Opposition slams attempt to arrest reporter in Palace Maila Ager INQ7.net
November 14, 2006
(UPDATE) OPPOSITION lawmakers on Tuesday slammed the attempt of policemen on Monday to serve a warrant of arrest on a reporter sued by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo inside the Malacañang compound, with a broadcast reporter-turned-congressman describing the incident as a “classic case of the intoxicated use of power.”
For his part, Alagad party list Representative Rodante Marcoleta offered to mediate between the First Gentleman and Gonzales so long as this was done in private and away from the glaring lights of the media.
Media organizations have slammed the arrest attempt on Gonzalez, one of 43 journalists against whom Mr. Arroyo has filed libel suits. The incident came a day after another of the sued journalists, Ellen Tordesillas of the newspaper Malaya (Free), received an e-mail threatening her with death for her criticism of the President.
“It's intimidation of the media at its most brazen, practiced inside Malacañang grounds,” Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla said in a text message Tuesday. “A classic case of the intoxicated use of power reeking [in a place] where the law is supposed to be executed faithfully.”
For his part, Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, against whom the First Gentleman has also filed a libel suit, laid the burden on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, saying that if she “truly believes in press freedom, then she should certify as urgent the decriminalization of the libel law.”
“We should all demand a free media whether or not we like what is being reported or how it is reported,” Cayetano said in a text message.
He also linked the attempted arrest of Gonzalez to what he claimed was government’s harassment, oppression, persecution and execution of its critics.
“All these, [whether] against critics , media, congressmen, clergy or activists are calculated moves, sending a message not to mess with the administration,” he said.
Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption Representative Joel Villanueva said the attempt to arrest Gonzales would do more harm than good to the First Gentleman.
“Since it [arrest warrant] was served in Malacañang, the turf of [President Arroyo], and with her husband the star, [there is] no way they can give their usual safe answer of ‘hands off,’ especially when most people think that [a] power play is involved,” Villanueva said.
Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño agreed, saying the fact that the attempt arrest took place in Malacañang, showed the First Gentleman and the President shared “the same sense of vendetta and impunity against their critics.”
The case against Gonzalez stemmed from an article she contributed to Newsbreak magazine about the problems President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was taking into office with her after the 2004 polls.
In the article, Gonzalez wrote that the First Gentleman as “perceived to be crooked and perceived to use his influence over appointments.”
Remulla, however, said he was no longer surprised by the supposed abuse of authority.
“So, what else is new, right?” he said.
But, he added, “To accept this [attempt to arrest Gonzalez] would be to succumb to the [power] drunks.”
Marcoleta, on the other hand, said as an “alagad [servant],” he was duty-bound to foster peace and unity among people and within society.
“I understand how the arrest warrant of Mia Gonzales can [send] chill[s] down her spine considering gender sensibilities and with respect to her job as a media practitioner, while it could be [First Gentleman] Arroyo's sense of vindication that led him to file the two-year old libel case,” he pointed out.
Nevertheless, Marcoleta said a warrant of arrest can be served anywhere the accused is found, although he added that caution should be observed so as not to project overreaction or offend sensibilities.
He also acknowledged that any action in favor of the President's husband would always be perceived as partial and a display of influence and power.
