Malacanang on Wednesday welcomed the Office of the
Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss treason and inciting to sedition charges
against people who signed the peace agreement between the state and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO)
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said they are elated with the Ombudsman’s
decision to dismiss the charges against Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, peace negotiators led by Miriam Coronel-Ferrer
and Mohagher Iqbal, and members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
”Yes, they were performing their duties in promoting the
peace process,” he said.
Ombudsman Investigator Fatima Kristine Franco, in a
resolution dated May 17, 2016 and approved by Ombudsman Conchita
Carpio-Morales, affirmed the referral resolution of the Manila City
Prosecutor’s Office recommending the dismissal of the charges against the peace
panel members.
The cases were filed by former Manila Mayor Joselito
Atienza, Abakada Partylist Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz, and two others.
The complainants alleged that members of the government’s
and the MILF’s negotiating panel as well as several others committed treason
and inciting to sedition when they pushed for the signing of the Comprehensive
Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in March 2014 as well as the passage of a
measure for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
However, the Ombudsman, after conducting its own
investigation, upheld the findings of the Manila City Prosecutors’ Office,
which failed to find merit on the case.
The resolution explained that “the mere act of proposing a
draft of the BBL, which was introduced as a bill - but failed to pass the
deliberation - before the Congress of the Philippines
“Complainants failed to present evidence showing that an act
of sedition exists. Since there is no sedition, it follows that respondents
could not have taken part in such activity. No proof was likewise presented
showing that respondents had uttered, written, or held any program, which
instigated the public to rise against the government,” it said.
“This Office likewise upholds the dismissal of the charge of
treason. The act of respondents in drafting and proposing the BBL does not
amount to ‘levying war’ against the Republic of the Philippines, or adhering to
her enemies; at any rate, treason is a war crime and cannot be committed in
time of peace, as in the present case,” it added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=893102
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