Sedition raps filed vs 3 Estrada leaders

DAVAO CITY — Police authorities here have filed sedition charges against three local political leaders of former President Joseph Estrada for allegedly urging his loyalists to stage a revolt against the Arroyo administration during a rally at the city’s Rizal Park last April 30.

Estrada loyalists held vigils at the Rizal Park while their counterparts were gathered at the EDSA Shrine in Mandaluyong City. A number of them even reportedly waited for their leaders to take them to Metro Manila to join the so-called "EDSA 3."

Superintendent Primitivo Ferenal, investigation chief of the city police, said the sedition charges filed against Richard Burgos and Vidal Payao of Davao City and Anrea Montessa of Digos City were based on the testimonies of witnesses and an intelligence officer.

The witnesses claimed leaders of the pro-Estrada rally at Rizal Park recruited and urged them to topple the Arroyo government.

In a joint affidavit, Donato Monteverde, 23, and Jose Cabrera alleged that Burgos recruited them in the afternoon of April 30.

They claimed that Burgos, Payao and Montessa urged the Estrada loyalists during the April 30 rally to disobey and overthrow the present administration.

The three leaders, however, denied the charges, claiming they were not even present during the rally.