Salonga: I was never under house arrest

Former Senate President Jovito Salonga denied yesterday that he had been placed under house arrest during martial law.

In a letter yesterday to Justice Anacleto Badoy of the Sandiganbayan’s 3rd division, Salonga said: "On Nov. 28, 1980, Mr. Marcos ordered my release from military custody to be placed in the custody of my wife, Mrs. Lydia Salonga."

Salonga was reacting to the alleged representation of Raymund Fortun, counsel of ousted President Estrada, that he was "placed under house arrest by (President) Marcos" to convince the Sandiganbayan to allow Estrada’s house arrest.

Salonga said on Oct. 21, 1980, Col. Balbino Diego, representing Armed Forces chief Gen. Fabian Ver, served him an Arrest Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) at his hospital bed at the Medical Center Manila.

"I was confined... due to my worsening bronchial asthma," he said.

Salonga said the media had linked him and Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. with an explosion at the YMCA dormitory in Manila on Sept. 6, 1980.

"A certain Victor Lovely... had been severely injured (in the explosion)," he said. "A group picture was found in his possession where my wife, Lydia and I stood beside him and other people. The picture had been taken during the May 1980 birthday party of former congressman Raul Daza in his residence in Pasadena, California..."

Salonga said the situation became compounded after a bomb exploded around 50 feet away from President Marcos while he was delivering a speech before the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) Convention at the Philippine International Covention Center in Pasay City on Oct. 19, 1980.