Lunch Coup

Written on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 am | by Patricio Mangubat

Human rights lawyer Homobono Adaza and three ex-AFP officers were arrested yesterday afternoon. Sources say they were going to eat lunch together when agents of the CIDG pounced on them. They were immediately hauled to Camp Crame for questioning and later brought to the PNP hospital for the routine medical checkup.

And what was the alleged crime? It’s the nebulous crime of concocting a coup in their minds. What a downer!

Is there a crime such as this?

I’ve been a law student and nowhere do I find such a crime existing under the Revised Penal Code. There must be an overt act emanating from the “desire” to commit a crime, before an act can be considered criminal.

Going to lunch with the intention of discussing a crime is not punishable under our laws. One can discuss committing a crime all day or all year if one wants, but without an overt act, it’s nothing.

Reports say lawyer Raymund Fortun was the one who filed a complaint against Adaza. It is not clear why Fortun did that stupid thing. Maybe Fortun wants to gain publicity again?

Authorities should release these men from detention. If they don’t do this within 48 hours, they are liable for illegal detention.

Something deeper

Was Adaza’s arrest connected with the recent successes in court by the Marine standoff officers? Adaza stands counsel to legendary Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the original founders of the Young Officers Union (YOU). Was this an attempt to deprive Querubin of rightful counsel?

Or, this is part of government efforts to nip a budding destabilization attempt? Remember that the Black and White Movement announced early yesterday that they’ll be launching weekly Friday mobilizations prior to the opening of Congress this July. Is this part of it?

Reports also say that former Col. Raffy Cardeno, the alleged brains behind the slaying of former YOU spokesman Baron Cervantes was also caught. However, if this is true, then Raffy should have been arraigned along with the four other men arrested. As this is being written, no word as to the arrest of Cardeno.

One thing is clear–government is cracking down its enemies. And for what? I thought government has already extended the olive branch to the opposition. I thought there’s a political truce already? Why all these?

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About The Author: Patricio Mangubat is a pseudonym. It means "country fight". Yet, the one behind this name is real. He can be briefly described as a long-time activist as well as a communication strategist. He blogs at The New Philippine Revolution.

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Comments

5 Responses to “Lunch Coup”

  1. Ding G. Gagelonia on July 3rd, 2008 5:40 pm

    This episode reminds me of former American president jimmy Carter whoss admission to Playboy magazine that he “once lusted in his heart” was criticized by ultra conservative Americans as if Carter himself had committed a sex crime.

    While ‘Bono’ Adaza, the outspoken person that he is, has told many friends he “no longer believes in elections,” such remarks can hardly be considered a crime.

    Along the same lines, do our statutes now also prohibit ‘thought-crimes’?

    Are we now living in George Orwell’s ‘1984′ where it was the job of the Thought Police to uncover and punish thoughtcrime and thought-criminals?

    Does our own Philippine National Police now employ using psychology and omnipresent surveillance from telescreens to find and eliminate members of society who were capable of the mere thought of challenging ruling authority?

    We certainly hope the government of the day does not aspire to control the speech, actions,and thoughts of its ’subjects’.

    We may be somewhat docile but…

  2. Manuel L. Quezon III: The Daily Dose » Blog Archive » If you can’t beat ‘em, distract ‘em on July 3rd, 2008 5:42 pm

    […] its existence to spook the plotters? Maybe. If inconsequential, why bother bringing it up at all? Patricio Mangubat sarcastically points out that if anything, imagining’s become a […]

  3. J on July 3rd, 2008 11:53 pm

    Well, if I’m not mistaken, Adaza was arrested for extortion.

    He was allegedly blackmailing a Japanese businessman into ginving him 4 million dollars, which will be used to fund a coup against GMA.

  4. TonGuE-tWisTeD on July 4th, 2008 8:04 am

    J,
    It’s unbelievable. As if there is a compelling need to explain to the extortion victim how his money will be spent.

    It’s like this - “Holdap ito, akin na ang pera mo at cellphone. Pag hindi, papatayin kita kasi kailangan kong bumili ng granada sa Camp Crame para pasabugin si Meyor Kurakot sa susunod na Biyernes alas tres ng hapon.”

    And are they telling us Bono is THAT stupid? In the first place, Bono is a “veteran” when it comes to non-existent laws. In 1990, he demolished the charges by then Justice Secretary Fraklin Drilon of “Rebellion complexed with multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder” after the bloody December ‘89 coup attempt on the simple grounds that the crime does not exist. His case and Enrile’s were both dismissed.

    And why would they file one just like it today? “Proposing to commit Coup d’Etat” daw. Hahahaha!

  5. Bencard on July 13th, 2008 12:12 am

    you guys should check art. 136, sec. 5 of the revised penal code. ignorance is no excuse, even if you’re only posting in cyberspace, but worst, if you’re laughing “sarcastically” for thinking you got it right.

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