ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga Journal / 01 Feb) Two marine soldiers assigned in Palawan province in central Philippines have been taken into military custody Wednesday on suspicion they are supporting an arrested coup leader, officials said.
"We have the two in our custody and they are being interrogated for their alleged links with Captain Nicanor Faeldon. Our efforts are going on to track down others who are supporting the coup leaders," said Col. Tristan Kison, the Armed Forces spokesman.
The duo -- Privates Harry Glaraga and Lorenzo Caranzo -- was taken into custody in Palawan and brought by soldiers to Manila for investigation.
"Military interrogators are questioning the two soldiers after Faeldon admitted they are his supporters. Faeldon is cooperating with us," Kison told the Zamboanga Journal.
The two are assigned at the Western Command headquarters, one of several military bases that Faeldon was able to sneak and shoot video and photographs of himself a week after his daring escape December 14 during a court trial in Makati City.
"We have the two in our custody and they are being interrogated for their alleged links with Captain Nicanor Faeldon. Our efforts are going on to track down others who are supporting the coup leaders," said Col. Tristan Kison, the Armed Forces spokesman.
The duo -- Privates Harry Glaraga and Lorenzo Caranzo -- was taken into custody in Palawan and brought by soldiers to Manila for investigation.
"Military interrogators are questioning the two soldiers after Faeldon admitted they are his supporters. Faeldon is cooperating with us," Kison told the Zamboanga Journal.
The two are assigned at the Western Command headquarters, one of several military bases that Faeldon was able to sneak and shoot video and photographs of himself a week after his daring escape December 14 during a court trial in Makati City.
Other report said three more soldiers were detained for their alleged links with Faeldon.
Faeldon was arrested last week with another supporter Capt. Candelaria Rivas in Malabon City.
But four others escaped coup leaders Capt. Nathaniel Rabonza and Lts. Sony Sarmiento, Laurence San Juan and Patricio Bumidang are still in hiding since bolting out January 17 from their cells inside an army camp in Makati City.
The military launched an investigation to unmask Faeldon's supporters and his contacts in the Armed Forces. Faeldon has repeatedly said that he was able to sneak into various military camps because of supports he got from fellow soldiers.
Aside from the Western Command, Faeldon was also spotted inside the Southern Command headquarters in Zamboanga City, and Central Command in Cebu province, and also in Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo in Manila.
On Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, commander of the Northern Luzon Command, issued a shoot-to-kill order on the four other escaped coup leaders. "If they resist arrest, shoot them," he said.
The Southern Command on Wednesday ordered troops to arrest the four coup leaders if they are spotted inside military camps or anywhere in Mindanao.
"If they are armed and resorted to violence to resist arrest, then soldiers have no other recourse, but to shoot them in self defense. Soldiers will respond accordingly to the levels of threats against them," said Maj. Gamal Hayudini, chief information officer of the Southern Command, the largest military installation outside Manila.
The Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon on Wednesday defended the Armed Forces in the hunt for the escaped coup leaders and their supporters.
"When they joined the Oakwood mutiny, they knew the consequences of their actions. They tried, but failed to overthrow the government, so they have to pay the consequences of their actions," Esperon said.
Faeldon's group of about 300 soldiers staged a coup in Oakwood hotel in Makati City in July 2003 and demanded reforms in the military and resignation of several politicians, but the putsch was short-lived. They surrendered 18 hours later after a series of negotiations and were all put to jail.
The military launched an investigation to unmask Faeldon's supporters and his contacts in the Armed Forces. Faeldon has repeatedly said that he was able to sneak into various military camps because of supports he got from fellow soldiers.
Aside from the Western Command, Faeldon was also spotted inside the Southern Command headquarters in Zamboanga City, and Central Command in Cebu province, and also in Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo in Manila.
On Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, commander of the Northern Luzon Command, issued a shoot-to-kill order on the four other escaped coup leaders. "If they resist arrest, shoot them," he said.
The Southern Command on Wednesday ordered troops to arrest the four coup leaders if they are spotted inside military camps or anywhere in Mindanao.
"If they are armed and resorted to violence to resist arrest, then soldiers have no other recourse, but to shoot them in self defense. Soldiers will respond accordingly to the levels of threats against them," said Maj. Gamal Hayudini, chief information officer of the Southern Command, the largest military installation outside Manila.
The Army chief Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon on Wednesday defended the Armed Forces in the hunt for the escaped coup leaders and their supporters.
"When they joined the Oakwood mutiny, they knew the consequences of their actions. They tried, but failed to overthrow the government, so they have to pay the consequences of their actions," Esperon said.
Faeldon's group of about 300 soldiers staged a coup in Oakwood hotel in Makati City in July 2003 and demanded reforms in the military and resignation of several politicians, but the putsch was short-lived. They surrendered 18 hours later after a series of negotiations and were all put to jail.
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