Palace pursuing mutiny case vs Cardenas

Malacañang said yesterday government lawyers will still press the rebellion charges filed against former deputy executive secretary Ramon "Eki" Cardenas after the Makati City court granted his petition to post bail.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the government’s rebellion case against Cardenas remained strong even after the court allowed him temporary liberty on a non-bailable offense.

Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel allowed Cardenas to post bail Friday amounting to P360,000 but prohibited him from leaving the country without the permission of the court and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"The grant of bail to former deputy executive secretary Cardenas simply shows that the rule of law in our country remains supreme," Bunye said.

"And we have the processes such as the right to bail which was heard and to the investigators, it appeared that (former) secretary Cardenas was entitled to this so it was granted," he added.

Bunye, however, said the granting of bail to Cardenas was not a setback to the case.

Bunye said the trial against Cardenas will still continue on its merits. "This government adheres to the rule of law," he said.

Bunye, while refusing to comment on the reasons why Cardenas was allowed to post bail, said the evidence submitted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against the former Cabinet official was "technically flawed" and violated certain provisions on the arrest and search warrant.

Pimentel said the evidence presented by government prosecutors against Cardenas were not sufficient to overturn the right to bail even as the charge of rebellion is a non-bailable offense.

"Those details like the manner of arrest, perhaps the arresting team and the investigators should be the ones to explain these things," Bunye said.

Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño has said they cannot prevent Cardenas’ posting of bail.

Zuño, however, pointed out "there is nothing to prevent us from presenting evidence against him."

Cardenas is facing charges of rebellion for his alleged involvement in the July 27 mutiny by some 300 rebel soldiers at the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center in Makati’s central business district.

He was detained at the PNP Hospital in Camp Crame after complaining of heart problems following his arrest.

The government seized several backpacks, armbands, documents and other paraphernalia of the mutineers from the house supposed belonging to Cardenas in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City after the mutiny.

Cardenas, alleged to have hosted the meetings of the rebel soldiers, denied the charges and said the house was uninhabited and that he was staying at another house in the same village.