More rebel changes guilty plea

More rebel changes guilty plea

PHILIPPINES: A man who had said he was guilty of murder in
connection with near-simultaneous bombings that killed 22 people
about three years ago withdrew his plea on Tuesday, saying he was
coerced by the military and did not understand the language used
in the proceedings.

Saifullah Yunos, also known as Moklis Yunos, said in a motion
filed by his lawyer that he "did not mean to admit" the
accusations against him because he could not understand the
Tagalog and English language translations of the charges.

A self-confessed member of the separatist Moro Islamic
Liberation Front arrested in May, Yunos said he speaks and
understands only Arabic and Maranao, one of the Muslim languages
in the southern Philippines. Tagalog is the dominant language in
the Philippines.

Despite his plea, the judge announced he will still hold a
trial because of the gravity of the multiple murder charges,
which carry the death penalty. --AP