(Update) Military court orders release of 2 Army foot soldiers

A military court ordered Wednesday the release of two Army enlisted personnel who entered into a plea bargain with prosecutors in connection with their involvement in the failed July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny. Corporal Jesus Molon and Private First Class Winston Iponia pleaded guilty to lower offenses in the Articles of War in exchange for dropping of the mutiny charge against them before the general court martial presided by Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Legaspi. The court had sentenced the two to one year imprisonment on top of demotion and pay cuts. Molon was ordered demoted two ranks with two-thirds of his pay for three months be forfeited while Iponia was meted a one rank demotion and two-thirds of his pay for four months will be forfeited. Military prosecutor, Col. Pedro Herrera-Davila, said the court agreed to release Molon and Iponia after their counsels pleaded with the tribunal, noting their clients have been detained since 2003. "The court agreed…they (Molon and Iponia) were given full credits (for their detention). After agreeing to (the) request, the court said they are entitled to be free subject to military procedures," Davila told reporters. As of posting time, no date had been set for Molon’s and Iponia’s actual release from detention. The development leaves only the 91 junior officers, including the hardcore leaders of the Magdalo group, as the ones facing trial in connection with the Oakwood mutiny. Of the 91 officers, 29 are also facing coup charges before the Makati City regional trial court. In October, nine Army foot soldiers were ordered released after a military court found insufficient evidence against them. In May last year, 184 enlisted personnel linked in the Oakwood mutiny were freed after entering into a plea bargain agreement with military prosecutors. - GMANews.TV