Makati
Court Junks DOJ Charges vs Batasan 5, Others
BY
AUBREY MAKILAN
Posted 8:40 p.m. May
4,
2006
A Makati court
junked May 4 the amended information that charged the so-called Batasan
5, former Senator Gregorio Honasan, and 40 others with rebellion.
In a 20-page
resolution, Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 137 Judge Jenny Lind
Aldecoa-Delorino ruled in favor of the defense lawyers’ motion to strike
out the amended information.
The amended
information was filed by the Department of Justice prosecutors on April
24 asking the court to issue warrants of arrest for the accused. It
traced a protracted chain of events since the founding of the Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP) in 1968 up to 2006. It charged 46 people
with rebellion.
Respondents in the
amended information included party-lists representatives Satur Ocampo,
Teodoro Casiño and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna (People First), Rafael
Mariano of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), and Liza Maza of Gabriela,
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) chair Jose Ma. Sison, CPP
spokesperson Gregorio Rosal and several other alleged CPP officials,
former senator Gregorio Honasan and Magdalo officers Second Lieutenant
Aldrin Baldonado, First Lieutenants Angelbert Gay and Patricio Bumidang.
With the junking of
the amended information, the rebellion case will be based on the
original information. The original information filed against Anakpawis
Representative Crispin Beltran and First Lieutenant Lawrence San Juan
cited a supposed tactical alliance between communist guerillas and
military soldiers last February. The alleged crime of rebellion was
rooted in the failed February 24 coup d’etat.
Because of the
court decision, Ocampo said they are somehow vindicated and have the
“moral high ground” now.
Despite this,
Virador said they will continue the fight against political repression.
Meanwhile, the
Batasan 5 decided to consult with their lawyers first before leaving the
House of Representatives where they have been under protective custody
for 67 days now. Bulatlat
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