Surrender, RAM tells Honasan

Two military rightist groups and other military-based organizations called yesterday on fugitive Sen. Gregorio Honasan to surrender to authorities as they turned down invitations for them to join a coup plot against the Arroyo admi-nistration.

In a statement, the Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM), the Young Officers Union (YOU), the Guardian Center Foundation Inc. and the Grand Order of the Unified Guardians called on the retired and active soldiers and policemen to renounce attempts to overthrow the government.

"We shall resist any attempts by demagogues and power-hungry politicians to mislead and incite a segment of the populace, the police and the military to subvert and rise against the government and destroy our democratic system," said the RAM statement signed by Commodore Domingo Calajate.

Meanwhile, Honasan dared the government to formally file rebellion charges against him before negotiations for his surrender can take place.

At the same time, Honasan urged the Supreme Court to act expeditiously on his petition questioning the legality and constitutionality of the President’s declaration of a state of rebellion in Metro Manila to quell an assault on Malacañang by rabid Estrada supporters.

Honasan, who is seeking re-election in next Monday’s elections, was considered a fugitive after he defied a government ultimatum that expired last Friday for him to turn himself in.

Honasan’s lawyer Daniel Gutierrez said the senator wants the normal process to take its due course.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said they were verifying reports that Honasan and Lacson were trying to recruit soldiers and policemen for their coup plot.

Reyes said the recruitment drive has been limited so far to retired military and police personnel, as well as those discharged from the service and those who have gone on absence without leave.

"We know they are trying to tap members of the Guardians," Reyes told reporters. "I doubt if they can get people from the active service."

Asked if Honasan would turn himself in, Gutierrez said "it depends on the ruling of the Supreme Court on his petition."

"Honestly, he is willing to reveal himself as long as there are formal charges filed in the normal way," the lawyer said.

Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said the government would be amenable to a "custody on cognizance" for Honasan, either through his lawyer or Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Perez said a meeting with Honasan’s camp may be held again today, possibly with the renegade senator himself in attendance.

Gutierrez said his client was "open to anything so long as it will not jeopardize the case he filed before the SC."

Honasan asked the High Tribunal to declare as unconstitutional the President’s imposition of state of a rebellion in Metro Manila from noon of May 1 to midnight of May 6, which he branded as "martial law in disguise."

Gutierrez argued that Honasan was not in hiding. "He’s just not inclined to broadcast his whereabouts. He is not involved in any destabilization plot effort," he said.

Honasan said the speedy resolution of his petition would help ease the "lingering fear and anxiety" that Mrs. Arroyo may use her extraordinary powers even at the slightest provocation.

"Although it has been lifted, the recent declaration of a state of rebellion left many legal and constitutional questions that have not been satisfactorily answered. This leaves a huge vacuum that may pave the way for a constitutional crisis," Honasan said in a statement.

A cashiered Army colonel who led a series of coup plots in the late ’80s against then President Corazon Aquino, Honasan said the court should intervene to ensure that civil liberties "will not be easily trampled upon by the government."

‘PNP can arrest Ping, Gringo anytime’

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza said the police will arrest Honasan and former PNP chief Panfilo Lacson anytime, even during the elections.

Mendoza said the hunt for Honasan and Lacson will continue without letup. "Efforts to locate them are underway because anytime, we can have the warrant of arrest," Mendoza said, adding that the pertinent cases have been filed in court.

The manhunt also covers Senior Superintendents Michael Ray Aquino and Cesar Mancao, former officers of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force which Lacson also headed, as well as Army Brig. Gen. Marcelino Malajacan and urban poor leaders Ronaldo Lumbao and Cesar Tanega, who are all facing rebellion charges in connection with the Labor Day siege on the Palace.

In another development, re-electionist Sen. Juan Flavier also called on Honasan to give himself up to be able to explain his side on the rebellion charge.

Flavier assured Honasan that he will be accorded due process, saying the fugitive senator’s continued defiance of an arrest order against him will adversely affect his chances at the polls.

For its part, the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) warned of more bomb attacks and other violent incidents in the coming days unless Honasan and Lacson are arrested.

KMU chairman Crispin Beltran said the two fugitives were "known militarists" capable of destabilizing the government.

"Honasan and Lacson knew how much damage their notorious involvement in the May riots has affected their chances of getting elected so it is quite possible that they want to stop the elections by launching more disruptive actions," the labor leader said.

Beltran called on the government to take decisive moves against Honasan and Lacson to assure the public of a peaceful conduct of elections.

"Rumors of bomb threats have frightened a significant segment of the voting populace but everyone will be able to breathe a little easier if Lacson and Honasan are arrested before the elections," Beltran said in a statement. — With reports from Christina Mendez, Mayen Jaymalin, Delon Porcalla, Charlie Lagasca