. in ...
