Husbands framed up? Mercedita Valencia, with son Mark Orland, and Helen Perania.
1 of 5 soldiers freed Lawyer says guns planted
BY VICTOR REYES
THE military yesterday released one of five
former soldiers who were arrested Tuesday for illegal possession
of firearms and for alleged involvement in a plot to destabilize
the Arroyo administration.
Another of the five arrested was also cleared
by government prosecutors for lack of evidence but had not been
released as of press time, according to lawyer Trixie Angeles.
She declined to give a name.
Former Scout Ranger Sgt. Orlando Valencia
walked out of his detention cell at the Intelligence Service of
the AFP (Isafp) around 3:30 p.m. after government prosecutors
exonerated him of the gun raps filed against him by the police.
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday said 2007 was the
year of the Philippines’ economic turn around came about because
the business community did not support destabilization attempts
against her government.
Arroyo, in her speech at the 5th biennial
convention of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club Inc. at the
Manila Hotel, said 2007 was also the year where she made tough
choices to raise tax collections and run a tight budget.
She reiterated her goal to turn the
Philippines into a First World country in 20 years.
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday said a series of
high-level meetings will be held this month and in February to
"develop a blueprint or more aptly, a green print for the energy
future of our nation."
The energy summit is slated January 29 to
January 31 and February 5 to February 7.
The government is determined to push for the
use of biofuels and alternative energy sources to make the
country more energy independent, Arroyo told the 5th biennial
convention of Chinese-Filipino Business Club Inc. at the Manila
Hotel.
