Philippines officers, supporters charged with rebellion after coup attempt News
Philippines officers, supporters charged with rebellion after coup attempt

[JURIST] Over thirty military officers and supporters involved in an aborted coup attempt [JURIST report] against Philippine President Gloria Arroyo [official website; BBC profile] last week were formally charged with rebellion Monday. Last Thursday, about a dozen officers on trial in the Philippines [JURIST news archive] in connection with a failed 2003 mutiny [BBC report] walked out of court, took control of a Manila hotel, and demanded Arroyo's resignation. Philippine military and police forces subsequently regained control of the hotel after a lengthy confrontation. Among those charged Monday were Sen. Antonio Trillanes [personal website], who had also charged in the 2003 coup attempt, and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona [official profile]. AP has more.

In April, a Philippine military tribunal sentenced 54 military officers [JURIST report] to seven years and six months in prison for their involvement in the 2003 coup attempt. Charges were later dismissed [JURIST report] in October against four additional military officers connected to the same mutiny.