Government cracks down on enemies

Malacañang launched a crackdown yesterday on so-called "enemies of the state" in lightning sweeps that stunned the political opposition and raised fears of an impending imposition of martial law.

The crackdown began with the arrest of several opposition personalities and raids on newspapers critical of President Arroyo, who charged renegade military officers, backed by civilian supporters, with forging an alliance with leftist groups to topple the government.

Police arrested Anakpawis sectoral Rep. Crispin Beltran a day after Mrs. Arroyo declared a state of national emergency following an alleged coup plot.

The crackdown continued as lawmen arrested two retired police generals, Ramon Montaño and Rex Piad, at a golf course in Cavite. It turned out later Piad was not targeted for arrest.

Police also sealed the offices of The Daily Tribune on T. M. Kalaw street in Ermita, Manila early yesterday, on the 20th anniversary of the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Police also attempted to arrest two other militant lawmakers, Bayan Muna congressmen Rafael Mariano and Satur Ocampo, who were holding a news conference at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City, but they managed to slip away.

Personnel of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) picked up Beltran at his residence in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan along with his wife Rosario and bodyguards.

Montaño, who earlier called on Mrs. Arroyo to resign, was playing golf at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite when he was taken into custody by lawmen.

Piad, a former police official who had openly supported the campaign of opposition candidate Fernando Poe Jr. in 2004, volunteered to accompany Montaño and escort his golf buddy to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Beltran was earlier picked up for questioning and brought to CIDG headquarters.

The militant lawmaker was later detained on the strength of a warrant issued by a Quezon City court on charges of inciting to rebellion filed against him on Oct. 7, 1985.

‘Clear and present danger’

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, in separate interviews, sought to allay fears of a possible curtailment of civil liberties and abuse of powers by the President.

The moves were "not against the democratic opposition," Gonzales told The STAR. "Only those who are involved in extra-constitutional and violent efforts to overthrow the legitimate government."

Gonzalez stressed the government was only acting in self-defense.

He said the crackdown was an act of self-protection against a clear and present danger posed by the enemies of the state.

The arrests were justified "to protect the people in self-defense," he said.

Gonzalez emphasized the government has long been "patiently suffering against nasty attacks" over the past several months.

The crackdown came after Mrs. Arroyo issued General Orders Nos. 5 and 6, ordering the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to carry out "the necessary and appropriate actions and measures to suppress and prevent acts of terrorism and violence."

Gonzales defended the arrest of Beltran whom he accused, along with Ocampo, of being a member of the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA).

He said he is willing to defend the arrest and any legal challenge of Proclamation 1017, which declared the country to be in a state of emergency.

Gonzales clarified the crackdown was restricted to suspected communist elements, and was not directed against the legitimate political opposition. 

He said the arrests of Beltran and other leftist lawmakers were based on existing charges of sedition and rebellion, considered a continuing crime. 

The crackdown, including the arrests, could have been undertaken without Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration of the state of national emergency, he added.

"It’s just that there is more strictness or impetus now in implementing the law because of the prevailing situation," Gonzalez said.

Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, for his part, said the President has promised not to utilize Proclamation 1017 against innocent civilians.

He clarified the proclamation does not authorize warrantless arrests except those provided for under the Rules of Court.

"The President vows to limit the exercise of her powers to those that are necessary to contain the threats to national security," Bunye said.

"Those who feel aggrieved have recourse to the courts, which are open and continue to operate," he said.

Bunye assured the public that "rumors of martial law have no basis."

He said the situation is under control "and we expect to get over this in no time."

‘All over again’

Lawmakers from the opposition and the administration said the sweeping arrests and crackdown were an ominous portent of things to come.

Media groups throughout the country also claimed the President’s declaration of a state of national emergency was a clear warning to them.

"This is a very clear attempt to close us down. There were no calls or warrants," the Tribune’s chief editor Ninez Cacho-Olivares said.

Police raided the Tribune’s printing plant but only managed to confiscate a few hundred copies of the paper, which has been highly critical of the Arroyo administration.

"Its just like Marcos all over again. It won’t be long before they start ringing editors and asking them to fire columnists or writers they consider to be against them," she added.

Police also raided the offices of some tabloid newspapers identified as critical of Mrs. Arroyo.

PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said they had "temporarily" taken over the operations of the Tribune.

"We will recommend that the government will direct the operation of The Daily Tribune to review whatever publication (the paper will be) publishing. We are not closing it," he said.

According to Lomibao, the takeover is justified since the paper has been engaging "in a concerted effort and systematic conspiracy with known elements to bring down the duly constituted government since May 2004 which renders it a clear and present danger to the country and its people."

He said the takeover did not entail any curtailment of press freedom since the action was spelled out in General Order No. 5 and in the implementation of Proclamation 1017.

Olivarez, however, slammed Lomibao and claimed the move was an overt act of "censorship."

She said she would not allow the police to dictate the contents of the Tribune.

"We will publish as we wish, but if they come in with prior restraint or they control then they will have to close it down because we will have to fight," Olivarez said.

Senate President Franklin Drilon led senators in condemning the takeover of the Tribune, pointing out the proclamation of a state of national emergency does not justify the suppression of civil liberties and the freedom of the press.

Administration Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Malacañang should distinguish between enemies of the state and those who are simply exercising their constitutional rights.

Pangilinan expressed his concern over the spate of arrests including Beltran and other people who could not legitimately be considered enemies of the state.

Arrangements

On the impending arrest of other militant congressmen, Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. said he would seek assurances from the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that there would be "dignified and humane treatment" of any member of the House of Representatives suspected of being part of the coup plot against the President.

Following Beltran’s arrest, De Venecia met with opposition congressmen led by Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero at his residence in Makati City.

The meeting produced an agreement that any arrests of House members by police and the military should be coursed through the Speaker and the House minority leader.

It was also agreed that no House member would be arrested while Congress was still in session, invoking the provision in the Constitution on immunity from arrest of members of Congress unless the alleged offense is punishable by more than six years imprisonment.

Administration lawmakers led by House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles joined their colleagues in the opposition in condemning the arrests.

Nograles claimed the government was embarking on a feverish "witch hunt" to silence political dissent.

Nograles said the House leadership was "disturbed" by the arrest of Beltran and the attempt to take in Ocampo and would "look into this matter immediately."

But when asked if he would call for the release of Beltran since the arrest warrant that the police served on him was more than two-decades old, Nograles replied, "Let’s wait for the charges that they would file against him and the supporting evidence. We don’t know that yet."

Opposition congressmen led by Escudero immediately raised a howl of protest, saying the Arroyo administration was clearly trying to harass and scare the political opposition and the public in general.

Beltran’s counsel Romeo Capulong also said the arrest was illegal since the criminal case filed against the lawmaker during the Marcos regime had since been dismissed.

Capulong said he would petition for Beltran’s release, adding that he would study the filing of illegal arrest charges against the arresting lawmen led by a certain Maj. Rene Corpuz.

Former President Fidel Ramos, for his part, said he would work for the release of Montaño, his former presidential adviser on police affairs.

"He is a good friend, I called up his wife, Fe Montaño. I said, ‘Please don’t panic. It’s probably only for a short while,’" Ramos said at a press briefing in his Makati City office yesterday.

Ramos said the Montaño arrest earned the retired police general "a badge of honor" under the present circumstances.

Authorities have lined up more than 200 people suspected of having aided the latest coup plot against Mrs. Arroyo.

Sources disclosed that most of the suspects facing arrest are former politicians who were directly involved in planning the takeover attempt.

Sources from the military and the police separately confirmed the existence of a list of personalities to be picked up that included "politicians and ex-politicians."

The military has already detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, commander of the Army’s First Scout Ranger regiment based in San Miguel, Bulacan, on allegations of leading the coup plot against Mrs. Arroyo.

Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco, commander of the PNP’s Special Action Force, was also relieved and placed under investigation in the latest power grab attempt.

Among those being eyed for arrest are former senator Gregorio Honasan and civil society leader Linda Montayre.

Honasan and Montayre were among those identified as part of the "civilian component" of the foiled coup attempt. — With reports from Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jess Diaz, Rhodina Villanueva, Delon Porcalla, Marvin Sy, Christina Mendez, Nestor Etolle, Sheila Crisostomo, Ric Sapnu, Dino Balabo, AP, AFP