Released civilians in Pen siege mull  counter charges vs DOJ chief, PNP

Four supporters of the rebel soldiers in the Peninsula Manila standoff who were cleared by the Makati City Regional Trial Court of rebellion are planning to file counter charges against Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and several police officials for their arrest and 14-day detention.

Fr. Robert Reyes, lawyers J.V. Bautista and Argee Guevarra, and retired Capt. Julian Advincula were released at around 2 p.m. yesterday from the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The four opposition leaders were accompanied by University of the Philippines Dean Francisco Nemenzo during a press conference at a restaurant inside Camp Crame.

They later proceeded to the office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to get their belongings, which were seized from them after their arrest last Nov. 29 shortly after the Peninsula siege led by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.

Bautista said they are planning to file contempt charges against Gonzalez and several policemen for abuse of authority.

They vowed to continue to fight against the administration of President Arroyo, who they said is becoming more repressive.

Guevarra said they are now preparing charges of arbitrary detention against the CIDG for keeping them for more than 36 hours before filing rebellion charges against them.

Reyes, Bautista, Guevarra and Advincula were among the 14 civilians ordered released from detention last Thursday but they opted to stay for another night at Camp Crame because Reyes officiated Mass at the detention center.

Bautista, on the other hand, said it was difficult for them to leave the others behind.

“Emotionally, it was difficult for us to leave them (other detainees) because we have already established camaraderie. We maintain that no rebellion was committed on Nov. 29,” said Bautista, who promised to help the remaining detained soldiers led by Trillanes.

Trillanes and several Magdalo soldiers and civilians were arrested after a seven-hour standoff at the Peninsula hotel after the detained senator and the other rebel soldiers walked out of a Makati courtroom during a hearing on the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, also in Makati City.

Meanwhile, another opposition leader, Linggoy Alcuaz, appeared before the office of the CIDG for questioning regarding the Peninsula hotel siege. Alcuaz did not give any statement.