MANILA, 18 March 2006 — Police yesterday arrested an ally-turned-critic of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for illegal assembly as the crackdown on the president's foes continued two weeks after she lifted the state of emergency she imposed on the country to quell an alleged coup attempt.
Two suspected followers of former Sen. Gregorio Honasan, wanted for his alleged role in last month’s thwarted coup, were also arrested, officials said.
Former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman was taken to a police station along with activist Vicente Romano as the two were leading a silent protest at Manila’s popular Baywalk promenade. The two were with about 30 people wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan “Oust Now,” apparently calling for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to resign.
Police said they were arrested for holding a rally without a permit.
“We are not holding a rally, we are just strolling. We are not disturbing anyone, we don’t even have placards,” said Soliman, one of 10 key Arroyo officials who resigned their positions in mid-2005 at the height of a crisis sparked by allegations that Arroyo cheated in the May 2004 elections.
Metro Manila police chief Vidal Querol an illegal assembly complaint would be filed against Soliman and Romano.
Separately, police arrested Ricardo Pauso and Melchor Lobete, both members of a civilian-military fraternity known as the Guardians Brotherhood Inc., yesterday in Bulacan province, north of Manila, Querol said. Police reportedly seized several high-powered weapons, including rifle grenades, from the men.
Honasan, accused by the government of playing a role in last month’s thwarted coup, is a faction leader of the Guardians.
“We are checking if they are followers of ex-Senator Honasan because the Guardians have mutated into several factions,” Querol said. “They are not giving a definitive statement.”
Querol said the men were carrying Guardian membership cards and apparently spurious cards identifying them as military intelligence agents.
Not Surrendering
A lawyer yesterday said Honasan had written him to say that he will not surrender unless his safety is assured.
Oliver Lozano, a lawyer for former first lady Imelda Marcos, distributed a letter, signed “Gringo,” that he said he found on the doorstep of his house yesterday morning.
“As soon as my security group shall have determined that the danger to my life is over, we will go to see (Justice) Secretary Raul Gonzalez personally,” said the letter.
In the letter, which Lozano said he believed to be genuine, Honasan denied any role in the alleged plot, describing the government’s case against him as “character assassination in gross violation of due process.”
Prosecutors want to question Honasan, hailed as a hero of the “people power” uprising that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, over an alleged conspiracy to overthrow Arroyo by rogue troops, political foes and communists.
Honasan has been in hiding since Feb. 23, the eve of planned protests by leftist activists against Arroyo that the government has said were to be used by some soldiers to withdraw support for the president and spark an uprising against her.
He has since been charged in a mutiny by about 300 junior officers and personnel from elite military units in July 2003.
On Thursday, the government offered a bounty of 5 million pesos ($98,000) for Honasan’s arrest and 3 million pesos for four retired soldiers and two civilians linked to the mutiny.
Human Right Case
Human rights activists yesterday said they had filed complaints with the United Nations to seek help in freeing the leftist lawmaker Crispin Beltran and investigating abuses by Arroyo’s government.
Beltran has been detained on rebellion charges since Feb. 25 when Arroyo placed the country under a state of emergency, allowing police to arrest her foes and anyone perceived to be plotting to overthrow the government.
Three commanders of elite units were removed, five other leftist lawmakers have taken refuge in Congress to escape warrantless arrests, a pro-opposition newspaper was raided by police, five journalists have been threatened with arrest, and two television stations were monitored by soldiers.
One member of the elite Scout Rangers regiment also faces rebellion charges.
Neri Javier Colmenares, a lawyer and spokesman for the Council for Defense of Liberties, called Beltran’s detention “unjust and illegal.” He appealed to international rights watchdogs to send a special rapporteur to Manila. (With reports from Agencies)
