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Friday, April 28, 2006
Palace keeping away from Estrada's espionage case in US
AFTER offering support to the three opposition leaders, including ousted President Joseph Estrada, tagged in the espionage case in the US, Malacañang is now distancing itself, preferring to focus more on the current problems of the country.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the US has its own procedures and "I think the Philippine parties are capable of answering for themselves."
Bunye, who is also the Presidential spokesman, added that the government has more pressing concerns to attend to. "We will not interfere with the issue (espionage case). President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will attend to other issues affecting the Filipino people. She prefers not to be distracted by other side issues," he said.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the government however would assist and ensure that the rights of Estrada, Senator Panfilo Lacson and Camarines Sur Representative Arnulfo Fuentabella are protected and upheld whatever the outcome of the case filed against Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Intelligence Analyst Leandro Aragoncillo is.
Ermita said they are just awaiting the official word from the US and the corresponding action or recommendation of the Philippines' justice department on the matter.
The US authorities named the three opposition leaders as recipients in the case of illegally downloading classified documents that Aragoncllo got from the FBI. Aragoncillo was arrested in September 2005.
Reports said of the 101 documents, 37 had been classified as "secret" and forwarded to some officials in the Philippines. The documents refer to political situation in the country, including the alleged threats against the Arroyo administration. (JMR/Sunnex)
(April 28, 2006 issue)
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