Gadon accused respondents of dilatory tactics in sedition raps
Published Aug 12, 2019 04:50 pm
By Jeffrey Damicog
Lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon has accused respondents of resorting to dilatory tactics in the sedition complaint filed against Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo and 35 of her co-accused including members of the opposition.
Lawyer Larry Gadon (RIO DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Gadon made the accusation after lawyers of the respondents last Friday questioned the authority of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to represent the complainant in the case, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
“The lawyers of the respondents merely engaged in dilatory tactics rather than advancing the essence or relevance of their defense,” said Gadon, who is the lawyer of the so-called star witness in the case Peter Joemel Advincula alias Bikoy.
The panel of prosecutors conducting the preliminary investigation of the complaint has already suspended to respondents’ submission of counter-affidavits and has decided to resolve first the pending motions of the respondents including questions regarding the authority of the OSG to represent the PNP-CIDG.
During Friday’s start of the preliminary investigation hearings, lawyers of respondents including Atty. Arno Sanidad and former Sen. Rene Saguisag questioned the presence of Assistant Solicitor General Angelita Miranda as lead counsel of the PNP-CIDG.
In the proceedings, Saguisag told the panel that “the OSG should be the tribune of the people, not tuta (lapdog) of this administration.”
Sanidad represented losing senatorial candidate Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, while, Saguisag is the legal counsel of Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
“I am surprised that Atty. Saguisag would even resort to gutter language as if he is speaking before a communist rally and not in a formal legal proceeding,” Gadon said.
Meanwhile, the panel gave the lawyers until August 16 to file motions questioning the authority of the OSG to lawyer for the PNP-CIDG.
Gadon expressed his support in the decision of the OSG to represent the PNP-CIDG.
“The question on the authority of the Office of the Solgen to represent the CIDG is a legal challenge a lawyer true to his calling would not expect from so called seasoned lawyers like Sanidad and Saguisag,” Gadon said.
In its complaint, the PNP-CIDG accused Robredo and 35 others including members of the opposition of having committed sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice.
The case stemmed from the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” which features the hooded Bikoy, who was revealed to be Peter Joeme Advincula, and accused a number of personalities including family members of President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade.
“As averred by Mr. Advincula, he was engaged by the respondents to spread lies against the President, his family and close associate, making them to appear as illegal trade protectors and how they earned staggering amounts of money,” read the PNP-CIDG complaint.
Lawyer Larry Gadon (RIO DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Gadon made the accusation after lawyers of the respondents last Friday questioned the authority of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to represent the complainant in the case, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
“The lawyers of the respondents merely engaged in dilatory tactics rather than advancing the essence or relevance of their defense,” said Gadon, who is the lawyer of the so-called star witness in the case Peter Joemel Advincula alias Bikoy.
The panel of prosecutors conducting the preliminary investigation of the complaint has already suspended to respondents’ submission of counter-affidavits and has decided to resolve first the pending motions of the respondents including questions regarding the authority of the OSG to represent the PNP-CIDG.
During Friday’s start of the preliminary investigation hearings, lawyers of respondents including Atty. Arno Sanidad and former Sen. Rene Saguisag questioned the presence of Assistant Solicitor General Angelita Miranda as lead counsel of the PNP-CIDG.
In the proceedings, Saguisag told the panel that “the OSG should be the tribune of the people, not tuta (lapdog) of this administration.”
Sanidad represented losing senatorial candidate Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, while, Saguisag is the legal counsel of Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
“I am surprised that Atty. Saguisag would even resort to gutter language as if he is speaking before a communist rally and not in a formal legal proceeding,” Gadon said.
Meanwhile, the panel gave the lawyers until August 16 to file motions questioning the authority of the OSG to lawyer for the PNP-CIDG.
Gadon expressed his support in the decision of the OSG to represent the PNP-CIDG.
“The question on the authority of the Office of the Solgen to represent the CIDG is a legal challenge a lawyer true to his calling would not expect from so called seasoned lawyers like Sanidad and Saguisag,” Gadon said.
In its complaint, the PNP-CIDG accused Robredo and 35 others including members of the opposition of having committed sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice.
The case stemmed from the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” which features the hooded Bikoy, who was revealed to be Peter Joeme Advincula, and accused a number of personalities including family members of President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drugs trade.
“As averred by Mr. Advincula, he was engaged by the respondents to spread lies against the President, his family and close associate, making them to appear as illegal trade protectors and how they earned staggering amounts of money,” read the PNP-CIDG complaint.