Magdalo soldiers to appeal guilty verdict

From ABS-CBN (Mar 23): Magdalo soldiers to appeal guilty verdict

First Lieutenants Rex Bolo and Lawrence San Juan, who were found guilty of committing coup d' etat for their participation in the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny, will appeal their cases.
 
"Definitely we will appeal, kasi alam namin hindi dapat [guilty]," said Atty. Analyn Clarence, lawyer for San Juan and Bolo.

San Juan and Bolo were sentenced to 6 to 12 years imprisonment. They have been in the custody of the military since 2007.

The Oakwood mutiny, led by officers of the Philippine Navy, including now Sen. Antonio Trillanes, protested alleged corruption in the military under then President Gloria Arroyo.

In 2010, President Noynoy Aquino granted amnesty to members of the so-called Magdalo group, including Trillanes, on condition they would no longer return to the armed forces.

San Juan and Bolo opted not to avail of the offer since they wanted to go back to military service. They chose to fight it out in court.

Their lawyer had insisted the takeover of the Oakwood hotel in Makati City's commercial center could not be considered a coup since it occurred inside a private property.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/node/285409