Sunday, October 12, 2008 Guv to ex-chief aide: Prove innocence in court By Ian Ocampo Flora
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- "If he is saying that he was not involved in the protest, then he should prove it," said embattled Governor Eddie Panlilio to Archimedes Reyes, his former chief-of-staff.
Reyes earlier expressed "shock" over his inclusion in the two separate cases that Panlilio and Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu filed against the dismissed members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) quarry monitoring task force.
In an interview with Panlilio Friday, he said it was his personal decision and upon the advice of his legal counsels to include Reyes in the complaints because of the latter's participation in the Balas boys' protests.
To recall, Panlilio and Dabu filed 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.
But Reyes said he was not speaking in protest rallies or even participated in the conceptualization of posters and banners, which Panlilio earlier branded as "unfair, below the belt and malicious."
Reyes resigned from his Capitol post after disagreement with Dabu over certain administrative and personal issues. He then expressed his sympathy and support for the Balas boys and even gave statements calling for Dabu's resignation.
Panlilio meanwhile said that Reyes was among those identified in the Balas rallies against him and Dabu.
"As far as we know, he is part of the people who have been rallying," he said.
The priest-turned-governor also defended himself from the comments of Reyes who earlier said he had also joined rallies against Marcos and also resorted to similar moves being done by the Balas boys today.
"During our time, we were rallying but we respect the rule of law. We do not disturb the right of other people to work in peace," Panlilio said.
Panlilio added that his decision to sue the Balas boys was a result of the many failed attempts to clarify and solve issues at the Capitol.
He said that as much as he respects the decision of the Balas boys to rally against him, Reyes and the protesters should also respect his right to seek justice in court.
