No Gringo at Magdalo hearing in Makati

By Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV
09/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines –The hearing on the coup d’ etat case against members of the Magdalo group was deferred after Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan failed to show up in the proceedings.

Honasan was earlier expected to take the witness stand Thursday before the Makati regional trial court branch 148 in connection with the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.

But Honasan’s lawyer was quoted as saying in QTV’s Balitanghali report that the senator was not requested nor subpoenaed by the court to be present in the scheduled hearing.

The lawyer added that Honasan has no more reason to appear before the court since the rebellion charges against the former military officer had been already dropped.

In July 2003, over 300 soldiers led by junior officers took over the Oakwood Premier (now Ascott Makati) in Makati City to denounce the alleged rampant corruption in government.

The junior officers were led by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV. Trillanes was elected senator during the May 2007 elections.

The National Recovery Program, which Honasan authored, was allegedly the blueprint that inspired the Magdalo group to overthrow the government. Honasan’s lawyer, however, said that the NRP was just a political platform.

The hearing was moved to October 9.