MANILA, Philippines - Nine junior officers involved in the February 2006 withdrawal of support have been granted temporary liberty just a week after the temporary release of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim on bail, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

Armed Forces public information chief Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos identified the nine as Majors Leomar Doctolero and Jason Aquino, Captains Montano Almodovar, Isagani Criste, Joey Fontiveros, James Sababan, Dante Langkit and William Victorino Upano; and 1st Lt. Homer Estolas.  

From the Army detention center in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal the 9 rebel soldiers are expected to be turned over to the headquarters support group of the Philippine Army either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.  

Burgos said the 9 soldiers will be attached and assigned to the command while they are facing court martial proceedings. Among the conditions given to the 9 rebel soldiers are to make sure they appear during court martial proceedings for charges of mutiny during the February 2006 withdrawal of support.  

The military spokesman denied that the granting of provisional liberty was a political accommodation since the 9 officers went through the process written in the Articles of War.  He said that just like in the case of Lim, the nine soldiers through their lawyer wrote the Armed Forces chief of staff and asked for provisional liberty last May 30.

He said the request was approved last June 6.

Lim was given temporary liberty after Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit approved his request to be granted provisional liberty, and that he be placed under the custody of another military officer.