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Manila: Nine convicted right- wing rebel officers expressed remorse for their involvement in a failed coup in 2003 and accepted the conditions that accompanied the presidential clemency that was given to them by President Gloria Arroyo on Monday.
Army Captain Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo led seven young officers in expressing their gratitude for the pardon, according to their lawyer.
Army Captains Alvin Ebreo, Laurence Louis Somera, Albert Baloloy and John Andres, 1st Lt Florentino Somera, 2nd Lt Kristoffer Bryan Yasay and 1st Lt Cleo Dongga also accepted the conditions included in the pardon, the lawyer added.
Re-imposed
"If they engage again in adventurism or in activities that involve moral turpitude, their original conviction from a lower court could be re-imposed," said retiring Chief of Staff Gen Hermogenes Esperon during a handover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon City.
"They have pleaded guilty. They have publicly apologised. They have been confined for four years and 10 months. There is enough basis for my recommending them for executive clemency," explained Esperon, adding, "The pardon shows the government's thrust for unity and reconciliation. One chapter of military coup plots is closed during my retirement."
His replacement, Lt Gen Alexander Yano, said that the soldiers would be released following the approval of Makati City's lower court.
Explaining Arroyo's pardon, Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said, "They have really repented. They had an opportunity to escape last year when Sen Antonio Trillanes (leader of the 2003 failed coup walked out of his trial and) invited them to go with him to take over the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City last November.
"They did not follow Sen Trillanes."
- With inputs by Rafael Juan, Correspondent
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