Case vs Abat a warning to others, GMA allies in House say

The government’s decision to charge former defense secretary Fortunato Abat with inciting to sedition is a warning to others who would go beyond legal bounds in criticizing the national leadership, administration congressmen said yesterday.

"They cannot declare themselves a transition government and get away with it. The case against Abat and his colleagues is a warning to those who will resort to adventurism and attempts to topple the Arroyo leadership," said Representatives Monico Puentevella of Bacolod City and Antonio Cuenco of Cebu City.

Last Thursday, their second day of holding court at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan to openly declare their "revolutionary transition government," Abat and his colleagues were invited by the police to nearby Camp Crame for questioning. They were later detained.

On Friday, they were brought to the San Juan Metropolital Trial Court, where prosecutors filed a case for inciting to sedition against them. Charged with Abat were Salvador Enriquez Jr., a former budget secretary and executive vice president of the Government Service Insurance System; Roy Señeres, a former ambassador; and Carlos Serapio, a former lawyer of Joseph Estrada.

The lawyers of the four claimed that their clients violated no laws, and that their statements during their two-day stay at Club Filipino were no different than those being uttered by anti-Arroyo street protesters.

Both Abat and Enriquez served in the administration of former President Fidel Ramos, who has repeatedly urged President Arroyo to cut short her term to allow for parliamentary elections in June next year.

Puentevella and Cuenco urged the San Juan court to expedite the resolution of the case against Abat and his co-accused since an early decision on the matter could go a long away in discouraging other people from flouting the law.

However, they said those who would go beyond legal bounds could be assured of due process just like Abat and his colleagues.

The Bacolod City congressman said there is "probable cause" to charge the four members of the supposed transition government since they "initiated a call for the public to rise up against the Arroyo leadership."

"The government’s move to charge them is justified and necessary," he said.

He added that instead of declaring an alternative government, Abat and his co-accused should have presented their concerns to administration officials.

Cuenco said what the former defense secretary and his friends did was a "serious offense."

"It’s not a joke for any person or group to declare their own government. This is a mockery of our laws and government system. While we respect everyone’s right to express his or her grievances, the government is duty-bound to protect democracy and its institutions," he said.

He added that an early decision on the Abat case "will send a strong signal to anti-government forces that they cannot just violate the law, mock the government and remain scot-free."