Lawyer Ernesto Francisco, jr. yesterday said he will be filing contempt of court charges against AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. for the unlawful interference by the ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the AFP) in the ongoing hearing on the writ of Amparo filed by the relatives of participants in the Nov. 29 activity who are included in “Wanted” posters”
Here’s Atty. Francisco’s statement:
Last Saturday, we were busy burning the lines trying to confirm reports that Malacañang was sounding our foreign embassies of the possibility of Gloria Arroyo declaring a state of emergency.
The information we got was, she will do it today to pre-empt the brewing unrest in the military. With the snowballing protest in almost all sectors of society, the missing ingredient is the military.
AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon and Philippine National Chief last Monday staged a unity walk to prove to the world that men in uniform are solid behind Arroyo.
Updates from ABS-CBN online:
Government ups security in Manila for rally
From a friend: Just passed by Villamor Air Base, helicopters unloading sacks on two planes ready to seed clouds for rain to stop rally.
Mga kapatid, magpakabasa tayo!
Patriots who are detained in Camp Crame led by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV are sending their greetings to those who are making a stand against the immoral Arroyo administration in today’s ‘communal action’ in Makati.
Joining them in their message are Capt. Gary Alejano (PN-M), Capt. Segundino Orfiano (PAF), LTSG Manuel G. Cabochan (PN), LTSG Eugene Louie Gonzales (PN), LTSG James Layug, LTSG Andy Torrato (PN), Ltjg Arturo Pascua, Jr. (PN), 1Lt Billy Pascua, 2ndLT Jonnell Sangalang (PN), and Ens Armand Pontejos (PN).
They said even if they cannot be physically with the people today, “we are with you in spirit and sentiments.”
This article is by a friend who requested not to be given a byline:
With a slogan “Dissent without action is consent,” part of the statement read by Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim at Manila Peninsula stand off last year, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona led a group yesterday that gave a face to the November 29 Movement. They vowed to flood the streets of Manila with a “sea of humanity” to show the world that people power once popularized by the Filipinos cannot only be in Edsa.
Update from ABS-CBN Online:
Airport camera shows PSG guy (Master Sergeat Bong Fantillanan) part of team that met Lozada.
By Veronica Uy
Inquirer.net
The logbook at the Dignitaries Lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport showed that members of the Presidential Security Group were in a car that picked up Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., witness in the Senate investigation into the national broadband network controversy, last week.
The same logbook also belied the statement of NAIA assistant general manager Angel Atutubo who claimed that he was in one of the service vehicles that had escorted Lozada out of the airport upon his arrival from Hong Kong.
This is a setback for us but this will not deter us from doing our job of bringing to the public the truth.
By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Makati City court Thursday denied a media petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) barring officials from arresting journalists during crisis situations such as last November’s standoff at the Manila Peninsula hotel.
Journalists from various news organizations filed last month separate petitions seeking to restrain the government from arresting or threatening journalists with arrest.
Update:PNP admits video can’t pin down PLDY union head
PLDT unionist denies helping Faeldon escape
The PNP has revised its script that a female reporter helped Faeldon escape by giving him a media ID. Now, they are raising a possibility that Faeldon may have posed as a PLDT lineman after they noticed a man in a lineman’s uniform in the Manila Peninsula last Nov. 29.
ABS-CBN story:
Update:PNP now in search of ‘Makapili’ among reporters
PNP admits it has no goods against lady reporter
Since when has a journalist interviewing a person involved in a situation a crime?
The RPN-9 video that was supposedly the PNP “smoking gun” to discredit media in connection with the Nov. 29 Manila Pen incident just showed Dana Batnag, reporter of Jiji Press, a Japanese news agency, talking with Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon, who was one of the Magdalo officers who walked out of their hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court, proceeded to the Manila Pen and called for the ouster of Gloria Arroyo’s illegitimate government.
There was nothing in the picture as described by no less than the justice secretary and the PNP chief that showed a “female reporter helping Capt Nicanor Faeldon escape by giving him a press ID.”
Photo reproduced here without permission of The Inquirer. Sorry, JV.
Inquirer’s photo caption:PEN LOBBY. Is Dana Batnag interviewing Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon? Or, are they plotting his escape? Does this video constitute enough evidence to prosecute Dana? Is this all? RPN NEWS
Faeldon-reporter tape does not show much; PNP witch-hunt hit
By Alcuin Papa, Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Video tape shows a reporter, Dana Batnag, talking with Faeldon. Is this what police said aiding him to escape?
For Malaya editorial. click here.
A foreign news correspondent being suspected of helping Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape after the November 29 siege at The Peninsula Manila hotel challenged the government Wednesday to formally file charges against her if it has evidence.
“I appeal to the authorities to file the proper charges before the courts to prove that this is a government of laws,” Dana Batnag said in a statement that also denied the allegations against her. Batnag works for Jiji Press, a Japanese news wire service.