Saturday, October 11, 2008 Reyes 'shocked' over cases filed against him By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Archimedes Reyes, former chief-of-staff of Governor Eddie Panlilio, has expressed his "shock" over his inclusion to two separate complaints filed against the protesting dismissed members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas).
Reyes said he's wondering why he was included in the complaints despite the fact that he was not a member of the Balas sand monitoring team.
Panlilio and Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu filed the separate cases of libel, grave slander and oral defamation, alarms and scandals, and unjust vexation against the 41 former Capitol employees before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office naming Reyes and former social services officer Roperlee Syquia as principal respondents. Along with them are Balas boys' leaders Alex Pineda, Eduardo De Leon, Christopher Ramil Ocampo and Filologo Rodriguez.
The case stemmed from the protests actions and rally streamers in which Panlilio claimed that the Balas members clearly "maligned."
Though he did not deny his full support for the Balas protesters, Reyes clarified that he has not been speaking in the Balas picket.
"I support them (Balas), but I have not authored or dictated any of the things they have written in their tarpaulins. They (Panlilio and Dabu) are giving me too much credit," Reyes said.
Saddened by the move of Panlilio, Reyes blamed Dabu for his inclusion in the charges. "Clearly this is harassment and vindictiveness -- this is clearly a signature move of Dabu," he stressed.
While admitting that the complaints would provide the proper venue to settle some of the issues of Balas boys, he also criticized Panlilio for being "too sensitive."
"During his time, the governor, I'm sure, was one of the people who shouted on the streets for the ouster of Marcos during the Martial Law times calling him 'tuta' and 'imperyalista'," Reyes said.
He also asked why Panlilio has not "reprimanded" running priest Fr. Robert Reyes when the latter came to Pampanga and criticized President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice Governor Yeng Guaio. He said protesters in Manila even burn the effigy of the President.
"And now he files charges because it's his PA who's being hit? That's so selective," Reyes said. He added that he and the Balas members are now looking for lawyers who could stand to represent them in case of a formal trial.
