Major Basilio Pooten: Doing the Right Thing, Making Us Proud

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33316966.post-35616297217014470932007-11-13T04:04:00.000+08:002007-11-13T05:58:03.715+08:002007-11-13T05:58:03.715+08:00Major Basilio Pooten: Doing the Right Thing, Making Us Proud<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0aPjJ2u9TRI/Rzi5276nSJI/AAAAAAAABG4/GjbsPRPnykc/s1600-h/major+pooten.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0aPjJ2u9TRI/Rzi5276nSJI/AAAAAAAABG4/GjbsPRPnykc/s320/major+pooten.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132056128836290706" border="0" /></a>Quote of the Year: “I am an officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and at the same time a lawyer. I will not allow myself to trample upon the rights of the accused gentlemen officers and be a party to the denial of their Constitutional rights. And by these, your Honors, I ask to be excused from these proceedings.” -- Major Basilio Pooten ***** When I first read the story about Major Basilio Pooten (center) and his refusal to be used as a tool for injustice, I wondered if he is from the Cordilleras but I didn't have the time to check it out. Thanks to <a href="http://smorgasbordandothers.blogspot.com/">Chyt of Smorgasbord</a> for confirming that he is indeed a kailiyan. If I am not mistaken the military lawyer is from Sagada/Besao, Mt. Province. (If he is not from Sagada, then we will claim him as our own. Ikuya yo met-a nga iBesao. uray ket ado met ti achievers yo hehe.) We commend the good Major for doing the right thing. Kasta man nga kailiyan! Anyway, here's <a href="http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=1842">Ellen Tordesilla</a>s report on Major Pooten: <blockquote>Last Friday, the officers accused of planning to withdraw support from Gloria Arroyo in February 2006 led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and their lawyers walked out of the court martial hearing in Camp Capinpin, Tanay Rizal. It was an occasion where officers and lawyers were called upon to make a stand. Many courageously responded.One man stood out: Maj. Basilio Pooten, the military defense counsel. </blockquote>Read Ellen's full account <a href="http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=1842">here</a>. And here's a follow up report from the Inquirer: The 28 officers linked to the alleged February 2006 coup plot saluted a military counsel for being a "warrior" and standing up for them during a tension-filled court martial hearing that had the accused walking out last week. Marine Major Basilio Pooten refused to take over as counsel for the officers after their civilian lawyers excused themselves from the hearing. The officers eventually walked out on the proceedings in protest. "We, Marines and Scout Rangers, salute you, Major Pooten," the officers said in a statement. "You proved yourself to be a true Marine. Being a lawyer, you may not have been a Marine all your career life, but you surely had imbibed that warrior spirit and honor.". The officers also worried for Pooten, who they said might find himself "out in the cold" given the "vengeful character" of the military leadership. But Pooten, in a phone interview, said he was merely doing his job as the military-appointed defense counsel. He said he refused to take over from the civilian lawyers since, under the Constitution, an accused is entitled to a counsel of his choice. "I am just doing my job as military defense counsel…I have to exhaust all legal means to protect my clients, General Miranda et al," Pooten said, referring to former Marine commandant Major General Renato Miranda, the most senior of the accused officers. Contrary to reports, Pooten said he did not walk out of the proceedings at Camp Capinpin in Tanay town, Rizal province, where the accused officers are also detained. The accused and their lawyers want to stop the proceedings until Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. signed the pre-trial advice (PTA), a document that recommended the filing of mutiny and other charges against the 28 officers. Prepared by Esperon's own staff judge advocate, the PTA reversed recommendations by a pre-trial investigation to file only lesser charges against some of the 28. The group allegedly planned a mass withdrawal of support from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February 24, 2006, the 20th anniversary of the 1986 People Power revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship and restored democratic institutions in the country. INFO SOURCE: <a href="http://www.ellentordesillas.com/?p=1842">Ellen Tordesillas</a> and <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=100399">PDI</a>. PHOTO SOURCE: <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=100399">Inquirer</a>. Bill Bilignoreply@blogger.com13