MANILA - Despite tight security, ABS-CBN News caught up with detained Brig. General Danilo Lim, the former Scout Rangers commander, at the close of the court martial proceedings on Thursday in Camp Aguinaldo. 

Lim is being tried, along with 27 other military officers, for his alleged participation in the failed mutiny of February 2006.

In a rare interview, Lim confirmed talking to members of the political opposition to be part of a senatorial ticket to be fielded in 2010.

"I am seriously considering running for a national post, very likely a seat in the Senate," he said.

Asked if he did not fear he would end up like fellow detainee Senator Antonio Trillanes, who has yet to set foot in the Senate, Lim said: "The reason I am in jail is because of some political acts. If there is a change in leadership and political atmosphere after the 2010 elections, I am 100 percent sure I will be freed from detention."

Lim said he believes elections will be held, although he said, "I am not sure what kind of elections.”

In the event there will be no elections, he said, "we'll have to see the reasons why and find out why there are no elections. And from there, we'll act accordingly."

No renunciation of force

Asked if his impending candidacy meant he has renounced the use of force as a means to achieve reform, Lim said, "I refuse to answer that."

In 2006, Lim had recorded a message on videotape announcing his withdrawal of support from President Arroyo.

Then Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Generoso Senga announced the military had foiled a coup d’etat, with then Army chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon immediately putting Lim on house arrest.

Two days later, a group of Marines walked out from the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to protest the relief of their commandant, then Major General Renato Miranda. 

Lim was thrown in jail, along with Miranda and 26 other officers from the Marines and Scout Rangers, to face court martial proceedings for conspiracy to commit mutiny. 

While testifying as a witness in a hearing on the Oakwood mutiny in November 2007, Lim joined Senator Trillanes in walking out of the Makati Regional Trial Court to denounce the Arroyo government. 

At the Manila Peninsula Hotel, Lim called for President Arroyo’s resignation, urging the people to withdraw support from her government. But before nightfall, Philippine National Police (PNP) special forces stormed the hotel and arrested Lim, Trillanes, and a handful of soldiers.

Arroyo running in 2010 'obscene'

Commenting on speculation President Arroyo may run for a congressional seat in the 2010 elections, Lim denounced it as “obscene,” saying that “by next year, she’ll be there for nine years. She doesn’t need to do that.”

The detained general said majority of the Filipino people are against constitutional change.

"Makikita natin sa mga rallies, sa mga editorials, ang mga reactions ng mga tao. Kahit saan ka pumunta na, ayaw nila itong Con-ass (Constituent assembly) at this time anyway. Dahil pag ginawa nila yan at this time, magiging tainted yung purpose ng pagkakaroon ng constitutional amendments," he said. "Pag ginawa nila yan at this time, iisa lang ang kahulugan: it’s for selfish and partisan ends, for the extension of her term in office.”

Lim also warned Malacañang not to be so quick to trumpet President Arroyo’s upcoming visit to the US, saying ”maybe she will receive some reminders from President Obama. I’m pretty sure President Obama is well aware of the goings-on in this country.”

Lim pointed out similarities between the Philippines and Honduras where President Manuel Zelaya was unseated by the military after attempts to prolong his stay in power.

Short of warning of another mutiny, the former Scout Rangers commander said, “I am not even talking of that option dahil ang nagdedesisyon dito dapat pakinggan natin yung sinasabi ng mga tao."

"The thing that would matter here ay yung reaksyon ng mga Pilipino. Tatanggapin na lang ba nating yan na malinaw na malinaw na ang  pakay naman ay hindi pure, tainted naman? Hindi natin masasabi kung ano ang magiging reaksyon ng mga tao. Yung military susunod yan sa kagustuhan ng mga tao," he added.

No regrets

Lim said he does not regret his actions in the past, despite languishing in jail for almost three years.

“It’s definitely worth it, no regrets. Itong pagkakakulong ko, hindi naman ito nakakahiya, hindi naman common crime ang ginawa ko for my selfish and partisan ends, for self-aggrandizement. It’s a political act na I’m sure marami sa ating kababayan ay naniniwala sa ipinaglalaban namin," he said.

On criticisms that people like him suffer from a messianic complex, Lim said: ”I take my constitutional duty very seriously. I take duty, honor, country  very seriously, according to the constitution. Our duty is to protect the people and the state. If there are people who trample on our democracy, if there are people who abuse their power and in our objective evaluation they become enemies of our countrymen, then it is our duty to protect the people from them.”

But in the same breath, Lim said that by throwing his hat in the political ring, he is entering a different battlefield.

“I am from the military. I did my best in performing our duties in the military. Now that I am entering politics, this would now serve as my new arena in pursuing the same struggle for nationalism, reforms and good governance. I will always stick to what is true, just and right,” he said.