Tuesday, March 21, 2006
'Wanted' opposition solons admit deal with Arroyo to oust Estrada
TWO minority congressmen wanted for rebellion have admitted Monday that they had conspired with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo "to oust a legitimate president as early as 2000," referring to then President Joseph Estrada.
The admission was made by party-list Representative Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna during a regular press conference of the House minority.
Ocampo said they have conspired with President Arroyo as early as 2001 "not to seek his (Estrada) resignation, not to ask him to step down but to unseat him or oust him".
At the same press conference, Ocampo and another Bayan Muna congressman, Teodoro Casiño, showed reporters photographs that would show how they "conspired" with Arroyo in ousting a President who had the mandate of the people.
In the first picture, Ocampo and another militant leader were shown talking to then Vice President Arroyo.
Although he did not say how many times they have met with Arroyo, Ocampo said the meetings with her and other prominent figures were constant.
The other photograph shown to reporters had Arroyo, along with Ocampo and other militant leaders, raising their hands as they called for Estrada's ouster. A big banner was on the background with a large "Oust" inscription.
What was surprising, according to Ocampo, was that during that time Arroyo did not even seem to consider that conspiring against a legitimate president was illegal.
"Why was it so different now? We've just been asking her to resign, to step down and yet we were charged with rebellion," he added.
Ocampo and Casino along with three other militant lawmakers - Bayan Muna party-list Representative Joel Virador, Gabriela party-list Representative Liza Maza and Anakpawis party-list Representatiive Rafael Mariano are still holed up in the House of Representatives to evade warrantless arrest for the rebellion charges filed against them by the Arroyo administration.
Another militant congressman, Anakpawis party-list Representative Crispin Beltran who was also charged for rebellion, is still detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General hospital.
They were charged after Malacaang claimed it has prevented a coup attempt against the Arroyo administration, the same day or on February 24 that President Arroyo declared Proclamation 1017 placing the country under the state of national emergency. (DBP/Sunnex)
(March 21, 2006 issue)
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