MILITANT CONGRESSMAN ARRESTED AMID COUP FEARS
MANILA, February 26, 2006 (STAR) MANILA (AFP) - Police arrested Saturday Philippine opposition congressman Crispin Beltran following President Gloria Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency over an alleged coup plot, opposition spokesmen said.Beltran, a leader of the leftist Bayan Muna (Nation First) coalition, was arrested at his home just outside Manila, two spokesmen for the coalition said.
Police also attempted to arrest two other Bayan Muna congressmen, Rafael Mariano and Satur Ocampo, during a press conference in a hotel but they slipped away, said Jim Fernandez, a spokesman of Mariano.
Television reports said Beltran was arrested on sedition charges.
Government spokesmen could not immediately be contacted to comment on the report.
The arrest came after Arroyo declared a state of emergency on Friday, charging that renegade military officers, backed by civilian supporters, had forged an alliance with leftist groups to topple the government.
Congress calls on JDV to act on arrest of militant congressman 02/25 5:14:55 PM
Speaker Jose de Venecia Saturday said he would seek assurances from the leadership of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police for a “dignified and humane treatment” of any member of the House of Representatives arrested following President Arroyo’s declaration of a state of national emergency.
De Venecia had a one-hour meeting with House Minority Leader Francis Escudero and three other congressmen at the Speaker’s Makati residence Saturday just hours after police authorities arrested Anakpawis party-list Rep. Crispin Beltran in Bulacan.
Beltran is the first House member arrested since Friday’s presidential proclamation.
“I will seek the highest assurances that their human rights are protected and respected,” de Venecia said in his scheduled talks with Armed Forces Chief Gen. Generoso Senga and PNP Chief Director-General Arturo Lomibao.
The meeting with de Venecia, which was attended by Deputy Minority Leader Rolex Suplico and Reps. Imee Marcos and Benjamin Agarao, produced four other major points of agreement.
One involves a proposal, endorsed by de Venecia and Escudero, for a protocol by which subsequent arrest of any House member by police or military authorities have to be coursed through the House Speaker and the Minority Leader.
“This will enable House members facing charges to voluntarily give themselves up and be accorded dignified and humane treatment at all times,” de Venecia said.
De Venecia also said the House will make available legal assistance to any member facing arrest which he or she could avail of or reject.
The meeting produced two other agreements.
They agreed that no congressman would be arrested while Congress is in session as provided for in the Constitution for offenses punishable by six years’ imprisonment or less.
For offenses involving punishment higher than six years, de Venecia said House members must have to respect the Constitution but assurances that they would be treated with dignity.
Communists offer coalition with anti-Arroyo forces 02/26 5:41:16 PM
MANILA (AFP) - Communist guerrillas waging a 37-year rebellion in the country have offered a tactical alliance with opposition forces and soldiers seeking to overthrow President Gloria Arroyo, the founder of the Maoist insurgency said Sunday.
Netherlands-based Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison said Arroyo's assumption of emergency powers on Friday, which she said was necessary to quell an alleged coup attempt, provided all anti-Arroyo factions an opportunity to work together.
"To oust the Arroyo regime, it suffices for the legal patriotic, progressive and other anti-Arroyo forces and their allies among the active and retired military and police forces to do their best in mustering their own respective following," he said in a statement.
Filipinos in Hong Kong demonstrate against GMA 02/26 5:46:14 PM
HONG KONG (AFP) - Dozens of Filipinos working in Hong Kong staged a protest Sunday calling on Philippine President Gloria Arroyo to resign and end a state of emergency she imposed to preempt an alleged coup.
Chanting "Never again to martial law" and "Oust Gloria", more than 50 Filipino migrant workers took part in the protest.
"The liberty and democratic rights is at stake and has been threatened by the leadership of President Arroyo," said Eman Villanueva, secretary general of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, calling for her to step down.
Unrest in Philippines, Thailand will not hurt Asean unity: Malaysian FM 02/26 5:47:39 PM
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Ongoing political unrest in the Philippines and Thailand will not hurt solidarity among Southeast Asian countries, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said.
"Ties among member countries are proceeding as normal," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency late Saturday.
In Thailand, leaders of a pro-democracy movement are seeking to oust Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra while in the Philippines President Gloria Arroyo declared an emergency and ordered the arrest of political opponents to foil an alleged coup plot.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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