Negrense Army Capt. Milo Maestrecampo and 11 other military officers who led a failed 2003 mutiny against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday pleaded guilty before a military court to violation of Article of War 96, or conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman. Maestrecampo is from Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Legaspi, military court president, yesterday said he would announce soon the verdict and sentence on the 12 officers at the next hearing, which has not yet been scheduled.

"We have to be very careful. There are a lot of inputs. We have to sort it out before we promulgate your sentence," Legaspi told the 12 military officers in a hearing.

The renegade soldiers took over a building housing businessmen and diplomats in Manila's financial district and demanded that Arroyo step down over corruption allegations. They surrendered after being given an ultimatum.

Military prosecutor Lt. Col. Feliciano Loi said violations of AW 96 is punishable with dishonorable dismissal from the military service.

The 184 soldiers who earlier entered a similar plea bargain were jailed for two years and will be reinstated in the military.

Another key defendant, Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes, has won a seat in the senate in the May 14 midterm elections after campaigning from his prison cell. Trillanes has pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the Oakwood mutiny.

Loi said the 12 officers who pleaded guilty Tuesday had probably realized that fighting the charges was futile.

"What will be the use of fighting when their sentence will be the same?" Loi added.*GPB/AFP

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