[JURIST] A Philippine judge Thursday dismissed rebellion charges [JURIST report] against former Vice President Teofisto Guingona [official profile], ruling that police had failed to establish his role in an aborted coup attempt [JURIST report] against Philippine President Gloria Arroyo [official website; BBC profile] last month. The judge also rejected charges against 17 other people detained in relation to the botched coup, but ordered that an additional 14, including Sen. Antonio Trillanes [personal website], should stand trial. Reuters has more.

Last month, about a dozen officers on trial in connection with a failed 2003 mutiny [BBC report] walked out of court, took control of a Manila hotel, and demanded Arroyo's resignation. Philippine military and police forces subsequently regained control of the hotel after a lengthy confrontation. In April, a Philippine military tribunal sentenced 54 military officers [JURIST report] to seven years and six months in prison for their involvement in the 2003 coup attempt.