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Manila: A military court discharged five junior army officers on Tuesday who were linked to a coup attempt against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo five years ago.
The court's decision followed the officers' plea bargain early this month to escape a mutiny conviction, which is punishable by 40 years in prison.
The court convicted three officers of unbecoming conduct. The three men are facing separate coup charges in a civilian court and won't be immediately released from detention despite being discharged.
The two other officers were convicted of conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline and sentenced to over seven years in jail. They are eligible for release because they already spent time in detention.
Arroyo still has to approve the court martial's decision.
The officers were among more than 300 soldiers who occupied a hotel and a shopping mall in the capital's financial district and rigged the area with bombs on July 27, 2003. They demanded that Arroyo and other officials resign for alleged corruption, but gave up without a shot fired after a 19-hour standoff.
Earlier this month, nine of the 31 alleged coup ringleaders who had changed their pleas to guilty were convicted by the civilian court and sentenced to 12 to 40 years. They later apologised publicly for their actions and appealed for pardons from Arroyo.
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