Oakwood mutiny leader-turned-Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said this on Wednesday as he formally availed of the government’s amnesty program.

Trillanes, however, stressed he had “no regrets” with his acts, even as he stated “we admit guilt as far as rising up against the most corrupt president this country ever had.”

The senator was accompanied by fellow Magdalo officers to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Commissioned Officers’ Club (AFPCOC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City where they filed their application for the amnesty.

He was the 57th former rebel soldier to apply for the amnesty program, filing of which opened on Monday to run for 90 days.

On Tuesday, 18 former rebel troops, which include 14 enlisted personnel (EPs) and four officers filed their applications.

On Wednesday, the number of applicants reached 58 – 35 of them EPs and 23 officers, including Trillanes.

The AFP earlier said they expect up to 300 former rebel soldiers to apply for the amnesty.

In an interview, Trillanes told reporters that part of their application for amnesty is their admission of guilt that they violated military rules and the Revised Penal Code.

“Ever since hindi naman ho kami nagpanggap na ‘yung ginawa namin na pagpunta sa Oakwood and sa Manila Peninsula ay hindi natural na ginagawa ng sundalo. We are man enough to admit na we have broken rules in the pursuit of morale cause and we faced it like men, nakulong po kami and the others were separated from the service so it’s very easy for us to agree to that,” Trillanes said.

“Wala po tayong regret ‘dun sa ginawa natin, nangyari po ‘yan, ‘yan po ang iginuhit ng tadhana so to speak, so tinanggap po natin ‘yan,” he added.

Trillanes further said they completed their application form by responding to all the questions they were required to answer.

He, however, added “I would like to qualify that we didn’t admit to the charge of coup d’ etat or anything that were filed against us because we believe it is not the appropriate charge for what we have done.”

Trillanes further explained that while he and the other Magdalo soldiers have admitted violating military rules and the Revised Penal Code, it does not mean that they are also admitting their guilt to rebellion case filed against them.

“Definitely not. . .it’s a technical charge na may mga elements ho na kailangan i-prove,” said Trillanes.

The rebel officer-turned senator said they expect all Magdalo soldiers to avail of the government’s amnesty program saying that “as of Monday, nagbigay na kami ng instructions ‘dun sa mga kasama namin to start filing and yesterday they started filing. Today, we filed in bulk and as a group then ‘yung iba ho in their free time, they will file also.”

Trillanes said he feels good about filing his application for amnesty, even calling it a milestone in his life.

“Actually this is a milestone in our lives, this is a step ‘dun sa ultimate freedom namin and we welcome this opportunity to serve this country once again,” said Trillanes.

Manila Bulletin