Manila - A Philippine court on Tuesday sentenced two junior military officers to life imprisonment for staging a failed mutiny against scandal-tainted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo more than four years ago.

Seven other junior officers who participated in the July 2003 mutiny were sentenced to between six years and 12 years in prison.

Regional Trial Court Judge Oscar Pimentel handed down the sentences six days after the nine accused changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty of the charge of coup d'etat.

The two officers who were sentenced to life imprisonment were army Captains Nilo Maestrecampo and Gerardi Gambala, who were among the leaders of the mutiny.

The seven other officers were among more than 300 soldiers who seized a posh shopping complex in the financial district of Makati in July 2003 to demand the resignation of Arroyo and military officials over allegations of graft and corruption.

State Prosecutor Juan Navera said he was surprised by the sentence since he recommended much lower prison terms for the accused after they changed their pleas.

Anti-government critics suspected that the nine junior officers were able to secure some arrangement with the government and were hoping to get a pardon or executive clemency from Arroyo.

Dozens of other junior officers who participated in the 2003 mutiny, including former navy lieutenant and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, have maintained their not guilty pleas and their trial is continuing.

Arroyo has survived at least three failed military uprisings and three impeachment bids over allegations of massive corruption and electoral fraud. The 61-year-old economist has denied the charges and vowed to stay in power until her term ends in 2010. (dpa)