Police officials affirm support for GMA

Former classmates of Sen. Panfilo Lacson in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) have called on the opposition lawmaker to bring his accusations against First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to court and stop dragging the issue before the media.

At the same time, they urged another classmate, Sen. Gregorio Honasan, to come out of hiding and face the charges leveled against him. The group also said Honasan’s continued "inaccessibility" will only create further complications.

"Senior PNP (Philippine National Police) officers belonging to PMA Class 1971 (also) advised Honasan to squarely face the issues and charges leveled against him," they said in a statement.

Deputy Director General Virtus Gil, PNP chief for operations, disclosed members of the class, now occupying key posts in the PNP command and directorial staff, have met and discussed various issues concerning PMA Class ’71.

Gil stressed the meeting, which reportedly took place at the office of PNP chief for administration Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, should not be misconstrued as a sign that the PMA class has been divided over the latest political issues.

Honasan and Lacson were not invited to the class meeting. Other classmates who have been identified with Lacson were also not invited.

Gil said the class is showing full support to the administration in view of the different issues that divide the nation over the recent events surrounding Honasan and Lacson. He stressed PMA Class ’71 holds the belief that the present administration should be protected against any threat of destabilization. — With Mike Frialde, Non Alquitran