9 Filipinos sentenced in foiled coup

A Philippine court today sentenced nine military officers to prison for taking part in a foiled coup plot against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003.

The nine are part of a group of 31 junior officers accused of leading a daylong mutiny in which they took over an upscale hotel and mall complex and rigged it with explosives in Manila’s financial district of Makati. They later surrendered peacefully.

The court decided to sentence two of the nine officers to 40 years in prison and the seven others to 12 years. All nine had pleaded guilty. They also face court-martial charges.