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Thursday, August 28, 2003
Gringo surfaces, questions probe
MANILA -- Opposition lawmaker Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan came out of hiding Wednesday to appear before justice officials, saying he was prepared to prove his innocence in court.
The senator said he went into hiding two days after the July 27 mutiny because he had been "under duress" with the government threatening to have him arrested for his alleged participation in the plot.
"We will prove them wrong at the right time and at the right court," Honasan told reporters after filing a deposition at the justice department answering allegations against him.
Honasan also questioned the jurisdiction of the justice department to investigate and prosecute the rebellion charge filed against him.
"Being a senator of the republic and a public officer, it is the Office of the Ombudsman that has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute this complaint," Honasan's lawyer pointed out in a motion submitted to the justice department Wednesday.
Asked why he finally surfaced, Honasan said: "Because of the public's clamor and my colleagues urging for me to face this."
Honasan arrived at the justice department accompanied by Senators Vicente Sotto III and Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr.
Pimentel said he accompanied Honasan because he wanted to ensure that his colleague would be accorded due process.
Not involved
Honasan denied he participated in a clandestine meeting with military junior officers who later led more than 300 soldiers in taking over a portion of Manila's Makati financial district last month.
He said he no longer espoused violence to effect change in leadership.
The mutiny ended 22 hours after failing to gain public sympathy, and nearly all its leaders have been detained.
Government contends that the mutiny was part of a larger plot to assassinate Arroyo and replace her with a 15-man junta to be led by Honasan.
The government has asked state prosecutors to indict Honasan for rebellion, and the senator was given until Wednesday to answer the government complaint.
The state prosecutor would then determine whether there is sufficient basis to file charges against him in court.
Honasan, a former army colonel who led several coup attempts in the 1980s, would be "accorded due process that are currently enforced," Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Wednesday.
"I do not think there is room for an arrest at this time," Bunye told reporters.
Fair chance
Alerted to Honasan's arrival, a small group of journalists had gathered at the justice department compound in Padre Faura in Manila as early as Wednesday noon.
Appearing before government prosecutors, Honasan said he showed up to manifest his "willingness to submit to the system and be allowed the opportunity to answer the charges."
A few minutes before Honasan showed up, his lawyer Daniel Gutierrez refused to say if the senator would be present during the hearing.
He said he continues to have "faith" and urged everyone to "maintain sobriety."
The senator later told reporters he was willing to face government's witnesses in the rebellion raps filed against him, adding he just wanted a "fair chance".
The military on Tuesday released 30 junior officers implicated in the mutiny after it was established they were tricked into joining the rebellion. Another 326 remain in detention and are facing court martial. (AFP)/Benjamin B. Pulta
(August 28, 2003 issue)
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