Read this from the Inquirer:
THE JUSTICE department has created a special panel of prosecutors to handle the criminal charges against opposition lawyers Rufus Rodriguez, Harriet Demetriou and several others, Acting Justice Secretary Ma. Merceditas Gutierrez said Friday.
Gutierrez said the panel, headed by assistant chief state prosecutor Miguel Gudio Jr., would investigate the serious illegal detention and grave coercion charges that the police filed against Rodriguez and Demetriou, who are counsels of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (Coalition of United Filipinos, KNP).
The two lawyers were allegedly involved in the abduction of Radja Rashma Hali, 52, an election officer from Tipo-tipo, Basilan from May 31 until June 9. The opposition allegedly tried to convince Hali to testify against the administration on fraud charges in the May 10 elections.
Besides Hali, the opposition allegedly also abducted Hasim D. Sablin, a coordinator in Basilan of the Filipino for Peace and Justice Movement (FPJM) and Hali's daughter, Fherdaosia, 20.
The three were allegedly held in several places in Metro Manila, including in a safe house in Makati's Dasmariñas Village and the FPJ Studios in Quezon City.
"The DoJ will definitely look into the complaint and do what is necessary," Gutierrez said.
She said there was an allegation that Hali was not released until she agreed to testify for the opposition.
So yung opposition pala ang mahilig sa "kidnapping", sabi ng Arroyo administration, just like when they "kidnapped" Whistleblower Vidal Doble. Or when Lacson "kidnapped" whistleblower Mahusay.
Ellen Tordesillas has additional info on Rashma Hali:
On June 7, 2004, Arroyo called up Garcillano twice to inquire about a person from Tipo-Tipo. She was referring to Hadja Rashma Hali an election officer from Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
GMA: Did you get my text about the Tipo Tipo?
Garcillano: Oho, oho Ma’m. Kuwan that is what I am being fearful about. Kung si Rashma Hali yon. That is why we are asking people to look for her so that we can confront her.
GMA: She’s probably being held by them.
Garcillano: Ma’m.
GMA: She’s probably being held by them already.
Garcillano: She is here, that is why if it is possible we will have her family call her up from Zamboanga.
GMA: Ok, ok.
Garcillano: Sige po Ma’m.
GMA: Hello
Garcillano: Yes, Ma’m.
GMA: Ano nahanap na ninyo?
Garcillano: Ma’m.
GMA: Ano nahanap na ninyo yung sa Tipo Tipo?
Garcillano: Ang Tipo Tipo ho hindi pa.
There were other conversations of Garcillano with an unidentified man about kidnapping Hali and her family.
Mid-June 2004 newspapers carried stories about kidnapping charges involving Hali and her daughter, Fherdaosia, filed by the administration against FPJ lawyers Harriet Demetriou and Rufus Rodriquez.
Demetriou said Hali came to her with tally sheets in the Tipo-Tipo count showing that FPJ was a victim of dagdag-bawas or vote shaving. To prove that Hali was not coerced, Demetriou had her revelations videotaped.
The kidnapping charges precipitated the walkout of other laywers of FPJ’s Kilusan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino. After that, Hali changed her mind about exposing the election anomalies she witnessed.
Shades of the military-mounted operation to get T/Sgt Vidal Doble from the San Carlos Seminary last Monday.
Asked about the taped GMA-Garcillano taped conversation, Demetriou said yesterday: "Hindi natutulog ang Diyos" (God is not asleep.)
Related links:
- Police will "investigate" Doble's "illegal detention" at San Carlos Seminary
- More on the Rashma Hali "kidnapping" by Rufus Rodrigues and Harriet Demetriou here and here
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