|
Monday, October 03, 2005
Justice chief probes 'plot to kill Arroyo'
MANILA -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into allegations that Senate President Franklin Drilon and former President Corazon Aquino are "mounting an assassination plot against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo."
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago earlier said the assassination of Arroyo would be done if she still does not heed calls for her to resign or if she is not ousted through a military takeover or a coup d' etat before the end of October.
In a memorandum dated October 2, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. told NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco to "spare no one regardless of political stature" in the investigation on the plot to kill the President.
"You are hereby directed to immediately conduct an investigation on the reported plot to assassinate/physically remove President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by October 15, 2005 or soon thereafter based on the allegations of no less than Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago as reported on the newspapers," Gonzalez said in the order.
The justice secretary did not give the NBI a specific deadline for the investigation.
Santiago said she learned of the plot from a relative of Drilon, and she interpreted it to mean as an attempt to assassinate the President.
"Of course, 'physical removal' refers to assassination. Hence, I told President Arroyo that she should beef up her security measures," Santiago said.
Despite the assassination plot against her, President Arroyo joined her "neighbors" Sunday morning in celebrating the feast day of Saint Michael the Archangel Sunday morning.
Arroyo, together with presidential daughter Lourdes Evangelina (Luli), attended the "open" mass for the residents of Barangays 641, 642, 643, 644, 645 and 646 that was held at Aguado Street.
The President knocked on some of the houses in Aguado to greet residents after the mass, which was officiated by Reverend Father Benigno Benabarre.
Priscilla Asuncion, chairwoman of Barangay 643, said Arroyo is the first president to join the residents in celebrating their fiesta. She said the President also attended their celebration last year.
Ricardo Saludo, Cabinet secretary, said the supposed threats against the President will not affect or stop her from fulfilling her mandate.
"The President will not be affected, she will not be disturbed. She will continue to perform her duties. The President did not violate any provision in the 1987 Constitution," Saludo said.
He said that while he believes that the people would no longer join rallies and anti-administration moves--from street protests to alleged legislative inquiries that Malacañang earlier dubbed as "in aid of destabilization and in aid of impeachment", he is nevertheless calling on them not to be influenced or affected by reports and attempts to bring the President down.
He said the people have had enough of rallies and destabilization moves, adding he believes that the allegations and threats against the President would lead to nowhere. (ECV/JMR/Sunnex)
(October 3, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
