Rebellion raps vs Lacson, Gringo filed this week

Police are set to file this week charges of rebellion against incumbent Sen. Gregorio Honasan, former national police chief Panfilo Lacson and Army Brig. Gen. Marcelino "Jake" Malajacan.

Philippine National Police (PNP)-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Chief Superintendent Nestorio Gualberto said police were intent on filing the charges but were delayed because they have not yet completed the documentary evidence.

"We are still awaiting the transcript of the speeches of those who went up the EDSA Shrine and instigated the people to go to Malacañang and the affidavits of witnesses," Gualberto said.

The CIDG chief blamed the delay on the agents of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) who have not filed their affidavits with the police.

The apparent inaction of the ISAFP reflected the comment of AFP chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva that he was not interested in filing charges against Malajacan.

President Arroyo herself, in a news briefing at Malacañang, hinted that the government may choose not to file rebellion charges against Honasan and Lacson in the spirit of reconciliation.

Lacson and Honasan were supposed to have been arrested shortly after the failed power grab but both went into hiding.

However, they emerged a few days later after the government assured them that they would be allowed to continue their senatorial campaign pending their arraignment for rebellion.

Both Honasan and Lacson are among the five opposition senatorial candidates who are winning in the ongoing canvassing of votes.

In the case of Lacson, however, the President said the filing of other criminal charges was beyond her control since the charges were filed by private individuals.

Several Chinese nationals are accusing Lacson of involvement in the disappearances of their relatives while they were in the country.

Aside from Honasan, Lacson and Malajacan, Senior Superintendents Cesar Mancao and Michael Ray Aquino are also set to be charged in connection with their alleged involvement in a failed power grab on May 1.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and former Ambassador to the US Ernesto Maceda have also been charged with rebellion. Both were arrested without a warrant, along with three police officers and about 100 civilians in connection with the failed Labor Day rebellion.

Maceda and Enrile contested their warrantless arrest before the Supreme Court which allowed Enrile to post a P100,000 bail while Maceda was granted a P60,000 bail.

Enrile was supposed to have been arraigned on May 10 before another QC RTC but he asked the court to quash the charges against him for lack of evidence. The QC RTC reset his arraignment to June 14.

Aside from the political figures, authorities also arrested Chief Superintendent Victor Batac, Superintendent Diosdado Valeroso and civilian urban poor leader Cesar Tanega in connection with the rebellion.

The 100 loyalists of jailed ex-president Joseph Estrada who were earlier charged with rebellion have also been released to the custody of Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) pending their trial.