by Raymond Africa
Malaya
Five of 18 civilians charged in connection with the Manila Peninsula standoff said yesterday they would file charges of contempt of the Supreme Court and arbitrary detention against police and justice department officials following the dismissal by the Makati court of the rebellion case filed against them.
Former Sanlakas Rep. J. V. Bautista said he and former UP president Francisco Nemenzo, “running priest” Robert Reyes, lawyer Argee Guevarra and columnist Herman Tiu Laurel are charging Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and all the members of the DoJ prosecution panel headed by Cavite provincial prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco.
A separate administrative charge will be filed against Senior Supt. Asher Dolina, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and his men.
The Makati court on Thursday dismissed the charges against the 18 for lack of probable cause and ordered the release of the 14 detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.
Nemenzo, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Bishop Julio Labayen and actress and scriptwriter Bibeth Orteza were not detained for humanitarian considerations.
Ten were released from detention late Thursday night, while Laurel, Reyes, Guevarra, and Bautista were released yesterday.
They held a press conference before they left Camp Crame.
The 18 civilians were at the hotel last November 29 with the group of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who walked out of the Makati court which was then hearing the coup d’état case filed against him and other leaders of the Magdalo group that staged the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.
The court upheld the charges against Trillanes, 14 other Magdalo leaders who joined the walkout, and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, former Scout Ranger commander who is facing court martial for a supposed power grab plot in February last year.
Bautista said the contempt charge would be for Gonzalez’ alleged defiance of a Supreme Court decision prohibiting the Office of the Justice Secretary “from being used for the political prosecution of those deemed enemies of the state.”
He cited the decision on the tribunal in the case filed against Rep. Crispin Beltran of the so-called Batasan 5.
“In the case of the Batasan 5, the Supreme Court said the position of the office of the secretary of justice should not be used for political persecution. Politics must not enter the proceedings of a custodial preliminary investigation,” Bautista said.
“They kept us under detention for 15 days without any evidence. They prostituted the office of the DoJ as well as the prosecution panel headed by Velasco. They prostituted it in order to keep us in prison,” he said.
Reyes said he did not regret his presence at the hotel.
“As a priest, I never regretted to denounce evil and immorality. I am just repeating what the bishops said that this is a morally bankrupt administration, so what’s wrong with that?” Reyes said.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez said the court decision was a victory not only for the 18 accused but also for the judicial system.
“It is a clear proof that there could still be justice in the country despite some possible meddling from Malacañang,” he said.
Malacañang said the court decision on the civilians would not weaken the rebellion case against Trillanes.
Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Apostol said the release order was “not a setback.” “Our prosecutors believe there is really a strong case against Trillanes,” he said.
Apostol also said Cabinet, police and military officials who were reprimanded for not attending the Senate hearing on the Peninsula standoff could always invoke executive privilege.
If cited for contempt, he said the Supreme Court would be the next resort.
He insisted there was no order from the Palace for the officials not to attend the hearing and that the Cabinet members decided on their own.
He added the Senate was not pushing for any remedial legislation in conducting the hearing on the Peninsula incident, particularly the arrest of media practitioners who covered the standoff.
“It’s not the function of the oversight committee. Hindi malinaw kung legislation ang function nung hearing,” he said.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the military could do nothing but comply with the court’s decision.
The military, particularly the Marines, played a supporting role in the Peninsula standoff by assisting police forces that surrounded the hotel before the Trillanes group surrendered. – With Regina Bengco and Victor Reyes
From the Inquirer: Dolina protests release of five civilians
Hi Ellen!
Sometime ago, if I recall, you and other co-journalists filed a counter-charged or sued Miguel Arroyo, what ever happen to that case? I was out for quite awhile and I don’t know if the case has been settled. I’m just curious.
It’s still there.
Maraming salamat!
Again I understand why they are filing a case against these people overstepping their mark – but the smirk I detected on the face of Cavite provincial prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco in the senate hearing during Ellen’s testimony makes me feel that they are content to have legal battles.
But One Million warm bodies in front of the evil woman’s whore house would give her a chilling effect.
“……there was no order from the Palace for the officials not to attend the hearing and that the Cabinet members decided on their own.”
SHIT presidential legal counsel sergio apulpol talaga, oo.
sarap mong putulan ng dila.
dapat sa ‘yo magpahinga na. magpa-alaga ka na lamang sa iyong mga apo dahil wala ng matinong lumalabas sa bibig mo.
malapit ka nang humalik sa lupa, hukluban!
kung hindi dahil sa dalawang kamay at paa ninyong pagsansala sa sino mang dapat humarap sa imbestigasyon ng senado at wala kayong kinatatakutan, pababayaan ninyo ang mga ‘yan.
executive privilege lagi ang dahilan ninyo.
bulok na ‘yan. iba naman!
Dapat lang! My personal advice to all of you (BIG 18)is to bring the full force of law to GMA rubber-stamp supreme court and rotten subordinate courts NOW.
Masang Pinoy will support your fight in order to convict those concerned personalities who trampled our rights and freedom of expression.
Try your best and GOD BLESS you ALL in your endevour to bring them to justice and prosecute those who are responsible in this messed.
Mabuhay ang nagpapakatutuong Pinoy!
Hi guys,
Why are you pecking at the computer on a perfectly good Sabado Night? Relax, go on a date somewhere?
Myself, I’m going to bed. Yes, the wife did not allow me to go with the friends too…
Basta nandiyan si Prof. Nemenzo, suportado ko!
VG husband, juggernaut!
Kailangan ka ng Masang Pilipino, a good model father.
Hoping that you will be one of our responsible and truthful father in our country.
Mabuhay ka!
Hi Chi, a good day to you.
Suporta na rin ako sa suportado mo!
juggernaut: believe ako sa iyo macho ka talaga..yong macho no rin sa asawa.
rose, balweg,
Mahirap na, yung misis ko lang ang naka appreciate sa aking pagka bisdak (bisayang dako) appeal. Hindi kasi ako pinaglihi kay Marc Nelson (ambisyoso talaga!) Hindi pa kasi siya pinanganak nun, sila ni Panchito, Chiquito pa lang, hay naku…
juggernaut,
Sabi ni Rose hanga daw sa iyo dahil macho ka… kita mo na ano ang panama ni Marc Nelson.
Wether wether lang!
Shalom Rose,
I miss your food for the soul. Lagi na lang tayong tensyonado kapag si GMA ang putahe natin.
Thanks, Balweg. With Trillanes and Prof. Nemenzo around, we will win over Glorilla!
Chi,
Very soon. All Erap’s faithful supporters will help and support AT4 & co. to kick GMA out from Malacanang. Pag nalakas-lakas eh sa Munti ang tilapon.
Hoping those other Nationalist Pinoy will join in crusade and our future is at hand.
Our united stand AGAINST GMA will prevail! May Our Almighty GOD guide and help us in this endeavor.
pasensiya na chi sa aking grammar ha shortcut ang pitik sa keyboard, bahala ka nang maging proof reader ha, pagkulang ng word eh dagdagan mo na lang ok. Basta ang mahalaga eh yong mensahe ba.
Its a pointless exercise. Just another show and fodder for the newscoops.
Ilang tulog na lang , Pasko na!
Kung meron mang dahilan upang ipagdiwang natin ang Pasko nang hindi man masagana ay may hatid pag-asang tayo bilang mga magulang ay narito pa upang ipagpatuloy ang pangangalaga sa ating mga supling at pagsasanggalang sa kanilang karapatang pinipilit agawin at alisin ng isang pamunuang manhid sa ating mga karaingan. Isang pamunuang kinakasangkapan ang lahat upang pilit maikubli ang kawing ng katiwaliang kahit ano’ng pagtatago ang kanilang gawin ay kusang gumagawa ng sariling landas upang sumingaw at malantad sa sambayanan at buong mundo ang nakakasukang kabulukan.
Ang sino mang magbitiw ng pagpuna ay itinuturing na mapanligalig at kaaway ng batas gayung silang mga dapat na mangalaga sa ating kapakanan ang unang lumalabag sa batas na nilikha upang sa matuwid ipatupad. Lubog na ang ating buong katawan sa pagkalublob sa kumunoy ng kaapihan at sa bawat munting galaw ng pagwawalang bahala ay nangangahulugan ng kamatayan ng ating pag-asang tayo na rin ang kumikitil.
Kahit araw araw ay umiigting ang mga salitang nagpapadama ng ngalit at silakbo ng kaloobang humahanap ng katarungan ay hindi ito sapat upang mahadlangan ang patuloy na pananalasa ng mga nagpapanggap na lingkod bayan. Mga ganid na walang binabantayan kundi ang balong ng salapi sa kabang bayang ang pinagkukunan ay utang at padala mula sa ibayong dagat ng mga manggagawang ang ipinupuhunan ay dugo upang huwag magutom ang kanilang mga minamahal.
Habang naghihikahos ang karamihan bunga ng kawalan ng pagkakakitaan ay walang habas ang pagwawaldas ng mga kawatan sa pagpapasarap na ang ginugugol ay salapi ng bayan.
Sana, sa pagpasok ng bagong taon ay masumpungan natin ang pagkakaisa upang mas lalong maging matatag at may lakas ang pagsalunga sa unos na nagbabantang tuluyang wasakin ang natitira nating karangalan hindi lang bilang indibiduwal na mamamayan kundi bilang isang lahing ang yumuyurak ay isang nilalang na alipin ng kasibaan at hayok sa kapangyarihan.
Naumpisahan na ang siklab, tayo na ang magpatuloy upang ang alab ay huwag mamatay, bagkus ay ating ikalat, para sa kinabukasan ng ating mga anak!
Mabuhay ang bagong Pilipinas!
Mabuhay tayong lahat!
balweg: relax lang! enjoy my favorite dish..sa Tongue resto- “Grilled Liver ala gloria”..kaya lang allergic ako sa bawang..kaya ang gusto ko walang ajos..at ang gusto ko very well done as in cremated..sinugba sa kalayo nga naga daba daba pa…