Malacañang sees no need to apologize to Batasan 6

07/12/2007

Malacañang yesterday said the Batasan 6 has no right to demand an apology from the Arroyo government despite the final ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) Tuesday dismissing the rebellion raps filed against the party-list representatives.

This, according to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who stressed the government does not see the need to apologize to the group of Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran.

When asked if the Palace has apologized to Beltran’s group, Ermita said he sees no need for it since the government lawyers in the case only did their job and acted only on the basis of the evidence gathered by authorities.

“There’s no need for it (apology). They have no right to (make) such a demand. Goverment lawyers are doing their jobs regularly. It’s just propaganda for anyone. There’s no reason whatsoever for such a demand from them,” Ermita said.

He added even government lawyers he consulted in the likes of Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera and presidential legal adviser Sergio Apostol also see no need for the government to issue an apology.

The Palace official said they will respect the SC’s position, but expressed hope that the Batasan 6 will stop “conniving with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA)” and will just do their job as party list representatives.

“We will comply. We bow down to the decision of the highest court in the land. Our government lawyers said they feel it was a setback in their effort. But who are we to question the wisdom of the SC? Our only wish is for them (Beltran’s group ) to stop their army, the CPP-NPA from violating the law,” Ermita said.

The other day, Apostol described as a setback on their part the SC decision junking the government’ appeal on the rebellion case against the Batasan 6.

Apostol said they consider the decision as a setback but will leave it at the sound discretion of the Office of the Solicitor General if the government will file a motion for reconsideration or will completely abide by the decision.

“The Solgen will evaluate the government’s position on this. We would like to see the copy of the decision first through the Solgen,” Apostol added.

The second division of the SC dismissed the government appeal to junk the dismissal of the rebellion case filed against the so-called Batasan 6 which includes Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño and Joel Virador; Liza Maza of Gabriela and Beltran and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis. Sherwin C. Olaes

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