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Thursday, March 16, 2006
8 militant leaders to sue 2 probe personnel
By Nelson C. Bagaforo, Ben O. Tesiorna, and Barbara Carla R. Quiero
DAVAO CITY -- Eight militant leaders in Davao City Wednesday said they are planning to file charges against two Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) personnel who accused them of conspiring with Bayan Muna Representative Joel Virador to topple down the Arroyo administration.
The two CIDG personnel, identified as Chief Inspector Rey Rodriguez and police officer Franco S. Duca, executed an affidavit and linked the eight militant leaders to the rebellion and inciting to sedition charges filed against Virador.
The same affidavit was submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday.
"It's now up to DOJ if it will include the eight in the Virador case or file separate charges against them. Let's just wait for the decision of DOJ," Carlos Isagani Zarate, one of the lawyers of the group, told Sun.Star Davao Wednesday.
But this early, the eight expressed indignation and vowed to file counter-charges against the two CIDG men for linking them to attempts to topple down the Arroyo government.
"We are entertaining the possibility of filing charges, criminal and administrative, against these CIDG officers who maliciously (executed the affidavit, which maybe used as basis for the filing) of rebellion cases against these eight people," Davao City Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad, also one of the lawyers representing the group, said in a press conference at the Garden Oases Wednesday.
"Their accusations against us (as contained in the affidavit) are all lies," said Bayan secretary general Ariel Casilao.
He disclosed that he received a call Monday night from Virador who said that local leaders, including Casilao, are among several persons to be charged with conspiracy to commit rebellion.
He enumerated the other leaders in the list as Luz Ilagan of Gabriela, Jeppie Ramada of Bayan Muna, Omar Bantayan of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Tonying Flores of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Editha Duterte of Kadamay, Cora Espinosa of Samakana, and Lorie Ann Cascaro of AnakBayan youth sector.
Seven of the militant leaders were present during the press conference Wednesday. Only Cascaro was not around.
Trinidad said they are still waiting for the formal notice to be sent by DOJ and they will answer it accordingly.
"We are now preparing our response on the basis of the affidavit that we already received through fax," Trinidad said.
But Pante said Tuesday they have nothing to do with the so-called list of militant leaders that was submitted to the DOJ.
"Walang listahan. Siguro it's a disinformation campaign sa text," Pante said in a separate interview.
According to him, they are not even monitoring the activities of the militant groups.
Trinidad said there is a possibility that the affidavit was executed without the instruction of Pante.
"But the affidavit complaint states that it was through the verbal instruction of their chief," Trinidad said.
Also, Casilao said, "Superintendent Pante cannot deny or say he has no knowledge of our case, where in fact the two CIDG personnel who executed the affidavit are under his office. It's definitely with Colonel Pante's full knowledge and authorization."
Trinidad said the accusations against her clients are baseless.
"The elements of rebellion are not even present, unless they mean that public uprising with armed component is present in that rally which I think they could not prove, because there was none," she said.
Casilao said the affidavit, which Trinidad described as "very poorly written", allegedly contains the statements of the two CIDG personnel who claimed that last February 24, Virador, along with the accused, conducted a march protest calling for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
"Sa ilang report kuno, sa ilahang pag surveillance sa kani nga activity, na note nila na rebelious daw kuno, ing-ana ka vague. Tinuod na mao na among gihimo, we marched, we had our program in Centennial Park and we discussed issues and of course we called for the resignation of Gloria. Mao ni ang gigamit nila sa pag-file nila aning rebellion," Casilao said.
He said the basis for filing of rebellion charges against them shows "malice" on the part the Arroyo government.
"All the accusations against us are just fabricated stories and is a product of a malicious mind intended to harass those who are vocal against anti-people policies, graft and corruption cases, and grave records of human rights violation of the Arroyo government," he said.
Ilagan said the people should not be prohibited from expressing their sentiments against the government.
Casilao said they have yet to decide when to file the counter-charges, but added they will do it when they have all the needed documents.
He added the possibility of them being arrested without a warrant is still imminent.
But the eight local militant leaders are ready to resist any arrest that will be done without a warrant.
"We will peacefully surrender if may (with) warrant but we will resist if it's warrantless but not to the extent na magpapakamatay kami (that we will die resisting). But we will still demand a warrant and that they follow the SOP's of conducting a warrantless arrest," Casilao said.
He said at the moment, they are just waiting to be given a copy of the formal complaint, which he said was filed by the two CIDG personnel.
"Once we receive the formal charges then we will file our counter-affidavits," Casilao said.
Casilao said they already talked with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte about the matter and the city chief executive promised that he would help in the best way he could. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(March 16, 2006 issue)
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