Magdalo Poll Aspirants Get Leave
by Ashzel Hachero
Malaya; 20 Nov 09
A Makati court yesterday granted a leader of the Magdalo group that staged the 2003 Oakwood mutiny temporary leave of detention for him to file his certificate of candidacy.
Marine Capt. Gary Alejano was granted a five-day leave starting today. He is running for mayor of Sipalay in Negros Oriental.
The filing of COCs starts today.
Alejano, chair of the Samahang Magdalo, is detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame for his involvement in the Oakwood mutiny and the Manila Peninsula standoff in November 2007.
James Layug
The court has also granted leave to another Magdalo leader, Navy Lt. (s.g.) James Layug, effective November 25. Layug is seeking a congressional post in Taguig City.
Aside from Alejano and Layug, four other Magdalo officers are running for elective posts in the 2010 elections.
Former Air Force 1st Lt. Francisco Ashley Acedillo is running for a House seat representing the first district of Cebu City; Army Capt. Dante Langkit for the sole district of Kalinga province.
One of the core leaders of the group is former Navy lieutenant and now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who is also under detention.
The Samahang Magdalo, a nationwide organization that includes civilians, is supporting the senatorial bids of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim (Liberal Party) and Marines Col. Ariel Querubin (Nacionalista Party) . Lim and Querubin are not Magdalo members but they are also in detention on chareges of mutiny against the Arroyo government.
The Samahang Magdalo is also supporting the candidacy of Sen. Chiz Escudero for any position he decides to run for the 2010 election.