MANILA, Philippines – An advertisement expressing support for detained Brigadier General Danilo Lim might have been launched by a group that would want him to run for public office, possibly the Senate, a militant lawmaker said.

Retired and active military officials who came out in support of Lim did not explicitly challenge the rule of President Macapagal-Arroyo, hence they could not be accused of directly trying to destabilize the government, said Bayan Muna partylist Representative Satur Ocampo.

But Ocampo said this group has a plan, and that was to push Lim as a senatorial candidate for the next election.

“Sinasabi nila nakakulong man si Gen. Lim, may nagsusuporta sa kanya. So behind that, merong plano yan, whether it's participating in the election... Possibly tatakbong senador si Danny Lim kasi andyan si [Antonio] Trillanes eh, isa sa mga signatories, so gusto niya magkaroon ng kasama sa Senado [They are saying that even if Gen. Lim is in jail, he has supporters. So behind that, there is a plan, whether it's participating in the election ... Possibly, Lim will run for Senator, because Trillanes is one of the signatories, so he wants to have a companion in the Senate],” Ocampo told reporters.

Trillanes, a former Navy official, was elected senator in 2007 despite being detained for his participation in the 2003 mutiny.

He and Lim are also facing fresh rebellion charges for allegedly leading the siege on the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City in 2007.

Lim is also being court martialed for his alleged role in a failed coup in 2006.