‘People’s court’ members named

Members of the so-called "people’s court" that will try President Arroyo for alleged election fraud in May 2004 and other various offenses were named over the weekend.

The Citizens’ Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA) will convene on Tuesday to begin the public trial of Mrs. Arroyo for alleged election fraud, human rights violation and other anomalies during her four-year-old administration.

Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., presidium of the assembly, said the CCTA will be composed of 1993 Ramon Magsaysay awardee Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, Sr. Mary John Mananzan of St. Scholastica’s College and Dr. Maria Serena Diokno.

The first "hearing" of the court will be held at the "Bahay Alumni" at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City on Tuesday morning.

"The CCTA is not a people’s or kangaroo court, it’s a citizens assembly seeking for truth," Guingona told reporters during a press briefing at his residence in New Manila, Quezon City.

The CCTA was set up as an alternative impeachment court after the House of Representatives dismissed all the three impeachment complaints filed against the President last Sept. 6.

Guingona said the CCTA will not hand out a verdict on whether or not Mrs. Arroyo is guilty, but will submit a record of its proceedings for the people to decide.

Among the issues to be tackled are alleged electoral fraud, corruption in government and human rights violations.

Lawyer Romeo Capulong will serve as the presentor of the citizens assembly. In an earlier statement, Capulong said that "those willing personalities from Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet are welcome to appear at the Congress’ proceedings this November."

"In fact, the Congress Presidium will most likely invite Environment Secretary Michael Defensor because of his confidence and willingness to prove before the Citizens’ Congress that Mrs. Arroyo won the 2004 elections," he added.

Capulong said the people’s congress can accommodate Defensor "and all those who shall be willing to come to the Citizens’ Congress, as official representatives, witnesses or lawyers for Mrs. Arroyo."

However, Defensor, after initially expressing interest to testify in defense of his boss, later backtracked on the advice of senior Palace officials who suggested his presence would only "dignify" the court proceedings.

Also in the list of peope the court would invite is lawyer Pedro Ferrer, Mrs. Arroyo’s counsel who sought to quash the impeachment complaint against her at the House.

Capulong said the CCTA is a serious project being undertaken within the framework of the Constitution.

"The mandate, authority and legitimacy of the Citizens’ Congress is explicitly recognized under Article XIII, Section 15 that states the ‘role of independent people’s organizations to pursue and protect within the democratic framework their legitimate and collective interests and aspirations through peaceful and lawful means,’" he said.