Adaza, 4 others to be arraigned Aug 4 for coup raps

MANILA, Philippines - The arraignment against former Assemblyman Homobono Adaza and four police and military officers accused of plotting a coup d'etat has been set for August 4. The date was set by a Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 Presiding Judge Samuel Gaerlan who also ordered Adaza together with his co-accused Colonels Ernie Amboy and Cesar dela Peña to appear during their arraignment at 8:30 in the morning. At the same time, Gaerlan ordered the custodians of Philippine Army Col. Oscarlito Mapalo and former police Superintendent Rafael Cardeño to present them in court during the said proceedings. Adaza, Amboy and dela Peña have been released from detention after posting bail of P80,000 each for the case of violation of Article 136 of the Revised Penal Code or proposal to commit coup d’etat. However, Mapalo is still being held at the PA Custodial Management Unit HHSG in Fort Bonifacio while Cardeño is detained at the Custodial Center in Camp Crame. Aside from the RTC case, Adaza, Amboy, dela Peña and Mapalo are also charged with obstruction of justice/harboring a fugitive before the sala of QC Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 33 Presiding Judge Alfredo Ampuan. Mapalo has not yet posted bail for both cases unlike Adaza, Amboy and dela Peña who also posted a bail of P12,000 each for the QCMTC case. Cardeño faces another charge for violation of Article 178 of RPC or using fictitious name or concealing true name before the sala of QCMTC Branch 41 Presiding Judge Madonna Echiverri. Police on July 2 arrested the group of Adaza in an operation at the Holiday Inn Hotel in QC. The operation was based on the complaint of Atty. Raymond Fortun who claimed that the group of Adaza made the proposal to finance a coup to his client - Motonori Sakuma. Fortun added that Adaza’s group allegedly threatened his client which prompted the latter to seek his advice. - GMANews.TV