So much ado over Jamby, says Drilon - Malaya 07.10.2006
JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday said the Senate leadership must impose sanctions on Sen. Jamby Madrigal for meeting with top officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Utrecht, the Netherlands, a move which he said is tantamount to treason.
In a two-page letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon, Gonzalez said Madrigal violated at least two statutes, Republic Act 6713, or the Ethical Standards Law for Public Officials and Employees, and Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code, when she visited CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni, chair of the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political arm.
Drilon yesterday said no sanctions would be meted on Madrigal.
"Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is over-reacting when he invoked the crime of treason," Drilon told Senate reporters.
"Legally speaking, Sen. Madrigal cannot commit the crime of treason because the Philippines is presently not at war with another country, which is an essential element for treason under Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code," he said.
Drilon said Madrigal also did not commit unethical conduct for talking to Sison and other top-ranking communist leaders.
He said if mere talking to a communist leader is already a high crime, Speaker Jose de Venecia and other government officials who have met and talked to Sison and company in the past could also be prosecuted.
Gonzalez said the meeting further bolstered the government’s position that an "unholy alliance" existed between the opposition and the communist party.
"Considering that a state of rebellion exists between the Sison-led NPA and the Philippine government, Sen. Madrigal had, in fact, committed acts tantamount to treason punishable under Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code by adhering to the enemies of the Republic and/or giving them aid or comfort," he said.
He further said the fact that Madrigal issued a joint communiqué with Sison is "derogatory against the Republic."
Gonzalez said it appeared that Madrigal’s trip was purposely to create propaganda against the government.
"The trip of Jamby was supposed to be jointly with Satur Ocampo. He told me that Jamby was the one who paid for all his expenses in this trip and he was supposed to be in Utretch with her except that he was not able to go because I stopped it. From the very beginning there was really that plan. There was a confabulation between Ocampo and Jamby," he said.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said they are hoping that the Senate would make a stand on the issue as Madrigal could not go around masquerading as a peace advocate.
National security adviser Norberto Gonzales said Madrigal should just be ignored as she is not that influential in government or even in the opposition and her actions do not bind the country or anyone else than herself in any possible agreement that they may enter into.
"Walang masyadong epekto sa bayan natin iyan. Ang tingin ko diyan baka kainitan pa iyan…makakasama pa sa kanya iyan dahil marami naman sa mga kababayan natin na talagang gustong tapusin na itong armed rebellion," he added.
Drilon said the travel order issued to Madrigal was made upon her request with the objective of facilitating her travel documents.
Madrigal’s Utrecht trip did not have the approval of the Senate.
A travel order released by the Office of the Senate Secretary yesterday showed that Madrigal was permitted to travel only to Geneva, Switzerland; London, United Kingdom; and Paris, France. It was dated June 9 and signed by Drilon.
Madrigal said she traveled to the Netherlands as "senator and peace advocate."
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon defended Madrigal.
"As legislators, we should be allowed to talk to any of the segments of our society because remember our job is all about legislation and definitely addressing the root causes of an insurgency is a legitimate function of all in government including the legislators," Biazon said.
Biazon likewise chided Gonzalez for automatically equating open dissent as acts of terrorism.
"He (Gonzalez) should be careful because remember it looks like just about anybody who disagrees, who is critical of the administration is enemy of the state," the senator said. – Evangeline de Vera, Jocelyn Montemayor and Dennis Gadil
In a two-page letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon, Gonzalez said Madrigal violated at least two statutes, Republic Act 6713, or the Ethical Standards Law for Public Officials and Employees, and Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code, when she visited CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison and Luis Jalandoni, chair of the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political arm.
Drilon yesterday said no sanctions would be meted on Madrigal.
"Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez is over-reacting when he invoked the crime of treason," Drilon told Senate reporters.
"Legally speaking, Sen. Madrigal cannot commit the crime of treason because the Philippines is presently not at war with another country, which is an essential element for treason under Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code," he said.
Drilon said Madrigal also did not commit unethical conduct for talking to Sison and other top-ranking communist leaders.
He said if mere talking to a communist leader is already a high crime, Speaker Jose de Venecia and other government officials who have met and talked to Sison and company in the past could also be prosecuted.
Gonzalez said the meeting further bolstered the government’s position that an "unholy alliance" existed between the opposition and the communist party.
"Considering that a state of rebellion exists between the Sison-led NPA and the Philippine government, Sen. Madrigal had, in fact, committed acts tantamount to treason punishable under Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code by adhering to the enemies of the Republic and/or giving them aid or comfort," he said.
He further said the fact that Madrigal issued a joint communiqué with Sison is "derogatory against the Republic."
Gonzalez said it appeared that Madrigal’s trip was purposely to create propaganda against the government.
"The trip of Jamby was supposed to be jointly with Satur Ocampo. He told me that Jamby was the one who paid for all his expenses in this trip and he was supposed to be in Utretch with her except that he was not able to go because I stopped it. From the very beginning there was really that plan. There was a confabulation between Ocampo and Jamby," he said.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said they are hoping that the Senate would make a stand on the issue as Madrigal could not go around masquerading as a peace advocate.
National security adviser Norberto Gonzales said Madrigal should just be ignored as she is not that influential in government or even in the opposition and her actions do not bind the country or anyone else than herself in any possible agreement that they may enter into.
"Walang masyadong epekto sa bayan natin iyan. Ang tingin ko diyan baka kainitan pa iyan…makakasama pa sa kanya iyan dahil marami naman sa mga kababayan natin na talagang gustong tapusin na itong armed rebellion," he added.
Drilon said the travel order issued to Madrigal was made upon her request with the objective of facilitating her travel documents.
Madrigal’s Utrecht trip did not have the approval of the Senate.
A travel order released by the Office of the Senate Secretary yesterday showed that Madrigal was permitted to travel only to Geneva, Switzerland; London, United Kingdom; and Paris, France. It was dated June 9 and signed by Drilon.
Madrigal said she traveled to the Netherlands as "senator and peace advocate."
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon defended Madrigal.
"As legislators, we should be allowed to talk to any of the segments of our society because remember our job is all about legislation and definitely addressing the root causes of an insurgency is a legitimate function of all in government including the legislators," Biazon said.
Biazon likewise chided Gonzalez for automatically equating open dissent as acts of terrorism.
"He (Gonzalez) should be careful because remember it looks like just about anybody who disagrees, who is critical of the administration is enemy of the state," the senator said. – Evangeline de Vera, Jocelyn Montemayor and Dennis Gadil
posted by brodkaster43 at Lunes, Hulyo 10, 2006
0 Comments:
Mag-post ng isang Komento
<< Home