A total of 268 accused were brought out of the military stockade to be arraigned at the armed forces headquarters but defense lawyer Roel Pulido had five of the nine members of the military tribunal disqualified.

This left the court one short of a quorum, forcing the chief judge, Brigadier General Ferdinand Bocobo, to postpone the reading of charges against the detainees. He did not set a new date.

Pulido did not explain why he wanted the five military judges replaced, telling reporters later that under military law, he did not have to explain himself.

It was the third time the defense had objected to certain officers sitting in the tribunal.

The troops, led by army captains and navy lieutenants, stand accused of leading or taking part in a mutiny last year, which prosecutors alleged was a part of a larger coup plot meant to oust Arroyo and replace her with a junta.

The soldiers seized part of the Makati business district in the early hours of July 27, planting explosives and briefly taking dozens of tourists hostage. They demanded the resignation of Arroyo and then defense secretary Angelo Reyes, who they accused of corruption.

The rebellion fizzled out less than 24 hours later and all the known participants were arrested. A number of civilians allegedly linked to Arroyo's deposed predecessor Joseph Estrada were also charged in civilian courts.

After the hearing Monday, the alleged rebels' lawyer read a statement that denounced what the rebel officers described as "the current maneuverings of those in power to frustrate the will of the people by eliminating their opponents through the prostitution of our justice system."

The rebels urged their fellow soldiers to "stand up to the oath we took" and not allow themselves "to be used in frustrating our people's will."

Meanwhile, President Arroyo on Monday warned that she will "not condone the exploitation of the armed forces, in any manner, for partisan ends."

"I urge our detractors to refrain from dragging the (military) into politics as this is inimical to the national interest," she said in a written statement.

"The military will assist in assuring honest, orderly and peaceful elections, and will resist any actions that contravenes this mandate."

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WAR.WIRE