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The Court Martial has granted the Motion for Reconsideration of six of the nine military officers accused of mutiny but whose guilt was not proven beyond reasonable doubt as justified by the lack of evidence.

Cleared of all mutiny charges were Major Jason Aquino, Captains Montano Almodovar, Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, James Sababan, and Dante Langkit, who, in the February 2006 mutiny, withdrew their support from the Arroyo administration.

The six soldiers were said to have participated in the February 26, 2006 standoff at the Marines Headquarters in Taguig City.

On the other hand, the Court Martial, presided by Maj. Gen. Josue Gaverza, denied the Motion for Reconsideration of the three other accused -- Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and Col. Ariel Querubin -- for lack of merit.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the grant of the Motion for Reconsideration is equivalent to an acquittal. It is also immediately executory.

As included in the said motion, the accused soldiers are entitled to be released from detention/custody unless there are some other legal grounds to detain them. As it is, there is no more case pending against any of them.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines respects the decision made by the Court Martial to clear the six soldiers of all the mutiny charges. Although, we believe that since there are no more pending cases against them, they must be released,” said AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. (PNA)

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