Lim dares Isko: Prove I ordered arrest

MANILA, Philippines - Re-electionist Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim dared yesterday his former running mate, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, to prove his allegation that Lim ordered the police to arrest him and five councilors Saturday.

Lim said Moreno and his opponent, former President Joseph Estrada, are insisting that he ordered Manila Police District Station 3 commander Superintendent Ricardo Layug, Inspector Eduardo Morata and MPD director Chief Superintendent Alex Gutierrez to arrest them.

“If they are able to prove it that I ordered the arrest of the vice mayor and the five councilors, I will resign. Okay? But if they are not able to prove it, and what they are saying are all lies, they should resign. I challenge them,” Lim said in a press conference at the city hall.

He added that he had “nothing to do with the arrest. It’s a police matter.”

Estrada and Moreno, in a forum at the Diamond Hotel yesterday, called on Lim and the police officers who arrested Moreno not to twist the story.

Lim also said Moreno and District 3 Councilors Jong Isip, Joel Chua, Re Fugoso, Letlet Zarcal and Yul Nieto were released for further investigation on charges of illegal gambling, assault upon a person of authority and resisting arrest.

The mayor also defended the MPD for detaining the six officials for at least nine hours, saying the police has the right to investigate a person who allegedly committed an illegal act for nine to 36 hours, depending on the offense.

Police story

Layug and Morata, chief of the police community precinct in Blumentritt under MPD Station 3, aired their side during yesterday’s press conference.

They said that on Feb. 16, they received reports of a bingo game being held outdoors on Tambunting street in Sta. Cruz and went to the area. Layug said his men requested the councilors to stop the game since they had no permit and violated laws on obstructing streets and illegal gambling.

Layug and Morata said Moreno dared them to arrest him. They said the game was stopped at past 5 p.m.

MPD officials said Moreno was at earlier bingo game at a chapel in District 5, whose players were dispersed by police officers at past 2 p.m.

Lim said while Moreno and the councilors were at the precinct, they reportedly hurled invectives at the police officers.

“If they did that to me…  I would arrest them,” he said.

Lim also accused Estrada of punching Morata in the body while Moreno and the councilors were being subjected to inquest proceedings in front of a prosecutor last Saturday.

Morata said he told Estrada, “Sir, nasasaktan na po ako (you are hurting me).”

Morata said the prosecutor told him to transfer to the other side of the room to avoid Estrada, whom the police officials described as smelling of liquor.

Morata also said that Estrada asked for his name then threatened him that he would only have three more months before he loses his job.

“Mr. President, ginagalang ko kayo, pero huwag niyo ako saktan (I respect you, but don’t hurt me),” Morata said he told Estrada at that time.

‘Big lie’

Estrada said Morata’s claim that he punched him is a “big lie.”

“He should have been knocked out if I really punched him. Pity on him. I just told him to tell the truth,” he said.

Estrada’s aide, Chief Inspector Bernabe Irinco, said he was beside Estrada when he talked to Morata at the police community precinct.

“I did not observe anything that would suggest he was threatening Morata. He just told Morata to tell the truth and don’t lie,” Irinco said.

Estrada said he was at the birthday party of his son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, when he and Vice President Jejomar Binay were informed that Moreno and the five councilors were arrested.

“There was no illegal gambling. Bingo was delisted as an illegal numbers game,” he said.

Estrada accused Lim of neglecting Manila. “The allowances of the police and the teachers are not being released to them, amounting to P300 million. The budget deficit of (the city government) is P3.5 billion,” he said.

Moreno said it was Morata who inflicted injuries, not the other way around.

“Do not twist the story,” he said, adding that they “were released for further investigation after the fiscal said there is no sufficient evidence.”

Martial law

Moreno, who accompanied Estrada at the forum, accused Lim of practically placing the city under martial law by manipulating local regulations to prevent his and Estrada’s supporters from campaigning.

He said Lim issued a memorandum dated Feb. 13 requiring permits from the city government through the Manila District Enforcement Unit and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau for wakes and birthday parties that will be held on the street. “It’s like martial law in Manila,” he said.

Moreno questioned the timing of the memorandum. “The bottom line is that they are preparing to block us from campaigning. How can we present our platform of government?” he said. – With Rey Galupo