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Friday, June 20, 2003
NBI to probe brains in pro-Estrada rallies
By Benjamin B. Pulta
MANILA -- Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will look into groups loyal to former President Joseph E. Estrada that are conducting rallies in front of the houses of some Supreme Court (SC) justices.
President Arroyo is also warning Estrada supporters they will be facing the full force of the law if they persist on destabilizing her administration.
Justice Undersecretary Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez told reporters Thursday the NBI will find out if laws were violated in the lightning rallies staged by Estrada supporters in the homes of SC Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and Associate Justice Artemio Panganiban.
"The NBI will be looking if there is a violation," said Gutierrez but declined to give details.
Gutierrez said the NBI investigation would become the basis for the filing of appropriate criminal complaints before the justice department.
Arroyo, in a written statement, said she will not "tolerate any attempt to bring Estrada's case from the purview of the court, where it rightfully belongs, to the courtroom of the streets."
"I am forsworn to uphold the Constitution and I must warn those who are destabilizing it that they will face the full force of law," Arroyo added.
She promised to preserve the "institutional integrity of the Supreme Court and the constitutional separation of powers" and vowed not to "allow anarchy to override the pursuit of justice."
The warning to Estrada's supporters was the only part of Arroyo's prepared statement not inserted in her speech in Calamba, Laguna where she attended the celebration of the 142nd birthday anniversary of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
Arroyo delivered her statements on terrorists, the anti-drug campaign, and the peace talks.
When Arroyo was about to deliver her speech, a group of 20 Estrada supporters unfurled their streamers and called for her ouster.
The police, who were earlier praised by Arroyo for their excellent intelligence work, dispersed the protesters and hurt some of them in the process.
In her speech, she did not mention anything about Estrada's case.
Nor did she reply to the opening remarks of Calamba Mayor Severino Lajara, who urged the President to run in 2004, adding it would have been Rizal's wish as well.
In Manila, her spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the anti-Arroyo protests, especially the demonstrations outside the residences of Supreme Court justices who are the subjects of an impeachment complaint, are "already outside the freedoms guaranteed by the laws."
Bunye said Estrada's supporters must follow the procedures, including the 200-meter distance, and spare the residences of magistrates.
SC Public Information Office and Deputy Court Administrator Ismael Khan earlier denounced the lightning rallies outside the homes of Davide in Fairview, Quezon City and Panganiban in Makati.
Impeachment charges were earlier lobbed by the Estrada camp against the SC magistrates for allegedly violating the Constitution when they swore in then vice-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president in January 2001.
The prosecution panel handling Estrada's case insists the bid to cast clouds on Arroyo's presidency is meant to allow Estrada to claim immunity from suit.
(June 20, 2003 issue)
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