Ong may be arrested on Tuesday, says official

By Ronron
June 12, 2005

The government is securing a warrant of arrest for former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) official Atty. Samuel Ong when office opens on Tuesday on the ground that he is in possession of a material that contains an alleged wire-tapped conversation.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told reporters after the 107th Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Qurino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila City Sunday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will serve as the complainant against Ong, who made headlines last Friday when he claimed to be holding the “mother of all tapes” that allegedly contains a taped conversation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, plotting to manipulate the results of the 2004 Presidential elections to favor Arroyo.

“Our legal counsels said that Ong’s admission of having in his possession that tape which is allegedly based on wire-tapped conversation is, according to law, violative of the provision of Republic Act 4200 (Anti-Wire Tapping Law),” Ermita said in Filipino. The offense is punishable by imprisonment of up to six years.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales made a separate pronouncement that Ong could also be charged for inciting to sedition, a non-bailable offense.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Dir. Gen. Arturo Lomibao, in a radio interview yesterday, said the police will be prepared to serve peacefully the arrest warrant to Ong when it comes out, even if it is within the premises of the church.

Government offices will only be open on Tuesday since Malacañang declared today as special non-working holiday to allow Filipinos to spend more time with their families in post-celebrations of the Independence Day.

“I told (Manila Arcbhishop Gaudencio Rosales during our meeting Saturday) that as long as there is no warrant of arrest, we will not arrest (Ong). And if ever it comes out, we will talk to the (church authorities of San Carlos Seminary),” Lomibao said in Filipino.

Ong, a former Deputy Director for Intelligence of the NBI, has been seeking sanctuary at the San Carlos Seminary along EDSA in Guadalupe, Makati City since Friday after making his expose in a press conference.

During their meeting, Rosales accordingly explained to Lomibao that allowing Ong to stay within the premises of the religious establishment does not mean that the church is tolerating Ong’s acts. “What I understand is that just like any lay man who goes to facilities or establishment of the church, Ong could not just be driven away by the church,” Lomibao said, quoting Rosales.

The top PNP official had called on Ong late Friday evening to surrender himself to authorities as this would imply a “lesser guilt of the violation” he committed. The effort of the PNP team, headed by PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, to negotiate for Ong to turn himself in that night went unsuccessful.

Ermita refused to admit that the Office of the President is “courting” the church for the release of Ong to authorities, but instead claimed that they are just talking to church officials to strengthen the relationship of the State and the Church, banking on the fact that “we are a very highly religious people” and that “we are all Catholics.”

As a sign of respect to the constitutionally mandated separation of the Church and the State, Ermita said the government is willing to await the arrest warrant for Ong and respect, for the meantime, the latter’s right to seek sanctuary in the church.

“We are both waiting for the legal procedures (to set in),” Ermita said of the church and the government, referring to the release of the search and arrest warrants.

As of yesterday, Lomibao said there is still no case or formal complaint against Ong.

Both Ermita and Lomibao believe Ong is still inside San Carlos Seminary as of yesterday as they have not yet received a report otherwise.

Yesterday, police took custody of a white Mitsubishi Lancer found inside the San Carlos Seminary compound, containing an M16 rifle. It was discovered Saturday, believed to be abandoned by around five men who were driven away on Friday night after refusing to identify themselves.

Lomibao said there are about 50 to 100 policemen stationed yesterday outside San Carlos Seminary to secure the place and watch out for the traffic./DMS