SURIGAO CITY—The illegal assembly case slapped against
hundreds of antipork barrel protesters here has drawn criticisms and suspicions
that the charge was politically motivated.
In filing the case on Oct. 2, the local police accused
the Sept. 21 protesters of violating City Ordinance No. 245, which designates
areas where rallies may be held.
Police said the protesters, composed of local civil
society and progressive groups, held their rally on a major road near the
public market, instead of the designated place in a public park.
Named respondents are City Councilors Baltazar Abian and
Jose Begil, Bayan Muna coordinator Edgar Canda and scores of John and Jane
Does.
Powerful hands were behind the case, said Abian and
Begil, known critics of Surigao City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas.
They noted that their protest centered on the pork barrel
controversy involving the mayor’s brother, Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco T.
Matugas (1st district).
Abian and Begil also said Mayor Matugas failed to respond
to their request for a permit to use the city’s public park as a venue for the
protest—forcing them to hold it on the streets instead.
The respondents said the protest, which featured the
burning of an effigy of a pig that symbolized the pork barrel, must have
ruffled the feathers of the Matugases.
Protesters also signed a petition asking the Ombudsman to
act on the complaint for plunder against Representative Matugas, as well as the
pending graft cases against the congressman’s wife, Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol
Matugas, and Mayor Matugas.
They then chanted “Kawatan sa Kongresso, ipapreso!” (Jail
the thieves in Congress).
Abian and Begil’s colleague, Councilor Fernando Almeda
III, came to their defense, describing the illegal assembly case “an assault on
democratic rights.”
“What makes it more despicable is that threat or
curtailment comes from the very same officials who are supposed to assure our
people that these rights may and can be exercised,” Almeda said in a privilege
speech.
“Whoever is the genius behind this abhorrent idea should
be instructed that the felony of illegal assembly penalized under Article 146
of the Revised Penal Code can be committed in two ways. First, when the meeting
is attended by armed persons for the purpose of committing crimes, and second,
when the audience whether armed or not, is incited to the commission of the
crimes of treason, rebellion, insurrection, sedition or direct assault,” he
pointed out.
Almeda stressed that none of these conditions were
present because it was a peaceful assembly.
He warned that the police may face administrative charges
before the Ombudsman.
The Matugas brothers did not reply when asked for their
comment.
Representative Matugas is facing a plunder case based on
the Commission on Audit report that said he had earmarked some P64
million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund as intelligence funds
for local government officials. (inquirer.net)
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