Thursday, April 27, 2006

Raul Gonzalez threatens to file criminal charges against Arroyo heckler

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez thinks Maria Theresa Pangilinan has committed a crime and wants her investigated.

JUSTICE SECRETARY Raul Gonzalez said a crime had been committed when a graduating student stood up, unfurled a banner and called for President Macapagal-Arroyo's ouster during graduation rites at the Cavite State University in Indang, Cavite, last week.

Gonzalez ordered an investigation of mass communications graduate Maria Theresa Pangilinan who heckled Ms Arroyo as she was delivering her commencement address.

In a memorandum, he also directed the National Bureau of Investigation to identify the other people who had raised banners calling for Ms Arroyo to step down, determine the possible involvement of university officials in the incident, and to find out how the protesters were able to enter the school premises.

Interview reporters
"Gather information and sufficient evidence for the possible filing of charges against those persons," Gonzalez said....

Gonzalez said he was not asked by the President to order the investigation, but that he did it on his own initiative.

"As far as I'm concerned, a crime was committed," he told reporters.

And here's Ms. Pangilinan's statement and reaction to Mr. Gonzalez.

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