Скачать или смотреть Soldiers jailed over mutiny are released after plea bargain

(20 May 2005)

20 May 2005
1. Various of soldiers walking
2. Pan of ceremony
3. Cutaway of soldiers
4. Reverse shot of ceremony
5. Soldiers clapping
6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Chief Master Sergeant Mario Gabriel, Armed Forces of the Philippines:
"We enjoin you to leave the harrowing experiences behind. Have a firm resolve not to join such exercise again. And we expect you to work for the betterment of our country and people."

FILE
27 July 2003
++Night shots++
8. Various of soldiers involved in mutiny, preparing to return to barracks after mutiny ended

STORYLINE:

Nearly 200 soldiers who took part in a short-lived mutiny two years ago were released from military custody in Manila on Friday, a week after they pleaded guilty to a lesser offence.

The mostly elite special forces soldiers will undergo retraining before being redeployed, a military spokesman said.

Chief Master Sergeant Mario Gabriel, Armed Forces of the Philippines told the soldiers to "to leave the harrowing experiences behind."

"Have a firm resolve not to join such exercise again," he added.

The soldiers were part of a group of about 300 troops, led by young officers, who occupied the ritzy Oakwood Hotel and a nearby shopping mall in the capital's financial district and rigged the area with bombs.

They surrendered peacefully after about 20 hours.

The government said the action was part of a larger coup conspiracy, but the officers said they were only demanding the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other officials over alleged corruption.

In a plea bargain, 184 soldiers last week admitted they violated military order and discipline and showed disrespect for Arroyo and their superiors.

They were sentenced to one year in prison, demoted in rank and denied two-thirds of their pay for three months.

A military tribunal ordered them released after time served in detention.

Arroyo has described the military court's decision as part of justice with reconciliation.

The government has filed a separate charge of coup d'etat against 31 officers, most of them with the rank of captain, with a civilian court.

Convicted coup leaders could face 40 years in prison.

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