Palace orders AFP, PNP to explain arrest of Erap supporters

Malacañang ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military yesterday to explain to senators the circumstances behind the controversial arrest of five supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada accused of plotting to assassinate four members of President Arroyo’s Cabinet.

Officials involved in the incident will explain their side in an executive session, or behind closed doors, with senators, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

"We leave to the arresting authorities the task of explaining the basis and circumstances behind their actions and operations to preempt a real plot against Cabinet officials and to protect public order," Bunye said.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he was instructed by the President to coordinate with the Estrada camp and explain what happened.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. had earlier demanded sanctions for the operatives and officials involved in the arrest.

He emphasized that the security forces’ role is to protect the people. "They cannot allow these offenses to go unpunished, otherwise the reputation of the (military) will be tarnished."

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz and armed forces chief Gen. Generoso Senga should take appropriate action against the operatives and officials of the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP) and to prevent a possible cover-up, Pimentel said.

Senga has ordered the head of the ISAFP to explain himself. The Senate is also set to conduct its own inquiry today.

Virgilio Eustaquio, a leader of pro-Estrada group Union of Masses for Democracy and Justice, Ruben Dionisio, Dennis Ibona, Jim Cabauatan and Police Officer 3 Jose Justo Curameng were arrested by the ISAFP while they were meeting at Eustaquio’s house in Quezon City on May 22.

The five Estrada loyalists were allegedly involved in a communist rebel plot to assassinate Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor and Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.

They were released last Friday by Gonzalez for insufficient evidence following questions about the legality of their arrest as well as allegations of torture by the arresting officers.

He ordered their release to allow them to prepare for their defense against rebellion charges filed against them.

Pimentel stressed that using troops to make arrests gives the wrong impression that martial law tactics can be legally used to carry out police actions. "The police are trained in the policies and rules of law enforcement. But the soldiers have an entirely different training and orientation from the police," he said.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II, also expressing concern, said the public has the right to know how such an arrest could be carried out.

"Intolerance of political, religious and ideological views especially when practiced by people vested with military or police authority imperils our existence as a genuine constitutional democracy," Roxas said. "The call of the times is for public vigilance and strict adherence to the rule of law."

Estrada’s camp condemned the arrest, noting the arresting officers did not present arrest warrants nor give any explanation to relatives of the five, initially raising fears that they were abducted.

Estrada condemned the raid as an "unwarranted and patently criminal abduction" aimed at stifling dissent.

Mrs. Arroyo is fighting opposition allegations that she cheated in the 2004 presidential election and robbed the opposition’s contender, late film star Fernando Poe Jr., of victory.

The five accuse police officers and soldiers of torturing them into confessing their supposed involvement in the assassination plot allegedly planned by the New People’s Army (NPA).

One of the suspects, Dionisio, allegedly an NPA rebel hit man, claimed he was beaten and electrocuted by arresting police and soldiers during questioning.

Dionisio claimed he was coerced into falsely admitting his supposed involvement with the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Police have denied this. — With Christina Mendez