Gringo seeks court pass to run for Senate

Detained former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan urged the court yesterday to allow him to file his certificate of candidacy in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the May 14 midterm elections.

Through defense counsel Daniel Gutierrez, the former senator filed a three-page "motion to leave" before the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 48 to allow him to leave detention between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2 to personally file his certificate of candidacy before the Comelec head office in Manila.

The mainstream opposition earlier said Honasan is being considered for inclusion in its 12-man senatorial slate but the former lawmaker said he wanted to run as an independent.

Honasan is detained at the Philippine National Police Academy training school at Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna facing rebellion charges.

The former Army colonel who figured in several coup attempts in the late 80s, was captured by intelligence operatives last November in an exclusive subdivision in Quezon City after nine months on the run.

Honasan has been indicted over the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 staged by some 300 junior officers and enlisted men who briefly occupied a ritzy apartment-hotel in Makati City.

The former senator also faces charges over a failed coup last Feb. 24, which prompted President Arroyo to declare a weeklong state of emergency.

Gutierrez said Honasan recognized the security issues involved in his request to go to Comelec and personally file his certificate of candidacy.

"He (Honasan) therefore interposes no objection to any reasonable security measures that may be imposed... in connection with his travel to the Comelec office," Gutierrez said.

Honasan prayed that the court grant him temporary liberty to file his certificate of candidacy as "he has always done in the past." 

On the other hand, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said they would oppose Honasan’s request, saying the former senator is a flight risk with a history of escaping detention.

"Of course, we will oppose it considering that he has a history of several escapes," Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said.

"He (Honasan) was known to have been involved in destabilization attempts in 1987 and 1989. He has escaped on several occasions. In fact, his recent arrest (last November) was a result of months of searching," he stressed.

Prosecutors insisted Honasan could have ordered his lawyer to file the certificate of candidacy.

But Gutierrez pointed out the need for Honasan to file the COC personally, citing Comelec resolution 7799 which stated the candidate must personally come to the Comelec to answer any questions that may arise in the filing of the certificate of candidacy.

Should the court allow Honasan furlough, he is likely to enjoy a reunion with Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV who is also detained over the Oakwood mutiny.

The court is also handling the coup d’etat case against the Navy officer who is presently detained at the Marine Brigade headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

The court earlier allowed Trillanes to register as a voter in Caloocan City but has yet to file a similar petition with Honasan for a leave to file his certificate of candidacy before the Comelec.

Trillanes has repeatedly announced his intent to run for the Senate in the May 14 elections.

Prosecutors, however, argued the case against Honasan and Trillanes cannot be compared.

"This (coup) is the only case against Trillanes, unlike him (Honasan) who was involved in other attempts to destabilize administrations," Fadullon pointed out.

Fadullon and the prosecution panel had not opposed the motion made by Trillanes for a furlough to register as a voter in Caloocan City last December. — With AP