JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday said police have custody of a close-circuit television footage of the Manila Peninsula hotel, which could serve as evidence against a female reporter who allegedly helped Marines Capt. Nicanor Faeldon escape during the standoff last November 29.

Gonzalez said he has received information about the reporter caught on the hotel’s security camera allegedly distracting the police operatives to buy Faeldon time to flee.

The police operatives were then set to arrest Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who led the standoff, other leaders of the Magdalo group that staged the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, and civilian leaders who holed out at the hotel calling for President Arroyo’s ouster.

Trillanes’ group marched to the hotel after walking out of a Makati court hearing their coup d’état case.

"Personally I have no doubt that some media people are sympathetic to those (soldiers). Magagalit lang sila kung sasabihin mo yan, pero they should search their own minds. Some people in the media knew it (walkout) ahead of the military and police and myself na mayroong mangyayari doon," he said.

Gonzalez said the video clip was so far the strongest evidence which the authorities have against the lady reporter.

He said he wanted to disclose the identity of the reporter but some people in the Cabinet told him not to as it might only widen the rift between the media and the government.

He said the police are also still trying to determine if there are other accomplices.

"If the reporters allowed themselves to be used as a cover for the rebels, they could be charged with obstruction of justice or as accessory to rebellion. Obstruction of justice is a serious offense. (US) President (Richard) Nixon was forced to resign because of that," he said.

About 50 media practitioners covering the standoff were arrested by the police after Trillanes’ group surrendered.

The media men are readying a class suit against PNP chief Avelino Razon and other police officials.

"This case is for the violation of the rights of the press committed when they were arbitrarily arrested without being informed of their rights. The arbitrary arrests were a violation of our constitutionally mandated rights as prescribed by the Constitution," said lawyer Rommel Bagares of the Roque, Botuyan Law Office.

Authorities have said the arrest was done to identify legitimate media practitioners from members of the Magdalo group who they alleged posed as media men to evade arrest.

Also to be included in the charge sheet were are Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office; Director Luizo Ticman, chief of the Southern Police District, and PNP-Special Action Force commander Leocadio Santiago.

The case will be filed next week before the Makati regional trial court.

Bagares said a meeting will be held on Monday to finalize the details of the suit. – Evangeline de Vera and Ashzel Hachero