This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 12, May 4, 2006
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 © 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.