Trillanes says he has witnesses to back his allegation against the government over the Glorietta 2 blast

By Ronron
October 25, 2007

Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday he has witnesses to prove that his allegations against the government as being responsible for the blast at the Glorietta 2 mall in Makati City last Friday is true.

In an interview with reporters at the Makati City court where he attended a hearing for his coup d’ etat case over the 2003 Oakwood mutiny incident, Trillanes said his camp is currently debriefing a member of the Special Operations Team of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that has allegedly been responsible for the series of past incidents perpetrated by the government, including the October 19 explosion at Glorietta, only to ensure the survival of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I am standing by my allegations… We are debriefing a member of the Special Operations Team of Secretary Gonzales about past operations and he has sensitive information,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes would not say yet how his camp got in touch with said person except that he allegedly came out because he “fears for his life.”

“We have checked out the information that he gave, his background and his motivation,” the Senator said, adding that the witness is no longer connected at present to Gonzales.

Aside from the said person, Trillanes said they are currently facilitating the turning in of some other informants as co-witnesses of the former since their statements corroborate each other.

His witnesses, according to the neophyte lawmaker, would testify in general terms that “the leadership is responsible” for some incidents in the past, and that Friday’s incident in Glorietta is “not the first time the government is involved in a cover-up” just “to ensure the survival” of Arroyo.

“The PNP (Philippine National Police) is selling to the public the theory that the cause of the explosion is the pozo negro (septic tank). We can’t possible accept that. That is being debunked by experts. So this is not the first time that the PNP is involved is involved in a cover up,” Trillanes said.

He recalled that the PNP initially announced that the cause of the Superferry 14 incident in February 2004 was an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) explosion, when in fact, the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) owned up to the incident.

“Eight months later, they retracted and said it was an act of terrorism,” Trillanes said.

Recently, he said the government continues to do the same for the “Hello Garci” issue, the controversial ZTE deal, and the bribery issue.

“They have mastered the art,” Trillanes said of the government, adding that that is why he refused to cooperate with the PNP when some investigators went to his detention cell in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last Saturday to get his formal statement.

Trillanes was criticized by some officials for accusing Gonzales and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. as being responsible for the blast. The allegation was made hours after the explosion happened at 1:30 pm.

“They are asking for basis? Now, I am giving you basis,” the Senator said yesterday.

However, when asked what did his witness say as to the cause of the blast, Trillanes only said: “We are processing the information.”

Pressed if the witness mentioned the use of bomb, he said: “Definitely, they have done that.”

But he refused to elaborate, saying that he intends to present his witness to a Senate investigation the he has asked for.

“I appeal to whoever would be the Chairman of the Committee that will handle this to schedule a hearing right away,” Trillanes said.

But even before the witness could show up at the Senate probe, Trillanes said he is already inviting Senators Gregorio Honasan and Francisco Pangilinan to talk his witness at an undisclosed safe house so they will be convinced that he really has basis in accusing Gonzales and Esperon.

“I do think before I talk,” Trillanes said, apparently responding to criticisms against him. “I was elected to tell the truth. I am not here to play games.”

He said he is also willing to present his witness to an independent investigating body.

Meanwhile, former Army Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim was not able to attend yesterday’s hearing at the sala of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 where he was supposed to testify for the accused Magdalo soldiers.

Atty. Vicente Verdadero told Presiding Judge Oscar Pimentel that the subpoena for Lim arrived late Wednesday afternoon, thus the lack of time to prepare for his appearance yesterday.

“Actually, I advised him not to come because we were not yet told what he will testify on. But he said he is willing to come to testify, to tell the truth about what happened. So, maybe, next time, he could come,” Verdadero said.

Defense lawyer Rene Saguisag, who moved for Lim’s appearance, said the military officer, who is himself being tried before a military tribunal for his alleged participation in the alleged February 2006 coup plot, will testify that indeed, there was an agreement on the night of July 27, 2003 that the mutineers will stand down with the assurance that only five will be prosecuted, while the rest will only be admonished or reprimanded.

Saguisag said Lim was then part of the negotiators, along with Ambassador Roy Cimatu.

Lim, who was supposed to be the first witness of the defense, is expected to take the witness stand on November 15.

Aside from Trillanes, 13 other accused attended yesterday’s hearing. The 17 other accused opted not to attend./DMS