This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 4, February 27, 2006

Ka Bel, Capulong Walk Out of DOJ Inquest

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA

Posted 6:45 p.m. Feb. 27, 2006

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran and his lawyer, Justice Romeo Capulong, walked out of the inquest proceedings for a new charge of rebellion filed against Beltran at the conference room of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at noon today.

Public Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco of the Department of Justice (DOJ) told the media that Beltran, Magdalo leader 1Lt. Lawrence San Juan and 14 others are charged with rebellion for allegedly conspiring to topple the Macapagal-Arroyo government.

Capulong decided to walk out of the “farcical and scripted” inquest proceedings. He charged Velasco of acting under the orders of Malacañang, DOJ and the Philippine National Police (PNP). “You are making a mockery of the justice system,” Capulong told Velasco.

The veteran lawyer also found it absurd that he was being asked to prepare his defense on Beltran’s case with only 10 minutes to prepare. He also insisted that his client was illegally arrested and had been ordered released morning of Feb. 27 but continues to be illegally detained at the CIDG as of press time. He said nobody wanted to act on Beltran’s release because the CIDG had no plans of releasing him.  He said the case of rebellion against Beltran was fabricated. Bulatlat

© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.