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Former Army Capt. Milo Maestrocampo, one of the key figures of the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, said over the weekend that military intervention is not the proper way of bringing reform in a democratic society.

Maestrocampo, who is now works as an action officer of the Social Integration Program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process , said that during his incarceration, he realized the methodology used by Magdalo soldiers to mount a mutiny against the government was wrong.

military intervention... will not bring forth reform. Maganda man yung hangarin mo, maganda man yung sa loob mo, pero ang paraan mo, military intervention I don't believe na magdadala ito ng reporma as to ano man 'yung naduon sa puso mo, Maestrocampo said.

He said that when he participated in the Oakwood mutiny in Makati City, he considered two elements -- his intention to help improve the country and the methodology in transmitting their reform agenda, which was military intervention.

During his detention in connection with the armed uprising, Maestrocampo said he was able to realize that their methodology was wrong.

Ang methodology na ginawa ko, para sa akin, it was wrong. It was a mistake for me because right now I am an advocate or I stand against military intervention, he said.

I have learned to understand that we have to work within the bounce of our democratic processes. It's hard for me to learn those things but inside detention I think I was able to get the idea, Maestrocampo said.

He also realized that no single person or group of people can dictate what is best for the country.

Walang i-isang grupo or isang sekta o i-isang faction na grupong Pilipino na makakapagdikta para sa lahat na para you will ram to the throat of everyone na…ito na…Filipino people this is the way to reform. Yan ang na-realize ko. Para sa aking tinangap ko yan. Not even the AFP or not even isang grupo na magsabi na sila na ang solusyon, he said.

Reawakened faith

During his period of detention, Maestrocampo also said he found God in his heart.

Maestrocampo said that he had the opportunity to reflect upon himself, eventually coming to the realization that it is his faith in God that would solve man's problems, including military adventurism.

I have realized that only God can resolve these seemingly insurmountable problems, he said.

It was virtually a spiritual reawakening for me, he added, saying that during his detention many things had happened, particularly the spiritual reawakening for me.

Maestrocampo attributed his spiritual reawakening to retired Brig. Gen. Vic Tigas, who is now a pastor for Christ's Friend Ministry.

Life as a civilian

After his pardon in May, Maestrocampo, along with other Magdalo officers who have been discharged from service, found themselves withou a job, and he had to adjust anew to life as a civilian.

Now as a civilian, I have to adjust considering that in the military life is obviously regimented. But I did not have trouble adjusting to civilian life because even during my detention, I had learned to accept my fate, he said.

Basically, I have to work to feed my family and earn a living, he said.

He said he decided to work as an action officer for the OPAPP's SIP because basically it is not away from my previous background of how it feels being a rebel.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon, who was also his former commander in the Philippine Army, who gave him a break to become an SIP action officer, Maestrocampo said.

His main duties as a SIP officer is in the reintegration to society of rebel returnees from the New People's Army. He has since started a local version of the SIP in Iloilo.

Esperon, meanwhile, has also tapped the services of three other former Magdalo leaders as SIP action officers. They are Arbee Talastas, Florentino Somero Jr. and Charleston Tan, who together with Maestrecampo were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Makati Regional Trial Court on May 16, 2008.

The 2003 Oakwood mutiny was staged by over 300 military personnel, led by then Navy Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes IV.

Trillanes, who has been elected senator, is still under military custody while his case is still pending in court.

Maestrocampo, trained as a Scout Ranger, was a visible presence during the siege, covered live by the world media.