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Saturday, June 02, 2007
SC throws out rebellion case against 6 lawmakers
MANILA -- The Philippine Supreme Court threw out rebellion charges against six left-wing opposition lawmakers and four activists on Friday, warning the justice secretary and government prosecutors against using their powers for political ends.
Ruling on separate petitions by the lawmakers and the activists to block the case filed by the Department of Justice against them last year, the tribunal ordered a trial court to dismiss the charges.
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In a warning, the Supreme Court said "prosecutors should not allow, and should avoid, giving the impression that their noble office is being used or prostituted, wittingly or unwittingly, for political ends or other purposes."
The court said prosecutors working under Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez lacked evidence to support the rebellion charges, but went ahead anyway with improper inquest procedures and preliminary investigations that were "tainted with irregularities."
The court said the faulty proceedings amounted to "obvious involvement of political considerations" in the case against the six legislators--Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, Joel Virador, Rafael Mariano, and Liza Maza.
The rebellion case stemmed from government claims that the lawmakers were involved in an alleged February 2006 plot to overthrow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
One of the legislators, Crispin Beltran, was arrested shortly after Arroyo declared a state of emergency over the alleged coup attempt. He is now being detained in a hospital due to a heart ailment.
The five others sought refuge inside the House of Representatives, where they stayed for over two months until the Supreme Court issued an order freezing trial proceedings until their petitions were resolved.
"We are vindicated. This is a triumph of truth and justice over the Arroyo governments invented and unfair charge against duly-elected people's representatives," Ocampo said in a statement.
Justice Secretary Gonzalez said it was "useless" to comment on the court's decision.
"It's just a waste of time," he told The Associated Press, adding, "What I am just complaining about is when they say we used politics for this thing...you never can say where politics starts or where it ends."
The president's office did not make any immediate comments. (AP)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (June 2, 2007 issue)
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