Cops at DOJ scare off Gringo

Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, who earlier told Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. that he was willing to give up if assured of due process, failed to appear before authorities yesterday.

The re-electionist senator reportedly backed out because of the conspicuous presence of a police contingent apparently awaiting his arrival at the Department of Justice (DOJ) building on Padre Faura street in Ermita, Manila.

Honasan’s lawyer Daniel Gutierrez had been negotiating for a possible surrender under the custody of Pimentel. He said details were still being "fine-tuned" but the DOJ said it won’t accept any conditions.

Both the DOJ and Gutierrez had said Honasan was likely to surface at the DOJ yesterday. Security was tightened in anticipation of Honasan’s appearance.

In a press statement, Honasan said he wants assurances that he would not be arrested without a warrant and that any case filed against him should be "processed according to law."

"With due respect to Se-nate President Pimentel, whom I regard so much, I am willing to face squarely my detractors and disprove their accusations only under just and fair conditions," he said. "I am not about to yield my political judgment to the administration."

Pimentel did not say when Honasan would surface, noting that the senator would probably turn himself in the moment authorities clarify how they intend to deal with him.

"He feels that as senator, he is entitled to due process, including the right to preliminary investigation and to be free from any warrantless arrest," Pimentel said.

President Arroyo disclosed yesterday that Honasan has also sent "surrender" feelers to Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid, who has been designated as emissary between the government and urban poor groups.

The President declined to give details, saying only that she welcomes any offer by Honasan to appear in court and face the charges filed against him.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the opposition coalition said Honasan and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Panfilo "Ping" Lacson will attend a grand miting de avance of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Puwersa ng Masa tomorrow night as the senatorial candidates wrap up their Metro Manila campaign.

Joseph Sy of PnM said the attendance of the two candidates was confirmed by Makati Rep. Agapito "Butz" Aquino, secretary general of LDP.

"This is the last campaign sortie and it will be televised nationally. We are confident authorities will not arrest Gringo and Ping," Sy said.

The senatorial ticket of the opposition coalition will be holding the grand rally tomorrow at a vacant lot near the Atomic Energy Commission on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Honasan and Lacson are among allies of jailed former President Joseph Estrada linked by government officials to an alleged plan to topple President Arroyo.

Lacson rejected yesterday an appeal by Justice Secretary Hernando Perez for his surrender, saying charges against him have yet to be filed.

"First of all, the word ‘surrender’ is a misnomer because there are no charges," Lacson said in a radio interview. "My lawyer went to the PNP and the DOJ to get a copy of the evidence but nothing was given so this order to arrest without warrant is capricious."

Lacson’s lawyers have questioned the legality of the warrantless arrest before the Supreme Court.

Earlier in the day, Perez appealed to Lacson to turn himself in, amid reports that Honasan would surrender.

"If anybody is listening in the camp of General Lacson, I think it is better that he negotiates with me so that I can assure his rights are protected," Perez said.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, for his part, said he was willing to take Lacson into his custody if the former PNP chief decides to surrender.

Five witnesses to testify vs Honasan

The DOJ said yesterday the police have in custody five witnesses who can testify against Honasan in connection with the rebellion charges.

"Three of them are from the PNP. Most of them are already under the witness protection program so we cannot give their identities," Perez told reporters in a press conference.

The DOJ chief said that once Honasan shows up, inquest proceedings will immediately be conducted by state prosecutors and charges will later be filed in court.

Perez refused to reveal the contents of the witnesses’ affidavits, saying he doesn’t want to pre-empt Honasan’s inquest. – With reports from Teddy Molina