Golez: Resurfacing of Gringo, Ping indicates ‘normalcy’

The decision of re-electionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan and senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson to emerge from hiding indicates the return to normalcy of the political situation in the country, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said yesterday.

Honasan and Lacson, who fled into hiding after the government declared a state of rebellion on May 1, emerged during an opposition campaign rally on Friday after the government assured them they would not be arrested.

"Considering that they surfaced, it means they respect the assurance of the government for a safe conduct pass. They trusted the government when the President asked them to surface and attend their party’s rally without being arrested," he said.

Golez said that since Honasan and Lacson accepted President Arroyo’s offer of a safe-conduct pass, "It means that they respected and accepted the government’s sincerity and the President’s word of honor."

Honasan and Lacson are suspected of participating in a conspiracy to topple the government by assassinating President Arroyo and jailed ex-President Joseph Estrada and installing a civilian-military junta.

President Arroyo declared a state of rebellion to cope with the plot and arrested alleged plot leaders, re-electionist Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and former ambassador Ernesto Maceda.

But Mrs. Arroyo lifted the state of rebellion and its concomitant warrantless arrests after civic groups expressed alarm at the possibility that such arrests would be abused to curtail civil rights.

Despite the lifting of a state of rebellion, however, Golez said the police and military are "concerned" with at least 500 areas that may turn into election "hot spots."

"There are areas where the occurrence of violence is highly possible during the elections. According to intelligence reports, these areas have a history of violence because there are some political families and groups that usually fight over positions," Golez said.

Golez did not identify the areas but assured the public that the police and military are already closely monitoring the situation.

He, however, downplayed the possibility that an armed group, allegedly plotting to implement a plan to disrupt the elections, can stop the Commission on Elections from conducting the polls.

"Filipino voters have a high regard for democracy and that is why the administration has intensified its preparations for the elections," he said.

Golez stressed that the government had already been closely monitoring preparations for the polls with the Department of Interior and Local Government and the police monitoring the security situation.

Golez urged Filipinos to go out and vote tomorrow and defend their right of suffrage.

"We must not only be ready, we should also be vigilant. We should not only cast our votes, we must observe the election process to prevent flying voters from casting votes several times," he said.