Abat to lead indignation march to Palace

Invoking the blood of his late son, former defense secretary and retired general Fortunato Abat vowed to lead an indignation march to Malacañang tomorrow to demand the resignation of President Arroyo.

Abat led the leaders of the Coalition for National Solidarity (CNS) announcing the "Solidarity March" to press for a change in national leadership.

"On the blood, sacred honor and heroic sacrifice of my late son Lt. Fortunato Abat Jr. who died defending the ideals of this nation and Armed Forces, draw inspiration from all of you in leading the charge and carrying the flag of battle for true, real and total change‚" Abat told participants of the First Heroes Summit held at Sulo Hotel in Quezon City yesterday.

Among those expressing their support for the march were former ambassador and National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) chairman Roy Señeres, Marietta Goco, Datu Norodin Lucman, Wilson Gamboa, retired Air Force Col. Jerry Cunanan, Fr. Jose Dizon of the group Patriots and civil society leaders.

The group has announced its plans to assemble at their headquarters located along Quezon Avenue near EDSA before proceeding to Malacañang on Saturday.

Abat said they would march peacefully without carrying placards or streamers.

He said Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao had already assured that their men would exercise tolerance during the march.

The former defense chief stressed the march would culminate in their call for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation right at her doorstep.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), on the other hand, filed criminal charges against Abat yesterday for inciting to sedition.

Supervising agent Allan Contado of the NBI’s Investigation Special Operations Division said there is enough evidence to warrant the filing of charges against Abat, stemming from his call for civil disobedience during a press conference at a restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan on April 30.

"For now, we would only file inciting to sedition charges against him," Contado said.

"Abat acted with full and actual or presumed awareness that his status as a former military general and former defense secretary would inspire would-be mutineers and civilian rebels to believe that his actions were warranted," the NBI complaint read in part.

Contado explained that although Abat made the alleged seditious remarks almost two months ago, it was only yesterday that the NBI was able to lodge the charges against him, citing the procedure of collating evidence.

Abat had proposed a civilian-military junta to replace Mrs. Arroyo and Congress due to an alleged "crisis in leadership." - With Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jaime Laude, Nestor Etolle, Jose Rodel Clapano