Armed Forces chief General Delfin Bangit's decision to free 10 rebel soldiers came as a surprise, one of them admitted Monday. In a press conference at his residence in Taguig City, which also serves as the headquarters for his group, the Magdalo, Lieutenant James Layug admitted that they were expecting Bangit to revoke the decision of the General Court Martial which recommended their release after they pleaded guilty to four charges over their participation in the November 2007 siege of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City. “With all the perception sa kanya [against him], we were really expecting na iipitin [that he would sit on it],” Layug said. “It was a surprise for us that General Bangit upheld the decision of the general court martial. He was professional enough to uphold the general court martial's decision,” he added. When asked by the media if they had struck an agreement with the military for their release, Layug said: “Walang [There was no] agreement.” He added that friends and supporters had paid the P30,000 bail bond to the insurance company. “Wala kaming cash na pangbayad ng [We don't have cash to pay the] bail,” Layug told reporters. Layug said that the first thing that he did when he was released was go to church in Baclaran. Now that he is free, Layug said he could now concentrate on his campaign for the congressional seat for Taguig City's second district. However, Layug admitted that since he was discharged from service, his salary and other benefits have been waived and that he would be relying on donations and sales of Magdalo t-shirts to fund his campaign. Despite having barely three weeks to campaign before the automated polls in May 10, Layug said that he remained confident. “I am confident… Three weeks is ample time,” Layug said. The other nine soldiers who were ordered freed were Lieutenants Eugene Gonzalez, Andy Torrato, Manuel Cabochan and Arturo Pascua Jr., Captains Gary Alejano and Segundino Orfiano, 1st Lieutenant Billy Pascua, 2nd Lieutenant Jonnell Sangalang and Ens. Armand Pontejos. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and senatorial candidate Brigadier General Danilo Lim, however, will remain detained pending resolution of their court martial cases in relation to their alleged participation in the 2003 mutiny and the 2007 Marine standoff at Fort Bonifacio, respectively. The general court martial had dropped the mutiny charges against the Magdalo soldiers. The Makati regional trial court branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda granted the 10 soldiers' request for bail but remained detained in Camp Crame pending the military courts' decision on their charges of conduct unbecoming an officer, conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline, disrespect to the President, and escape from confinement. A week ago, the 10 soldiers were given an eight-month jail term after pleading guilty to the charges. However, the military court has deemed their jail term served since the soldiers had been detained since 2003.
