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Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Stop hiding, Gringo: Glo, others advise
MANILA -- Opposition Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan will be subpoenaed by justice department officials in connection with his alleged part in the siege in Makati City last July 27, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuņo said Tuesday.
In a press briefing, Zuņo said that under the rules, Honasan "has 10 days after he receives the subpoena" to answer the charges lobbed against him by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). He is required to appear before prosecutors, Zuņo added.
Honasan, who disappeared from public view a week ago, alleges his prosecution is part of a demolition job to destroy politicians who intend to run for president in 2004.
Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, according to a radio report, called on mayors to report immediately any sightings of armed men in their towns, amid speculations Honasan, who has contacts in Cebu, may be here.
Central Command officials denied, however, that any unnatural troop movements were noted in Minglanilla town or any other part of Cebu.
President Arroyo, who has yet to decide whether to seek a fresh six-year term, said Honasan "should welcome the charges against him as an opportunity to prove his claimed innocence."
The military branded Honasan, 55, a threat to national security, while colleagues appealed to him to surface and face the charge, which could land him in prison for life.
But opposition Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile quipped in an ABS-CBN interview: "If I were him, I would take my chances."
In Cebu City, Vice Mayor Michael Rama called for peace and sobriety in a privilege speech during the regular City Council session.
"What is going on right now is that there is a lot of exultation by people who feel they have the greatest part of the victory. It is causing more concerns and greater uncertainty as a sudden negative effect in our currency is befalling. When will this all finally stop?"
Rama, commenting on the mutiny, said: "Neither sublime idealism nor utmost notoriety shall wane any flicker of hope for this beloved country. Above all, let the rule of law run its due course. As always, no one is and will ever be above the law."
A threat
In Manila, Senate President Franklin Drilon told reporters it is "in the best interest of the country and of Senator Honasan as well, to come out and submit his deposition, so that the government would have no reason to decide the case" without hearing his side.
The government alleges the uprising was part of a larger, well-financed plot involving certain opposition personalities to unseat and possibly assassinate Arroyo, who would then be replaced by a 15-member junta.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Narciso Abaya yesterday declared Honasan a threat to national security. "The threat is his (being) part of the coup conspiracy," he told reporters.
Honasan had helped negotiate the surrender of the mutineers, and then delivered a privilege speech on the Senate floor on July 29 to deny government allegations he and his supporters played a key role in the mutiny.
On Monday, he gave a lengthy telephone interview to journalists, telling them: "I will have to be inaccessible until this situation is clarified."
Full story
President Arroyo said she personally preferred to have an independent fact-finding commission undertake the sole inquiry "for purposes of public focus," but she respects the decision of the two chambers of Congress to proceed with their own probes.
"It will also allow Senator Honasan three forums in which to air his side, the forums of his peers and the forum of the bench. I am for giving the people the full, unadulterated and unabridged story about this notorious misadventure, and I welcome all responsible efforts towards this end. The truth will prevail. Democracy will prevail," she added.
Like Honasan, the six other co-accused are all members of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc.
The main evidence against Honasan is the affidavit issued by Perfecto Ragil, a major of the Communication-Electronics and Information Systems Services at the Armed Forces of the Philippines detailed in Malacaņang, who was allegedly assigned to cut off the Palace's phone lines during the coup.
In his sworn statement, Ragil said Honasan was part of a meeting held sometime on June 4 in a house located in San Juan with some of the young military officers who staged the mutiny in Makati. (AFP/Sun.Star Network Exchange/With GAC)
(August 6, 2003 issue)
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