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Honasan met with Gloria Arroyo in Malacañang

Update: Honasan assures Arroyo no more coups, Bunye says.

By Fe Zamora, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Inquirer

Independent senatorial candidate Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan said he had a 15-minute meeting with President Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacañang Thursday night where he sought to “clear the air” about his cases at the justice department.

The President responded by saying: “If you think you are innocent, then go through due process,” Honasan said, quoting Ms Arroyo.

“There was no commitment, and I did not also ask for a commitment. I just wanted to clarify the issues and clear the air,” Honasan yesterday told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

“If I had a deal with Malacañang, why are they still trying to upgrade my case? There is an effort to cancel my bail and send me back to jail. This is harassment,” he also said.

Honasan said he went there to deliver a letter to the President where he also asked to be clarified about the cases against him, especially after the DOJ had ordered to upgrade the charges for the fourth time.

He said the meeting with the President was arranged by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and retired Justice Hugo Gutierrez, “who are my legal advisers.”

“I am in the middle of the campaign, trying to make up for lost time, and they try to pull me out from the campaign to attend a court hearing. This is harassment,” Honasan said.

Ill-advised move

GO senatorial bet Panfilo “Ping” Lacson questioned his mistah’s decision to meet with the President.

“If I have a case, why would I talk to PGMA? I won’t go to PGMA. You should be consistent whether you’re administration or opposition,” Lacson told reporters yesterday.

“That is an ill-advised move on the part of my classmate. People cannot help but perceive or at least suspect there’s something going on between him and PGMA. If I were him I would not do that. People are looking at a candidate’s consistency. If they see you lose consistency, you lose a lot of votes,” said Lacson. “But I hope it will not cost him votes, or [that] he gets a bad perception from this. After all, I am voting for him, I’m supporting him.”

Lacson was at a loss as to why Honasan approached the President.

“Why would he do that? I really don’t know [if there’s a deal]. I still believe in his integrity. We cannot prevent people from speculating, and that’s bad,” he said.

Lacson also questioned why the President would give special access to the person whom the government has accused of leading a mutiny against her.

Reconciliation?

In contrast, Team Unity senatorial bets Vicente “Tito” Sotto and Michael Defensor welcomed the news of Honasan’s meeting with the President.

“I am not surprised at all by the meeting. We had discussed the matter before that the best way to help the country move forward was to have reconciliation,” said Sotto, a close ally of Honasan.

Defensor said the President’s willingness to keep her doors open even to Honasan should prove the sincerity of her administration to heal the wounds that have divided the country.

“I hope people take this in a good light that the President was just showing that she has continued to extend her hand of peace to her detractors for the sake of the country,” said Defensor, who previously advocated Honasan’s inclusion in the administration slate during its formation.

‘Highly unusual’

At the hearing yesterday at the Makati Regional Trial Court, Honasan cried harassment following the filing of amended information by government prosecutors indicting him as the alleged leader of the failed Oakwood mutiny in July 2003.

The presiding judge, Oscar Pimentel, gave Honasan’s camp 15 days or until May 19 to file their comments or opposition in court.

Honasan said the filing of additional information in the coup d’etat and rebellion charges against him was “highly unusual,” with the elections only two weeks away.

He said this was a clear manifestation that Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, through the DOJ prosecutors panel, was doing everything to pin rebellion charges against him, other civilians and the Magdalo leaders.

This is pure and simple harassment. Gusto lang nilang harangin ang pangangampanya ko dahil lumulusot ako sa mga surveys (They just want to stop me from campaigning because surveys showed I am likely to win),” Honasan said in a statement sent to the Inquirer.

Same affidavits

State Prosecutor Juan Nadera said the explicit naming of Honasan as the alleged leader was based on previous affidavits of witnesses who claimed the senator was active in the recruitment and meetings of the Magdalo group.

“We now allege that [Honasan] is the leader, director, recruiter and commander of the July 27, 2003 coup, unlike in previous information where he was simply linked to the mutiny, ” Nadera said. “We are basically dealing with the same affidavits of witnesses. We really needed to explicitly allege his leadership.”

Part of the plan

Asked to react on Honasan’s claims of harassment, Gonzalez said that the former rebel soldier had called him to ask “if he can sort of attack me as part of his campaign. It was part of his plan,” the justice secretary told the Inquirer yesterday.

Gonzalez said he told Honasan to make sure “his attacks were well-founded.”

Gonzalez added that he relayed Honasan’s plan to the President who said: “Don’t allow it, don’t allow him to attack you,” the justice secretary said, quoting Ms Arroyo.

He also said Honasan’s case was already out of his hands since the DOJ panel had filed the charges against the senatorial candidate.

The DOJ panel, in its April 18 resolution, said the witnesses against Honasan had attested that he was the “driving force” behind the recruitment and organization of a group of military officers to overthrow the government through force and violence. With reports from Julie M. Aurelio and Leila B. Salaverria
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=64194

Published inElection 2007

57 Comments

  1. BLACK KNIGHT BLACK KNIGHT

    Gringo Honasan, being a Peemayer, has already forgotten the virtues that PMA had taught him–Courage, Integrity, Loyalty. Moreso, he had forgotten also the Cadet’s Honor Code–a cadet does lie, cheat, steal, and tolerate any of these. Gringo is a liar!

  2. Mrivera Mrivera

    another point of strengthening my resolve in withdrawing support from honasan. but, i pity him for making himself lowly infront of the cheat and liar!

  3. parasabayan parasabayan

    He is a disgrace to PMA, alongside the two hemorrhoids! They all are just for self interests! What a shame!
    All the respect I had for him vanished! I hope he loses in the May 14 elections! He is a traitor to his country! How dare him, to be patronizing the NUMBER ONE CRIMINAL of our land-the tiyanak!

  4. indio indio

    GMA and her evil minions are all now in panic mode!they wil do anything to stay in power,even buying gringo et al! they demonizes,charges everybody in the opposition or peolple against them,they tried but failed fo remove mayor binay!they mobilize military personnel in every barangay and this military will stay even after the election where the critical is.they will switched votes in favor of TU and they will do every evil ways to make it 12-0 in favor of TU.and its the work of the military to stop the protest and arrest people without warrant as destabilizer!! the evil GMA and her evil minions plan is so telegraphic,its elementary! we are not dumb and stupid!!especially now that the king of evil is sick and will be sick for the rest of his life!! really God knows how to punish a mega evil!
    to stop all this madness is we all unite to oust GMA,once GMA ousted there will be true peace in the land and thats the time this country will move on!!

  5. cocoy cocoy

    Who can trust Honasan? Even his wife don’t trust him. The meeting he has with Arroyo is a close door secrecy. Gloria just want to check the loaded weapon of Gringo and make sure that he zipped his pants before leaving the conference room.

  6. Elvira Sahara Elvira Sahara

    Had a closed door chit-chat with the biggest cheater of them all? He, who was once her no. 1 protester? Who is fooling who?
    The two are BOTH big LIARS! SSSSHOOOOOH!!!!!

  7. Going to the tyrant’s HQ means you are seeking something!

    sanabagan!

  8. Mrivera Mrivera

    GO senatorial bet Panfilo “Ping” Lacson questioned his mistah’s decision to meet with the President.

    “If I have a case, why would I talk to PGMA? I won’t go to PGMA. You should be consistent whether you’re administration or opposition,” Lacson told reporters yesterday.
    “…. If I were him I would not do that. People are looking at a candidate’s consistency. If they see you lose consistency, you lose a lot of votes,” said Lacson…… or [that] he gets a bad perception from this. After all, I am voting for him, I’m supporting him.”

    hindi kaya nahihiya si honasan sa todo suporta pa rin ni ping sa kanya sa kabila ng ginawa niyang “pagpapakababa” sa harap ng pinakamababang uri ng hayup sa balat ng lupa?

  9. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Trese ang TU kandidato ni Gloria. Nagmano si Gringo kay Gloriang Tiyanak para hindi mabiktima sa dagdag-bawas ni Comelec Chairman Abalos. Siguro ito ang payo ang kanyang padrino na si Senador Juan Ponce Enrile. Kawawa ang mga kulelat sa TU. Palagay ko sila ang maging biktima sa dagdag-bawas pabor kay Gringo. Tahimik ngayon si Enrile sa walang tigil na pandarambong sa Philcomsat. What’s cooking Gringo?

  10. Now, I know why I never agreed to include Honasan in my GO campaign. May nagsabi pa sa akin when I refused to include Mr. Noted na si Honasan na lang ang idagdag ko. No way! It’s because I have a strict rule against adulterers unless they have reformed. Otherwise, my support is with a big question mark! Frankly, we have vigorously campaigned only for Trillanes, and some relatives of mine running for government positions in my mother’s home province.

    I just learned in fact that we are related to Farinas who is running as governor versus Imee, who is a distant relative likewise, but she is not Ilocano, and not a native of the province, so she is out. Ablan is also another relative but I am vigorously campaigning against him! Anybody who can connive with the devil is verbotten as far as I am concerned.

    Katwiran ko kasi, demonyo lang ang puedeng makipagkutsaba sa isang demonya like Mrs. Pidal. Birds of the same feather flock together.

    Sayang si Honasan? I don’t think so. Para sa akin, good riddance siya!

  11. Diego,

    13? Malas iyan! Friday, the 13th ang labas! But good omen para sa galit kay Mrs. Pidal! Malapit na siyang maging history!

  12. chi chi

    Si Gringo pala ang HUDAS! Tangnang Gringo! Buti nga at nagluno siya bago mag-eleksyon!

  13. Mrivera Mrivera

    chi,

    meron kasing nagtutulak sa kanya upang gawin ang tuluyang pagtatraydor sa bayan upang matugunan naman ang pansariling interes, si juan ponce enrile, ang kontemporaryo ni siraulo gagonggonzalez na ayaw pa ring mamahinga sa pulitika gayung unti unti nang tinatawag ng lupa.

    kung merong mas hudas, iyan si enrile!

    si gringo ay pumapayag lamang sapagkat wala ring pagpipilian. subalit kahit ano pang gawing dahilan o ikatwiran, SIRANG SIRA na ang kanyang pangalan!

    sayang! baron siya noon, ang labas niya ngayon, kabron.

  14. chi chi

    Mrivera,

    Ang laaht ng tao ay merong pagpipilian, maliban kung aksidente ang nangyayari. As you said, Enrile forces him to do an embarassment to himself, tapos e sinusunod naman niya. O di ba malinaw na choice niya ang pakikipagkita sa demonyang Tianak? The choice we make is who we are!

    Anyways, Gringo promised there’s no more coup! Why, is he capable of launching coup on his own?! Overrated Gringo!

    Pero talagang sirang-sira na s’ya! Alam mo ba na siya ang choice na ika-12 ng local opposition sa aming bayan noon. Pero ibinagsak s’yang bigla ng magkaroon ng deal with the evil one in EK.

    Sayang talaga ang kanyang sinimulan, hindi niya kayang labanan ang sistema!

    GO Trillanes GO!

    ***

    Ano ba ang kabron?

  15. Mrivera Mrivera

    chi,

    ang kabron ay kahalintulad ng tulisan.

  16. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Tama kayo, ang numero 13 ay malas. Tambakan ng mga Judas ang T.U.T.A. team ni Gloria. Si dating Gintong Alay sportsman Michael Keon ang kandidatong gobernador laban kay Rudy Farinas. Umatras si Imee Marcos at ibinigay sa kanyang pinsan Ilocos Norte kagawad Michael Marcos Keon. Sabi Rudy Farinas hindi raw tatakbo kapag si Imee ang kalaban dahil siya daw ay masipag at masigasig. Sila Bongbong at Roquito Ablan ay run-away winners at parehong nasa opposisyon.

  17. Diego, I think Ablan is pro-Gloria.

  18. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    According to Ernesto Maceda during GO sortie in Ilocos Norte last month Roquito Ablan is an adopted UNO candidate. I don’t know what happens next after Maceda’s proclamation. Sigurista si Ablan.

  19. Never ever liked Honasan. He’s bogus as any bogus persona can be. He is not fit to be in the Senate just as he wasn’t fit to be in the military.

  20. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    ABS-CBN banner Honasan: No more coup vs Arroyo
    A former Army colonel accused of plotting to overthrow President Arroyo has given her his personal assurance he will not try to oust her and sought her help with the charges, Malacañang said Saturday.

    This is a flimsy alibi. In fact, Gringo’s R.A.M. is toothless and most senior members are retired or appointed to juicy government positions. A well-fed soldiers /sailors won’t stage a mutiny or hunger strike. How can Honasan launch a coup? Imposible Senor Gringo. Tell that to the Marines!

  21. chi chi

    The news of no coup by Gringo is only a camouflage of the real deal. Ano ang magagawa ng isa nang supot?! Ang tunay na deal ay pananalunin ni Tianak si Gringo at hindi siya pipirma sa impeach moves ng Senate. In short, si Gringo ay isa ng tunay na KAPON!

  22. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Kapon at supot pa katulad ni Esperon.

  23. penoyko penoyko

    kay TRILLANES pa rin ako. Gringo is HISTORY. mahina rin pala ang paninindigan at nangibabaw ang sariling interest. WHAT A SHAME!!

  24. Elvira Sahara Elvira Sahara

    Sa Gensan daw, sabi ng kaibigan ko, Honasan isn’t even known as a candidate. Kaya history na siya doon! Isa pa,why would a a sane voter support an insane candidate?
    Kaya…sorry na lang siya, itim palang kulay niya!
    Let’s GO for Trillanes!!!

  25. jojovelas2005 jojovelas2005

    “Gringo had all the powers of a Senator
    but he never used it to pin down one erring general in the military which he accuses of corruption.”

    Si Trillanes talaga ang matapang…while in detention he named
    Esperon, AFP chief, ordered soldiers to cheat for President Arroyo’s senatorial candidates in next month’s mid-term elections.
    Sa tingin ko Trillanes has a big support inside the military camp mukhang di siya ma gag ni Esperon.

    After na magkaroon si Trillanes ng media access, tumaas ang ranking niya sa survey..sayang
    at kulang na ang panahon siguro kung maaga siyang nabigyan ng access sa media and was allowed to bail
    he is a sure winner.

  26. Sampot Sampot

    Si Honasan ay parang “pressure relief valve” na bubukas tuwing mataas na ang pressure.

    Sa Social Engineering kailangan merong “outlet” ang tao sa mga hinaing nito, kundi’y baka sasabog bigla sa isang rebolusyon.

    Kunwari ramdam nya ang problema ng bayan, ngunit pag-nakaupo na wala ka nang maririnig.

    Marami ang may ganitong trabaho sa bayan natin.

    ____________

    M’Ellen thanks for the clarification.

  27. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    BK says “Gringo is a liar!”

    I agree with you 100%. The only time Gringo is telling the truth is when he keep his mouth shut, with a grin – like a Mona Lisa smiling!

  28. Emilio_OFW Emilio_OFW

    Kakasuka ang mukha ni Tiyanak sa The World Tonight (wala naman audio habang inilalabas niya ang kanyang gilagid at may papungay-punay pa ng mga mata).

    Bahagi ito ng balita ng si Gringo ay makipag-kita sa kanya sa Malacanang.

  29. chi chi

    Ha?! The Tianak was mesmerized by Gringo, papungay pa ng mata! Ang landi talaga ng bruha! Baka feel niya na maging no3 ni Gringo! bwahahaah!

    Emil,

    Tama ka, Mona Lisa smile ang pinakawalan ni Gringo kay Tianak! Siguro ay nag-“blow-a-kiss” naman si Glue nang papaalis ng EK si Gringo! Yuck, kadiri ang babaeng baliw na ito!

  30. chi chi

    # cocoy Says:

    May 5th, 2007 at 4:17 pm

    Who can trust Honasan? Even his wife don’t trust him. The meeting he has with Arroyo is a close door secrecy. Gloria just want to check the loaded weapon of Gringo and make sure that he zipped his pants before leaving the conference room.
    ***

    Cocoy, ganyan nga yata ang nangyari kasi after that ay papungay-pungay na si Glue ng mata, nakita sa tv!

  31. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Bakit asim pa si Glue? heheeeh!

  32. chi chi

    Cocoy,

    Meron pa bang asim si Glue. Tanong me and Ka Diego. hehehehey!

  33. cocoy cocoy

    Diego and Chi;
    Maybe,Esperon,Honasan,Ermita,Raula Gonzales,Posporo Pitsay and Gringo can answer that question,because they love Gloria very much.Who does not want free with extra pocket money?That offer is very hard to resist,I just close my eyes and think about Jennifer Anniston.

  34. Magno,

    Huwag mong sisihin si Enrile. Kung ayaw ni Gringo, hindi naman siya mapipilit. Ipinakita lang niyang wala rin siyang yagbol. Puro paporma lang! Wala talagang maaasahan sa mga babaero. Kung Diyos nga sinusuway nila e, batas pa ng tao?! Sayang ang boto mo!

  35. Diego,

    Ablan is not Opposition. He is a diehard Pidal emissary. Galit ako diyan kahit kamag-anak ng nanay ko!

  36. cocoy cocoy

    Chi;
    I change my mind,I am not going to take the offer,I need to think, but,first I want to watch movie the Spiderman.Grabe ang pila kahapon pa,Kanina nainis ako ang haba na ng pila at wala akong makitang parking space.Maybe,by Monday na lang ako manood baka wala ng pila.

  37. Etnad Etnad

    Sabi ni chi “Si Gringo pala ang HUDAS!” …..

    Isama mo na rin diyan si Sotto …. parehas sila na pag ngumiti …. ngiting HUDAS ….

  38. cocoy cocoy

    Wala sila sa katangian ni Hudas kaibigan,dahil si Hudas ay nagsisi at nagbigti ng narealized niya na mali ang nagawa niya,sila?Puedi pa natin sabihin kampon ni Satanas dahil kahit na akong gawin walang pagsisisi na aasahan.Naging Santo pa nga si Hudas.St.Jude.

  39. Nakakasuka talaga si Honasan. A true soldier does not kowtow to a bogus president and a criminal at that! Pare-pareho lang sila sa totoo lang!

    PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA! IBASURA ANG ADMINISTRASYON! IBOTO ANG OPOSISYON 10+0! Definitely NO TO TUTA!

  40. chi chi

    Ellen, off topic lang.

    Cocoy,

    Magkaiba si Judas Escariot at St Jude Thaddeus. Iyong una ay hindi naging santo pero nagsisi nga sa huli, while St. Jude Thaddeus is patron saint of impossible cases and hopeless causes.

    Anyway, ang mga hudases na Gringo, Sotto, Oreta na ngayon ay humahalik sa mabahong Tianak ay bumaligtad sa kanilang mga naunang paniniwala na si Glue ang embodiment of all that is wrong and ugly! Traydor sila kahit sa mga sarili!

  41. rose rose

    chi- “Si Gringo ay si Hudas”- kaya ang dapat itawag ngayon sa kanya ay Hudasan.Gringo Hudasan . Japanese way of asking-Is Gringo Hudas-san? Hi!

  42. chi chi

    Heheh, Gringo Hudasan! Rose, Oks na Oks!

  43. Sampot Sampot

    Si Glue? Wala na asim ‘yan, puro alat na lang!

  44. cocoy cocoy

    Sampot:
    Mahirap mag-araro pag tuyo ang lupa,mababluktot ang talim ng araro kahit na buffalo pa ang manghila.Basain muna at patubigan.

  45. Sampot Sampot

    cocs:

    Kahit binagyo at binaha ng isang linggo ayoko pa ring araruhin iyon. Iba-ibang araru na ata ang nagbuldoze do’n.

    Itong si Ungasan talagang naglalaro sa pansariling interes lang. Maraming natutunan yan sa mentor niya. Puro daldal lang ang puhunan nito, di dumaan sa apoy ng digmaan sa Mindanao.

  46. Mrivera Mrivera

    kayong dalawa, wala nang inisip kundi mag-araro, eh ubos na yata ang binhi ninyong ihahasik!

  47. Mrivera Mrivera

    yuko,

    hindi ko sinisisi si enrile, ISINUSUKA ko siya sapagkat isa siyang tipaklong sa mundo ng pulitika dahil sa ugali niyang patalon talon kung saan siya nagiging ligtas at mabubusog. isang uri ng nilalang na ang prinsipyo ay naiiwan sa kanyang nilakaran sa pag-usad ng kanyang buhay.

  48. Magno,

    Mahirap pumasok sa politika sa Pilipinas kundi ka talagang matatag. Si Orly Mercado nga na-corrupt din e. Si Enrile pa. Kamag-anak din ng mother ko ang isang iyan sa totoo lang. Nakakalungkot nga kasi magaling sana, pero mukhang naulol na rin.

  49. Rose,

    Ok na OK ang Hudasan mo. Buti na lang hindi pa nakaboto ang kaibigan ko. Iboboto sana niya si Hudasan, pero ngayon hindi na!

  50. Mrivera Mrivera

    yuko,

    walang pulitiko ang hindi “nakayapak ng tae” habang nakapuwesto. depende lamang ‘yan sa pagharap sa tungkulin at balansehin ang dapat pakitunguhan.

    meron din naman tayong mangilangilang matitinong lingkod bayan, ang problema nga lamang, dinadaig sila ng mga sukab na mang-aagaw.

  51. Magno,

    Sabi nga ng isang kaibigan ko, mahirap daw maging malinis sa pugad ng mga baboy! Sabi niya, “No matter how clean you are, no matter how many times you take a bath and put on perfume, when you are in a pig’s pen, you will still smell like those pigs!” Tama naman, di ba? Ganyan ang politika sa Pilipinas, apparently, lalo na ngayon mga baboy ang nakaupo. Yikes!

  52. cocoy cocoy

    Pareng Mrivera;
    Sinu-survey lang namin ni Sampot ang situation kung tutubo pa kaya ang kamoteng kahoy na ibaon sa lupa at kung ilang pulgada ang haba ng kamoteng kahoy na bubunutin.

  53. chi chi

    Sinong pinatutungkulan ninyo, si Glueria Landilera?! Isinuko na ni Gringo kay Tianak ang lahat, pati na ang kanyang Mona Lisa smile!

    Gringo, nakakatulog ka ba ng mahimbing after a quickie meet with the Tianak in her EK? Ipinagkanulo mo ang mga naniniwala sa iyo, Hudasan!

  54. TonGuE-tWisTeD TonGuE-tWisTeD

    Susmaryopes, cocoy. Anong kamoteng kahoy? Ang bagay sa “maasim” na si Gloria e maasim din. Tama na siguro sa kanya ang kamyas ni IpDye!

  55. Mrivera Mrivera

    tongue,

    kamyas?

    alin ba, ‘yung bubot pang kagagaling sa bulaklak o ‘yung laos na sa hinog na malabnaw na ang katas na munting sagi mo lang ay malalaglag?

  56. Dondi Indick Dondi Indick

    BY the way, Judas Iscariot is a saint and has always been a saint. If he committed the worst crime in his life by betraying Jesus, he found mercy, forgiveness and grace from the Lord. He did what the Lord had asked him and that to betray a friend. No one else amongst the 13 apostles had the gut to do what he did. Had Peter did what Judas did, would you consider Peter the traitor and Judas the saint? Who else Jesus would have asked to betray him and commit suicide later? Remember, they all ran away when Jesus was arrested. Judas played a crucial role in the life of Christianity albeit the bad guy. We have a statue of Judas Iscariot at home sitting amongst other religious statues. He may not be a saint to the people on earth but he is certainly a saint in the eyes of the Lord.

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