Querubin on coup, mutiny plots: ‘I have no regrets’ 

Retired Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin said that he has no regrets about his involvement in coup attempts and mutiny against past administrations, noting that such plots were only a “military exercise” to fight corruption. 

During GMA’s Tanong ng Bayan: The GMA Senatorial Face-off 2025, the senatorial aspirant was asked if such uprisings could be justified despite civilians being hurt. 

“Sa akin, paninindigan kasi nagawa natin yung mga, yung sinamahan natin, ang tawag ko dyan, military exercise. Kung saan, nanindigan ako na dapat itama yung pamamalakad ng gobyerno at lumaban ako sa korapsyon,” said Querubin. 

(For me, I stood for what I believed in when I joined the plot and I call it a military exercise. I stood for what I believed in, to correct how the government is being run and I fought against corruption.) 

“Kung tanong ninyo kung meron ako pinagsisisihan dito, I have no regrets, but I have bitter lessons about this,” he added. “At ‘yan ang gusto ko na isulong ngayon dahil naniniwala ako na ang kailangan natin isang matapang na senador na lumalaban against corruption at naninindigan para sa kapakanan ng taong bayan.” 

(If you ask me if I regret any of it, I have no regrets, but I have bitter lessons about this. That’s what I want to push for because I believe that we need a brave senator who can fight against corruption and stand for the welfare of the people.) 

Querubin was involved in a coup attempt against former President Corazon Aquino in 1989 where a civilian reportedly died. He was detained for his involvement but was granted amnesty. 

He was also part of the marine standoff at Fort Bonifacio in 2006 against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which put him back in jail. However, it was the same story for him as he was later granted amnesty. 

Querubin also joined the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007. But just like in the past uprisings, he was granted amnesty by then-President Benigno Aquino III. 

As he now attempts to join the government which he tried to overthrow in the past, Querubin explained that it is a different situation now. 

“Yes, that's probably true. But the situation then and the situation now are different. So, yung sinasabi natin, kaya nga tayo tumatakbo ngayon dahil nga sa nakita natin, I joined the corporate, I cannot take this sitting down,” he said.

(Yes, that’s probably true. But the situation then and the situation now are different. So the reason I wanted to run was because when I joined the corporate, I cannot take this sitting down.)

“I have really to leave my comfort zone, to fight for what I believe is still right - that is to fight corruption. Walang nabago, nandyan pa rin ang corruption [Nothing has changed, the corruption is still there].” —LDF, GMA Integrated News