Loren. “Only those wearing blinders cannot see what the people know by now.”
***
Prove destab,
arrest
‘plotters,’ gov’t dared
Pimentel: ‘Blabbering’ by officials is irresponsible
BY JP LOPEZ
SENATE minority leader Aquilino
Pimentel yesterday challenged police and military
officials to arrest coup plotters to prove there is
really a serious attempt to overthrow the Arroyo
government.
Pimentel said the Armed Forces is
claiming the supposed new power grab attempt is serious
but could not present solid proof.
"If the destabilization plot is real,
they should pinpoint the personalities behind it and
apprehend them," he said.
A TEAM of journalists from ABS-CBN
yesterday asked the Supreme Court to issue a permanent
protective order enjoining government authorities from
charging and prosecuting them in connection with their
coverage of the November 29 standoff at the Manila
Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.
In a 33-page petition for the issuance
of the writ of amparo and prohibition, 11 employees of the
TV and radio network, led by broadcaster Ces Oreña-Drilon,
said they were left with no other recourse but invoke the
writ to prevent authorities from making threats of
warrantless arrests and harassment while journalists are
in the legal performance of their work.
Named respondents were Interior
Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez,
PNP chief Avelino Razon, Metro Manila police chief
Director Geary Barias, and Chief Supt. Asher Dolina, chief
of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection
Group-National Capital Region.
MALACAÑANG yesterday urged former President
Joseph Estrada to tell his allies, particularly Makati Mayor
Jejomar Binay, to "stop dividing" the country."
Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio
Apostol said the opposition should end its efforts to revive the
"Hello Garci" scandal as he said allegations that the Arroyo
camp cheated in 2004 have never been proven.
Apostol said Binay is raising the "Hello
Garci" issue to boost his presidential ambitions but reviving
the issue would neither help his political plans nor do good for
the country.
