Surrendered Filipino captain accused of leading 2 coup attempts says he has no regrets

Surrendered Filipino coup suspect says no regrets

MANILA, Philippines — A rebel soldier who turned himself in to face charges stemming from two coup attempts in the Philippines against the former president said Thursday he had no regrets for his actions.

Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, who was accused of helping lead 300 soldiers in taking over the upscale Oakwood Hotel and a nearby shopping center in Manila in July 2003 and of fleeing a courtroom in 2007 while on trial, said he was turning himself in because the country had a new, legitimately elected president.

“There is no reason for me to stay unaccountable now because we have a new government which has the mandate of the people,” Faeldon told reporters after he was taken into military custody.

“I cannot choose my own commander in chief. But in the case of the previous president, I am one of those who believe she doesn’t possess the mandate of the people,” he said.

Faeldon went into hiding after he walked out of a court in November 2007 and along with other mutinous officers occupied a five-star Manila hotel to press their demand for former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s resignation. Faeldon and the others were on trial for a previous coup attempt in July 2003. The rebels denounced corruption in the government and the armed forces.

Both incidents highlighted the Philippines’ political instability and restiveness in the 120,000-member military, one of Asia’s weakest, which has struggled to modernize and retrain its troops fighting multiple insurgencies despite funding shortfalls.

Arroyo has been accused of vote rigging in the 2004 election and corruption and favoritism, allegations that stoked political and military unrest during her nine years in office. She stepped down last week and has denied any wrongdoing.

Her successor, newly elected President Benigno Aquino III, has promised to form a commission to investigate her.

Faeldon and his co-accused have said they did not plan to stage coups and were simply protesting Arroyo’s policies. They are facing charges of mutiny and coup attempt.

Of the original number, nine officers were convicted and sentenced in 2008 to prison terms of 12 to 40 years. They later apologized to Arroyo and were pardoned. But six others refused to say they were sorry and five of them are still being detained.

Most of the others have been discharged and some have returned to service.