Filipino general and 19 officers face court martial

The Philippine army today said it had recommended court-martial proceedings against a general and 19 other officers for their alleged role in a failed coup plot last month against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Army officials were also assessing possible punitive steps against dozens of soldiers who allegedly were aware of or agreed to join the coup, which included a plan by renegade generals and enlisted personnel to join a protest march, then withdraw support from Arroyo, said army spokesman Major Bartolome Bacarro.

The court-martial of Brigadier General Danilo Lim and 19 officers was recommended by army chief Lieutenant General Hermogenes Esperon to military chief of staff General Generoso Senga, who will decide whether to approve the action, Bacarro said.