Friday, July 20, 2007

Bayan Aklan Lauds SC’s, Junks Rebellion Charges


By Boy Ryan Zabal

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Aklan lauded the Supreme Court on its decision with finality on the government’s rebellion case against six party-list lawmakers.
The Supreme Court second division issued a two-page resolution that denied the motion for reconsideration of the Solicitor General and reaffirmed the June 1, 2007 ruling on the rebellion cases against Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño, and Joel Virador; Anakpawis Representatives Rafael Mariano and Crispin Beltran; and Gabriela Representative Liza Maza.
"The legal battle is a setback to the Arroyo administration and a relief to those lawmakers who allegedly conspired to oust Arroyo in 2006. The dismissal of the case is a clear manifestation that the basis of the Arroyo government in filing such cases are all immaterial and fabricated," Calaor added.
Casiño in an interview said, "now the Supreme Court junked the rebellion charges against us, the Malacañang should respect the people’s mandate and allow us to fulfill our duties as lawmakers of the party-list groups."
The lawmakers were charged with rebellion before the Makati City regional trial court. On June 1, 2007, the Supreme Court ordered the court to dismiss Criminal Case Nos. 06-452 and 06-944.
The Court resolved "to deny the motion with finality, the basic issues raised therein having been duly considered and passed upon by the Court in the aforesaid decision and no substantial argument have been adduced to warrant the reconsideration sought."
"It also gave us a detailed picture of a fascist and desperate this government to quell and jeopardize the democratic rights of the people guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution," Calaor added.
The high court added the special prosecutors failed to prove that the lawmakers conspired with the Oakwood rebel-soldiers to topple the government. /MP

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