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By Sam Mediavilla,
Reporter
MALACAÑANG will
do all available legal means to pursue the rebellion charges against
Anakpawis party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran and five other party-list
representatives, the President’s Spokesman and Press Secretary
Ignacio Bunye said Sunday.
Bunye said the
first step is a motion for reconsideration to be filed by Solicitor
General Agnes Devanadera questioning the Supreme Court (SC) decision
voiding the charges slapped against Beltran, Bayan Muna party-list
Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Joel Virador,
Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and Rafael Mariano, also of Anakpawis.
The SC second
division on Friday ruled that government prosecutors
“trivialized” the preliminary investigation on the rebellion
charges when they insisted on filing cases in court despite the
absence of probable cause against the lawmakers.
The six
party-list representatives, collectively known as the Batasan 6, and
four civilians have been charged with rebellion charges before a
Makati City Trial Court in connection with the alleged conspiracy to
topple the administration of President Arroyo on February 24, 2006.
He insisted that,
“while we will respect and fully abide by the Supreme Court’s
final ruling, and are committed to maintaining the integrity of
criminal prosecutions in general and preliminary investigations in
particular, it is well within the rights of the Solicitor General as
the statutory counsel of the national government to file this Motion
for Reconsideration.”
After winning
their case in the SC, Beltran and other members of the “Batasan
6” group have said they were mulling the filing of charges against
the Arroyo administration for their illegal arrest and prosecution.
The cases will be filed against those who ordered the arrest of the
legislators and the public prosecutors who allegedly allowed
themselves to be used by government officials who wanted to curtail
their rights.
Secretary Sergio
Apostol, presidential legal counsel, claimed existing laws exempt
the government from being hauled to court by defendants or
respondents in a rebellion case.
“The case is
filed in court, there is no bail recommended, this is not just an
ordinary case. There is no law allowing the government to be sued if
the complainant/plaintiff is facing a rebellion case,” Apostol
said.
He explained that
government enjoys exemption from prosecution because “the
government is just doing its functions against the threat of
rebellion, which is a very complicated case. You cannot just sue the
government for protecting the people and the state.”
On the other
hand, National Security Adviser (NSA) Norberto Gonzales said also on
Sunday that he is not bothered by the threat of a legal battle
challenged by the Batasan 6.
“I will wait
for that [charges from Batasan 6]. It’s not a problem for me. I
cannot do anything right now but wait for that. It seems they are
really intent on suing me and Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez,”
Gonzales said in a phone interview with Mala-cañang reporters.
Gonzales insisted
the lawmakers lied when they claimed in court that they were not
engaged in rebellious activities.
He likewise
expressed fears that the high tribunal’s vindication of the
lawmakers could set a dangerous precedent for those who want to sow
terror in the country.
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