Former senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan today asked the Makati regional trial court to allow him to leave his detention cell in Laguna to personally file his certificate of candidacy as an independent senatorial candidate.
In a four-page motion for leave, Honasan, through lawyer Daniel Gutierrez, said he would pose no objection to any security measure the court would require.
The Department of Justice said it will oppose Honasan’s motion asking for court permission to personally file his candidacy for midterm elections. (Click here.)It suggested, instead, that representatives from the Comelec personally see Honasan in Camp Santo Domingo to allow him to file his certificate for candidacy.
Honasan told the court he will file his COC, if allowed, at any day between January 29 to February 2.
Honasan is detained on charges of coup d’état pending at the Makati court for allegedly instigating junior officers into staging the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.
He went into hiding early last year after the court issued an arrest warrant. He was arrested in November in Quezon City and brought to Fort Sto, Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Honasan is also among those charged with rebellion in connection with the botched February 24 coup.
The Department of Justice said Honasan might pull another disappearing act if the Makati court grants his motion.
State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said that based on Honasan’s escape record would, the Makati court should dismiss Honasan’s motion as he remains a flight and a security risk.
Honasan, a former Army colonel and considered a hero of Edsa 1, was involved in coup attempts during the Aquino administration. He was detained in a Navy ship but escaped.
Navera acknowledged Honasan is not barred from seeking an elective post because he has not been convicted.
But he said there is no need for Honasan to personally file his COC.
“We’d like to emphasize that we are not opposing his candidacy, since he is not yet convicted. But we are opposing his motion because he is a flight risk, as shown by the number of times that he has tried to escape from the law,” said Navera.
He said that Honasan may ask his lawyer or a family member to file his COC for him.
“He need not go personally. That’s a security risk. I’m sure that if he goes to the Comelec, there will be some rallies. That would be tough for our law enforcers,” he said.
Honasan was first elected as a senator in 1995 after President Fidel Ramos granted amnesty to members of Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabayan who staged a series of coups against the Aquino government.
He won an abbreviated second term in 2001as replacement of Teofisto Guingona who left the Senate to serve as President Arroyo’s first vice president.
The United Opposition has said Honasan is being considered in its 12-man senatorial slate. – Ashzel Hachero, JP Lopez and Evangeline de Vera
No comment!
The “Gringo Show” has been played for too long, & sadly, the ending wasn’t what many thought it would be. I guess, it’s time for him to take a bow (curtain close).
The golden years of Gringo were gone. Let it go!
Honasan has to take care of his personal issues, before he can better serve as a political leader. Trying multi-tasking, when during his tenure he was not able to do much given that golden chance, now how can he assures the Pilipino people that he is a different man? Or just another idealist turning purple and yellow and whichever color suits him. He was the hope unfulfilled, better fade away and give the other hopefuls a crack at it.
The opposition has not included him in the ticket because it’s doubtful if he can mount a national campaign while in detention.
Also even if he wins, he can’t serve in the Senate because the crime he is accused of is non-bailable. Sayang naman ang slot.
The opposition has to win at least eight seats because if the election results is 6-6, Gloria Arroyo will have the nine senators to block impeachment against her.
She has three sure votes remaining in the Senate- lapid, Revilla, miriam Santiago. Probably Enrile too.
I for one would recommend that Gringo Honasan be included in the ticket if only to strenthen the opposition and boost the morale of the people who share the same values and principles he’s fighting for. Kahit na symbol lang malaking bagay na iyan. He has not been convicted yet so he is technically and legally eligible to run. If your remember Cong. Romeo Jalosjos who have been convicted and in jail but was allowed to run and then won. He was able to serve his constituents while in jail. Meroon naman siyang mga tauhan na puwedeng magtrabaho para sa kanya. He has men who represented him and consulted him on major issues and decisions. Bakit hindi puwede si Honasan? Si Jinggoy pinayagan at ngayon ay isang Senator. Of course Jinggoy posted bail bond. Honasan should seek legal remedy to post bail then legally he’s off the hook. Sa campaign, malaking bagay kung kasama si Honasan. The opposition could use his case to deliver the messages to the people. Gringo can represent the military and the police. Kung hindi siya makalabas sa jail, puwede naman video clips niya at mga tape recorded campaign messages. Sayang. Whatever his critics say, Gringo Honasan has and is always a true oppositionist.
Crazy country! Anyone in incarceration in fact should be barred from running for any position in the government unless of course, he has been incarcerated illegally and mainly to prevent him from running for a position where he can be a threat to the crooks who have put him in jail as in the case of Honasan and Trillanes.
The case against Honasan is yet to be proved, so he should in fact be allowed bail, but in Trillanes’ case is more established with proofs of the actual mutiny he and his friends planned but failed because they had allowed themselves to be tricked into surrendering instead of making true their threat even at the peril of their lives.
I cannot understand why Honasan cannot run independent if he really wants to make himself useful. He does not have to mess up with the opposition who may be disadvantaged by including Gringo in their lineup.
Point is what did he do when he was in the Senate? Did he make himself really useful there to have the crooks exposed and removed?
GISING NA MGA TULOG! PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Overrated masyado si ex-sen honasan ng bogus na pamahalaan na ito. Halos lahat ng destabilisasyon ay palaging ikinakabit ang pangalan nya. Biktima sya sa sariling katanyagan. maganda na rin yun.
Ito’y patunay lamang na hindi kontrolado at hindi kilala ng pekeng gobyerno ni gma ang mga pinuno at sundalong magpapatalsik sa kanya (halos buong hukbong sandatahan na eh).
Relax ka na lang sir Pogi. Let the young blood carry on and make our Dreams a reality.
The first time Gringo Honasan run for the senate in 1995, I was attending a conference at the PICC when he dropped by. Everybody was excited to see him in person and I still have a picture taken with him in all smiles. His role in Edsa 1 still fresh in mind and the coup attempts he was involved no doubt made him a popular figure. He won in that elections handily.
Not that I don’t like Honasan but the problem with UNO is everybody would like to be included in the ticket. The entry of Manny Villar group simply crowded the list. Pumasok pa si John Osmena. And besides, ang feeling ko, the excitement over Honasan’s exploits has dwindled over the years. So much so that I wrote in this blog sometime ago that instead of Honasan, I think Trillanes candidacy would be more exciting.
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Text joke 4d day:
Reporter (interviewing GMA): Ma’m, for 2006, what could be your biggest achievement in the department of education?
GMA: The construction of the 30 million fabricated classrooms throughout the country.
Reporter: But ACT (Association of Concerned Teachers) said it is not true!
GMA: Kaya nga fabricated, ano ka ba?
Kabayang Spy (another weird alias), I partly agree with you.
Pero hindi overrated si Honasan, talagang mas magaling compared to others like Lapid, Jamby, Bong, Jinggoy and even Loi. Tutoo po iyan. Nagsunog ng kilay sa PMA iyan. Minalas lang ang military career niya dahil sa pakikipaglaban. Medyo idealist kasi. He fought against Marcos, then Cory and now this Arroyo. May legitimate na dahilan siyang ipinaglalaban.
The Philippines is not a democracy.
Anyone of good moral character should be allowed to run for position if he is apt to it regardless of whether or not he has money. The point to consider if he can do the job. Problem with Filipinos, however, is that they love to get elected but cannot really do the job as in the case of Filipinos seeking positions in Philippine organizations as those organizations of Filipinos in Japan for instance, and all for the sake of being recognized and palakasan at the Philippine Embassy. Labas tuloy, walang class!!!
Over here, I have volunteered to help in political campaigns of my favorite candidates. Kahit walang pera, OK especially when the police regularly check the books for any violation of the election rules. Basta may ibubuga, puedeng tumakbo. Ganyan sana sa Pilipinas to insure that only those who want to do something for the sake of the nation, community, etc. hindi iyong para lang sa kanilang mga bulsa!!!
A nephew of Ninoy Aquino based in California I understand has filed his candidacy for senator. He is representing daw the OFWs. Name is Ted Aquino. Don’t know the guy. I hope he is good and most of all, sincere!
gringo should just run for a house seat. it’s more “winnable” for him at this point because it’s localized.
kasi pag senado, one will need to travel all over the country, which he can’t do because he’s in the slammer.
So i think his candidacy for the senate is a bad idea.
I agree with you John Marzan. The fact that Gringo is locked up may be more of a disadvantage to him. I have nothing against the man. He is very idealistic and for our young military officers, that still means something.
Tama din po si Ka Johnmarzan. Tutal masikip na sa ticket ng senatorial line up, why doesn’t Honasan run for Congress? Iyan din yata ang gagawin ni Tessie Oreta Aquino. She gave way to her nephew Noynoy and would just run for Congress in Mandaluyong. Si Goma (Richard Gomez) baka Governor na lang sa Bulacan.
ok din nga siguro sa congress si honasan, pero baka ego naman ang iniisip niya na dati siyang sendor ay parang bababa siya sa lower house. actually baka mas marami siyang magagawa sa congress kaysa sa senado.
Eto ang naisip kong campaign slogan ni Gringo Honasan: GRINGO,GO GO GO ! Oks ba mga pards? Si Singson naman ay “Singson, Sing Sing Sing A Song”.
Just got the info that this Ted Aquino went to the Comelec to register with Abueva. And the connection with the Unano is clearly established. UP alumni are being asked to support him, but I say “Nay” if he is in fact supported and will represent the idiot calling herself “president.”
Family affair din ang labas nito—ang dami nang Aquino rin ang labas!
Enough is enough of these dynasties. Time for Filipinos to vote for new faces, and better breed of Filipinos.
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Yuko,
Ted-dy bear din pala iyan ng nagkukunwaring presidente!
Alam nyo mandirigma di ko maiintindihan etong si artsee kung he is one of us o pinapagulo niya ung grupo natin. Talakayan ito kaya dapat namang isaalang-alang niya na ung tama at makabuluhan ang dapat niyang ibigay na kuro-kuro.
Si Honasan ay talagang true oppositionist mula pa ke Marcos. Me prinsipyo at dapat hahangaan. Kung di man siya masali sa opposition group un ay kagustuhan ng mga nasa likod nito kasi me punto silang isinaalang-alang. sa ganang akin gusto kong mapasali siy kasi me paninindigan at di takot ninuman pero alam mo nama etong administrasyon gagawa at gagawa ng butas upang mapigilan ang kanyang kandidatura. Hayaan na lang natin. Pero kung isali naman yang si Kiko Pangilinan o sino pang bumabalingbing sa oposisyon dapat si Honasan na lang, di ba mandirigma.
Dapat si Lito Lapid maalis na yan sa senado kasi nagbibilang lang ng bangko yan at nasusunog lagi kasi umiinit na ung puwit niya sa kauupo. Walang batas na ginawa kundi umuo lang sa mga hangarin ng Donya Unanong nakaupo sa Malacanang.
Baka matatagalan na naman akong makakasali sa talkayan kasi in a few days time aalis na ako pero pagdating ko sa pupuntahan ko sasali uli ako.
ramil brusko on January 18th, 2007 at 10:36 am
totoo yan sinasabi mo! iisa lang ang kulay ni Gringo. kulay maroon yan! nagsisimba kasi yan sa Quiapo!
hindi tulad ng isang binabanggit mo! nagsisimba sa baclaran.
sawang-sawa na ang taumbayan sa kabaklaan!
Salamat Pareng Nelbar. Natanggap mo na siguro ang ipinadala kong Jaguar kaya ganyan na lang ang pagtanggol mo sa akin. Sa susunod private jet na ang ibibigay ko sa iyo.
Mga bakla ba ang nagsisimba sa Baclaran? Tama ka nga dahil ang ibig sabihin ng Baclaran ay Lakaran ng mga Bakla. Anong klaseng tao naman ang pumupunta sa St. Jude? May tanong ako sa inyo? Saan galing ang salitang Quiapo? Galing sa salitang Kuya (Quia) at Po. Noon kasi may nawawalang isang bata. Nang nahanap ay tinanong sa kanya kung sino ang nagsama sa kanya doon para magsimba. Sagot ng bata Kuyapo (Quiapo). Diyan galing ang Simbahang Quiapo.
Kung napapansin niyo ginaya ko si Mr. Art See sa itaas. You might think that I’m him which I am not. I just want to raise a point that I could be as corny if I want to. This group is not intended for jokes such as the above and what Art is doing. I think we should put some sense and decency to this forum. Pero natawa din kayo sa sinulat ko di ba? Anong say mo Mr. Art See?
But seriously speaking Ka Nelbar, Gringo Honasan is a tested loyal member of the opposition. Others are called bakla because of their inconsistent position. Kung puwede lang ay sana payagang tumakbo si Gringo. He’s still popular and well loved by the people.
nag-uumpisa na namang kumulo ang sinaing dito. huwag ninyong gayahin ang pansamantalang permanenteng prangulo (praning na pangulo) na walang iniisip kundi mang-away ng tao kapag hindi nagugustuhan ang ginagawa niya kahit palpak.
Maganda po ang inyong mensahe Kabayang Rivera. I hope others take heed of your call. May nakapagsasabi na nakaka-addict itong grupo and I now believe it is. In my free time, I try to scroll up and down every thread and page. I try to review each one’s comments. Masasabi kong kahit na mainit ang palitan ng kuro-kuro, talaga naman marami tayong mapupulot na kaalaman hindi lang sa larangan ng pulitika kundi sa mga kultura at pangyayari sa mga ibang bansa. That makes this group unique. It has a little of everything not just about politics. Kaya lang po, meroon lang talagang laging gustong magpatawa kahit na hindi nakakatawa. The more we read and know these people, the more we get to learn their style and personality.
mandirigma, dati meron din ditong ilan na sobrang nagmamagaling eh, walang pumapansin kaya ayun nag-diasppear. at saka huwag mo nang pansinin ‘yan, meron namang sisita kung talagang sumosobra na. pilyo kasi, hindi bastos. pero mabait ‘yan.
pabayaan mo na lang.
That’s what I like about you Ka Rivera. Maliban sa iilan lang, napakabait ang karamihan dito. I even like the chocolates from See’s Candy. Baka sabihin niya na siya ang may-ari. In this group, we also witness the extreme right and extreme left. Kakaunti lang ang mga moderate na tulad mo. Why not organize a Third Force here with Ka Ellen’s permission? Ang Third Force puwedeng kasama ka, ako, Chi, Cocoy, Chabeli at mga iba diyan na hindi masyadong one sided.