Six militant solons mull counter-charges against government prosecutors, policemen

By Ronron
June 2, 2007

Following their vindication from no less than the Supreme Court, six militant congressmen charged earlier by the government with rebellion plan to file counter-charges against prosecutors and policemen who arrested one of them.

Atty. Romeo Capulong, lawyer of party-list Congressmen Crispin Beltran, Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Joel Virador, Teodoro Casiño and Rafael Mariano, said Saturday that once Beltran is released from police custody, they will file administrative and criminal charges against government prosecutors who pushed the rebellion charge, and against policemen who arrested and detained Beltran.

“We have a lot of counter-charges in mind. And we will file them against many PNP (Philippine National Police) officers who were involved in the unlawful arrest of Rep. Beltran, and public prosecutors who, according to the Supreme Court, allowed themselves to be used for political objectives,” Capulong told Manila Shimbun in Filipino in a phone interview yesterday.

Asked if they will include Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Capulong said: “It’s likely that the Justice Secretary will be included.”

Among the charges they will file are violation of a Revised Penal Code (RPC) provision that prohibits “incriminatory machination,” and the violation of the law regarding a lawmaker’s immunity from arrest.

Capulong said the charges will be brought before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Separate civil cases for damages, especially for Beltran, will also be forwarded before the courts.

But Capulong stressed that all these plans will be worked out only after Beltran is released from detention.

He said they plan to ask the Supreme Court, probably on Monday, to immediately order the release of Beltran. This after learning yesterday about the government’s plan to file a motion for reconsideration on the SC ruling.

On Friday, the High Tribunal ordered a lower court to dismiss the rebellion charge against the six solons due to insufficient evidence.

The suit stemmed from the solon’s activities in February 2006 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a national state of emergency due to alleged plans to overthrow the government.

“We will give priority to working out for the release of Cong. Beltran because the government just announced this afternoon that it will file a Motion for Reconsideration to the Supremce Court. So their plan is to delay the implementation of the SC ruling,” Capulong said./DMS