MANILA, Philippines – Two former soldiers who participated in a failed coup ten years ago were sentenced to prison Friday (March 22nd) after both rejected President Benigno Aquino's offer of pardon, AFP reported.

Lawrence San Juan and Rex Bolo were found guilty of the crime of coup d'état and were ordered to serve a maximum of 12 years in jail.

The two were among several hundred mutineers who seized a hotel in Manila's financial district in 2003 in a failed bid by a group of junior officers to force Aquino's predecessor, Gloria Arroyo, to resign over alleged corruption.

Arroyo crushed the revolt and later pardoned some of the participants. When he took office, Aquino then granted amnesty to all officers and soldiers who had risen up against Arroyo.

Military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos told AFP that San Juan and Bolo, on trial at the time, opted instead to clear their names through the civilian court, the only two to reject the pardon.