Tito urges Arroyo: Listen to critics

In his harshest criticism of the Arroyo administration so far, Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. urged Malacañang yesterday to "listen to the people" instead of "recklessly accusing" the administration’s critics of seeking to destabilize the government.

"Those who wield state power should stop seeing ghosts where there are none," Guingona said. "Let us listen to those speaking out against the deepening injustices in our society instead of recklessly accusing them of infidelity to the republic."

He said allegations of military espionage conducted on the opposition’s presidential candidates were "linked to a top official’s bid to stay in power," apparently referring to President Arroyo.

The Vice President’s outburst was triggered by an earlier statement by National bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Reynaldo Wycoco implicating Guingona in an alleged plot by junior military officers to overthrow the government and install a military junta.

Wycoco said a soldier from the "Kawal Pilipino" group, who is now in NBI custody, claimed that the group seeking the resignation of Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita planned to install a provisional government "to be headed by Guingona."

This prompted Guingona to issue a statement Friday night vehemently denying any part in a plot to overthrow the government.

"The Vice President has always been a constitutionalist and defender of democracy all his life," Guingona said in the statement, which was released to media through his spokesman, Danilo Venida. "He would never be a party to any plot that will compromise our freedom."

Guingona also issued another statement, saying that instead of accusing the soldiers of "Kawal Pilipino" of trying to destabilize government, Malacañang should listen to their grievances.

"We must take note that the soldiers who came out with their expose were only heeding the admonition of the Feliciano Commission to use the media if they had legitimate grievances to air and not to use guns or threats of violence," he said.

Last week, five soldiers claiming to be part of "Kawal Pilipino" called for Ermita’s resignation and accused the Defense Secretary of ordering the military to spy on and harass opposition presidential candidates Fernando Poe Jr., Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Raul Roco.

"It is obvious to our people that unwarranted government surveillance of political personalities, including the Vice President, is politically motivated and linked to a top official," Guingona said.

"People Power did not bring down a dictatorship 16 years ago only to allow the emergence of another police state," he added. Guingona opted not to stand for elections to concentrate his efforts on leading Bangon!, a nationalist reform movement composed of civil society and church leaders.

Guingona resigned from the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party over differences with the President. Late last year, he complained that military surveillance operatives were spying on him during his meeting with groups critical of the government.

Briefing reporters in Malacañang Friday, Wycoco said the NBI will file charges of inciting to sedition and conspiracy to commit sedition against Pastor "Boy" Saycon, Jose Montelibano, lawyer Azuden Baltazar and retired police Gen. Pedro Navarro before Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño on Monday.

Acting Justice Secretary Mercedita Gutierrez also instructed Zuño to create a panel to investigate those involved in the destabilization plot.

Gutierrez also ordered Wycoco to coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to unmask other personalities involved in the latest coup threat.

Saycon and Montelibano are part of the Council on Philippine Affairs (COPA), the group which was earlier linked to destabilization plots against the Arroyo administration.

Navarro is the father of Capt. Peter Edwin Navarro, the alleged leader of "Kawal Pilipino." The elder Navarro belongs to a group of retired flag officers who openly declared their support for the candidacy of Poe.

Baltazar has identified himself as Gabay (guide) , the sixth member of "Kawal Pilipino" who appeared on television in his Army uniform and read the group’s manifesto.

Wycoco said the charges against Saycon and his co-accused stemmed from the sworn statements made by Army Captains Marcus Serafica, Mohammad Yusof Hassan and Philip Esmeralda that they had been deceived into supporting the "Kawal Pilipino" group by Saycon and the younger Navarro.