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Sunday, March 19, 2006
Soliman’s lawyers plan counter-charges over arrest
MANILA - A state prosecutor has ordered the release of former Cabinet secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and an activist who were arrested in an alleged illegal protest against President Arroyo.
Police on Friday arrested Soliman and Vicente Romano, leader of the Black and White Movement, for leading a silent protest in Manila.
The Black and White Movement is a prominent group of resigned Arroyo Cabinet members and opposition leaders.
Soliman said the prosecutor ordered their release around midnight Friday, telling them authorities would conduct further investigation into charges they violated a law against holding a rally without a permit.
She said the prosecutor had warned them not to run away. “But why should we flee? We have done nothing wrong,” Soliman said on dzRH radio.
Soliman and nine other Cabinet officials resigned in July last year, demanding that Arroyo also step down over alleged vote-rigging and corruption charges.
Arroyo has refused to resign, saying she committed no wrongdoing. She survived an impeachment bid in September and declared a weeklong state of emergency last month to thwart an alleged coup plot.
Soliman, Romano and about 30 people wearing black T-shirts bearing the slogan “Oust Now” planned to walk on a bayside boulevard for their third “black Friday protest,” when police nabbed them.
Previously, police made no move to stop two similar protests in Makati.
Soliman protested the arrest, arguing with the police that they were not disturbing traffic flow and were not carrying banners or placards.
“It was a big violation of our rights,” she said.
She said her lawyers may consider filing counter-charges against the police.
“This is very different now. We did not expect that our former colleagues in government would allow this kind of policy,” she said. (AP)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 19, 2006 issue)
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