2 Marine colonels resign from posts

Two senior officers of the Philippine Marine Corps were said to have quit their posts over reports they were among the officers recommended for court martial proceedings in connection with the botched February 24 coup, military sources told GMANews.TV. The source, who asked not to be named, identified the two officers as Col. Armando Banez and Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon. Banez, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1982 is formerly chief of the Marine Corps plans and programs. On the other hand, Parcon, of PMA class 1987, is a Medal of Valor awardee for his participation in the assault of the Sampinit Complex in Basilan Island to rescue several hostages of the bandit group Abu Sayyaf. The Medal of Valor is the highest military combat award. Parcon is the operations chief of the controversy-plagued Marine Corps. Parcon and Col. Ariel Querubin (PMA 1979) are the only living MOV awardees in the Marine Corps. Incidentally, Querubin is also among those recommended to undergo pretrial investigation over the botched February uprising. As of posting time, no official confirmation was given by higher military authorities over the resignation of Banez and Parcon from their respective posts. In June, Col. Orlando de Leon (PMA class 1982) quit as chief of staff of the Corps reportedly over the politicization of the military organization. De Leon is also among the 25 Marine officers recommended for court martial proceedings. On Wednesday, then Armed Forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga ordered the initiation of court martial proceedings against 40 officers and 135 foot soldiers implicated in the alleged failed coup attempt in February. The names of those who will face pre-trial investigation at the Judge Advocate General's Office were not immediately released. Senga approved recommendations of the Armed Forces Inspector General, Rear Admiral Rufino Lopez, who led a fact-finding board that investigated the botched uprising. Lopez submitted his report to Senga last July 5. Senga submitted a copy of the approved Lopez report to Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. on Wednesday. Senga retired from active military service Friday. Former Army commander Lt. Gen. Hermogenes Esperon took over Senga's post. - GMANews.TV with additional data from Inq7.net