SENATOR PANFILO LACSON INVOKES PARLIAMENTARY IMMUNITY

MANILA, OCTOBER 1, 2003  (MALAYA) By PRIAM NEPOMUCENO - Sen. Panfilo Lacson yesterday invoked parliamentary immunity in seeking the dismissal of a libel case filed against him by Mike Arroyo before the Manila Prosecutor's Office.

The case stemmed from Lacson's privileged speech last month, wherein he alleged that Mr. Arroyo has amassed millions and hid these in bank accounts under the names of dummies.

Mr. Arroyo filed the libel case Aug. 27, citing "false and defamatory" remarks that besmirched his name. The Arroyo camp said Lacson made the defamatory statements outside the session hall and not in the performance of his official functions, thus making him liable.

In a 14-page counter-affidavit, Lacson said interviews with media after he delivered his speech on August 18, although held outside the plenary hall, were still made "inside" the Senate building which was the Senate press office at the second floor.

"It was for all intents and purposes, just a continuation of respondent's speech inside the Senate session hall," Lacson said.

The affidavit was prepared by Lacson's counsel Artemio Tuquero, Johnuel Mendoza, Leo Gilo, Abraham Espejo, Rodolfo Reynoso, and Manuel T. de Guia.

Lacson, who was indisposed according to Mendoza, was asked by prosecutor Nestor Gonzales to appear on October 21 to swear to his affidavit.

Mr. Arroyo's lawyer, Jesus I. Santos, said it was a "delaying tactic."

"Instead of submitting a signed, sworn counter-affidavit today (Tuesday), we all will have to wait until October 21. This is a waste of valuable time, and a definite indication that Senator Lacson is jittery about the contents of his counter-affidavit. Why else would it be not sworn to?" he said.

Lacson, meanwhile, denounced what he said was the administration's employment of new "attack dogs" to pre-empt the delivery of the third and final part of his "Incredible Hulk" privileged speech on Oct. 6 when sessions resume.

He said he was not discounting the possibility that the sudden visibility in the media of lawyer Arno Sanidad was part of the administration's grand design to pressure the Supreme Court to expedite the resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by defense lawyers questioning the tribunal's reversal of its ruling on the Kuratong Baleleng case.

Lacson said he finds it too much of a coincidence that Sanidad and Ricardo Abcede of the Filipino Lawyers for Good Governance (Filgood) are echoing the government's line that the Pidal exposé was meant to divert public attention from the Kuratong Baleleng case.

Sanidad, according to Lacson, "has been religiously attending the Malacañang meetings where he regularly gets his talking points for media release."

Lacson said he was informed that the press statement of Sanidad that circulated in the press office in Camp Crame was "facilitated by a rabid anti-Lacson journalist who is closely identified with LTA."

Abcede, on the other hand, admitted to Senate reporters that he was in close contact with Santos who regularly gives media briefings at the LTA building in Makati.

Lacson said he would not be surprised if Sanidad and Abcede are using the same media handlers in the employ of Mr. Arroyo because the same propagandists were used by the President's husband when Mr. Arroyo's camp presented Blanquita Pelaez to the media.

Lacson noted the administration had no qualms in using a convicted swindler like Pelaez to resurrect the handcuffs issue, which has been decided upon by a California court in favor of the senator.

Lacson said he finds it strange Abcede's group has never denounced the massive graft and corruption in the Arroyo administration despite so many exposés by various groups, including those identified with the Edsa Dos "civil society" groups.