|
Monday, November 20, 2006
Official says arrest of former senator not a set-up
MANILA -- Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo on Sunday challenged Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. to prove his allegations that the arrest of former senator Gregorio Honasan was a set-up, with the reward money for the arrest being reverted back to the government.
Saludo said Pimentel should prove his allegations instead of raising mere assertions. He added that government should no longer comment on such allegations lest it becomes bigger.
Sun.Star Network Online round-by-round coverage of the Pacquiao-Morales Sunday fight here
"Senator Pimentel must be asked by the media to show proof of his allegation. I think we don't have to react on claims given without any shred of evidence being presented," he said.
Reports quoted Pimentel as raising suspicions that the arrest of Honasan last Wednesday, when he tried to escape and ended up hurting himself, was all a set-up with the P5-million reward for the arrest of the former soldier given to those in government.
The senator had said that Honasan already sent surrender feelers. Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza admitted to receiving the information.
Mendoza, however, opted to withhold everything until the surrender is finalized. He said everything was still at the "exploratory stage" when the former senator was arrested.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that had he or anyone from Malacañang known of the surrender feelers, Honasan might not have been injured.
Ermita said they are also not certain if the surrender feelers were true or merely being floated, along with other reports like the former senator's supposed plans to turn himself in before Christmas to prepare for the senatorial elections in May 2007, which his camp had claimed. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (November 20, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Pacquiao ends trilogy with Round 3 knockout