DOJ suspends filing of counter-affidavits in sedition case
By AJ Siytangco
Published Aug 9, 2019 03:52 pm
By Jeffrey Damicog
State prosecutors on Friday (August 9) suspended the filing of counter-affidavits after respondents questioned the decision of the Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to file more evidence in the sedition complaint concerning the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” viral videos.
“So, in the meantime, we will defer the submission of the counter-affidavits,” Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, who chairs the panel of prosecutors handling the case, told the parties at the start of the preliminary investigation of the complaint at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Three accused of having committed sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice, (second from left) former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Quezon Representative Erin Tanada, and lawyer Chel Diokno (5th) confers with their counsels Neri Colmenares (extreme left), Rene Saguisag (4th) and Edre Olalia (right) in the preliminary hearing at the Department of Justice Monday. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
With this, Torrevillas ordered the PNP-CIDG to file on August 16 its comment on the motions filed by the respondents, including that of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, asking the PNP-CIDG to produce its additional evidence.
During the hearing, Torrevillas explained the motions questioned a portion of the PNP-CIDG’s complaint which stated that it be allowed to reserve the right to “submit additional evidence” on top of what it has already submitted.
“Hence, the panel decided to suspend and to defer the filing of counter-affidavits pending the resolution of these pending motions,” she explained.
“With or without your comment and opposition, we will have the motions submitted for resolution,” Torrevillas reminded the PNP-CIDG.
Hoping to resolve the motions within the month, Torrevillas tentatively scheduled on September 6 the submission of counter-affidavits by the respondents to refute the allegations against them.
Torrevillas reminded the PNP-CIDG that the panel will only rule based on the evidence presented.
“Only those evidence submitted by the CIDG and only those evidence which are already part of the record will be appreciated and will be considered in solving these cases,” she said.
“So respondents are only obliged to controvert the evidence submitted by the complainant,” she added.
Also, during the proceedings, the panel also directed the PNP-CIDG to provide the respondents copies of the USB thumb drive containing footages which were submitted as evidence.
“Should you fail to comply the panel will not consider this piece of evidence,” Torrevillas warned.
Though the panel has suspended the submission of counter-affidavits, Torrevillas noted that three respondents have already filed counter-affidavits, namely, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the former president Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP); Caloocan City Bishop Pablo David, current CBCP vice president; retired Novaliches City Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
Torrevillas said others who want to file counter-affidavits may also do so.
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 Joemel 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.
Aside from Robredo and Advincula, those who have been named as respondents in the complaint were incumbent Senators Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros and Leila De Lima as well as former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The complaint also named as respondents most of the losing “Otso Diretso” senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party, namely, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, former Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Robredo’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, former Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, former Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, and Samira Gutoc-Tomawis.
Lawyers included in the complaint were former Supreme Court (SC) spokesman Theodore Te, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) President Egon Cayosa, former IBP President Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, Philip Sawali Minerva Ambrosio, Serafin Salvador and someone known only as Chito.
Catholic Church leaders were also respondents in the complaint including Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) vice president and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, former CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, former Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr., activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, and Fr. Alber Alejo.
Other respondents included former Police Sr. Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Jonnell Sangalang, Yolanda Villanueva, Bro. Armin Luistro, Boom Enriquez, Vincent Romano III, Danilo Songco, a certain Monique, Joel Saracho, and Carmelito Salvador.
Three accused of having committed sedition, inciting to sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice, (second from left) former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Quezon Representative Erin Tanada, and lawyer Chel Diokno (5th) confers with their counsels Neri Colmenares (extreme left), Rene Saguisag (4th) and Edre Olalia (right) in the preliminary hearing at the Department of Justice Monday. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
With this, Torrevillas ordered the PNP-CIDG to file on August 16 its comment on the motions filed by the respondents, including that of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, asking the PNP-CIDG to produce its additional evidence.
During the hearing, Torrevillas explained the motions questioned a portion of the PNP-CIDG’s complaint which stated that it be allowed to reserve the right to “submit additional evidence” on top of what it has already submitted.
“Hence, the panel decided to suspend and to defer the filing of counter-affidavits pending the resolution of these pending motions,” she explained.
“With or without your comment and opposition, we will have the motions submitted for resolution,” Torrevillas reminded the PNP-CIDG.
Hoping to resolve the motions within the month, Torrevillas tentatively scheduled on September 6 the submission of counter-affidavits by the respondents to refute the allegations against them.
Torrevillas reminded the PNP-CIDG that the panel will only rule based on the evidence presented.
“Only those evidence submitted by the CIDG and only those evidence which are already part of the record will be appreciated and will be considered in solving these cases,” she said.
“So respondents are only obliged to controvert the evidence submitted by the complainant,” she added.
Also, during the proceedings, the panel also directed the PNP-CIDG to provide the respondents copies of the USB thumb drive containing footages which were submitted as evidence.
“Should you fail to comply the panel will not consider this piece of evidence,” Torrevillas warned.
Though the panel has suspended the submission of counter-affidavits, Torrevillas noted that three respondents have already filed counter-affidavits, namely, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the former president Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP); Caloocan City Bishop Pablo David, current CBCP vice president; retired Novaliches City Bishop Teodoro Bacani.
Torrevillas said others who want to file counter-affidavits may also do so.
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 Joemel 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.
Aside from Robredo and Advincula, those who have been named as respondents in the complaint were incumbent Senators Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros and Leila De Lima as well as former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The complaint also named as respondents most of the losing “Otso Diretso” senatorial candidates of the Liberal Party, namely, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno, former Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Robredo’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, former Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, former Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tanada III, and Samira Gutoc-Tomawis.
Lawyers included in the complaint were former Supreme Court (SC) spokesman Theodore Te, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) President Egon Cayosa, former IBP President Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, Philip Sawali Minerva Ambrosio, Serafin Salvador and someone known only as Chito.
Catholic Church leaders were also respondents in the complaint including Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) vice president and Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, former CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, former Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr., activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, and Fr. Alber Alejo.
Other respondents included former Police Sr. Supt. Eduardo Acierto, Jonnell Sangalang, Yolanda Villanueva, Bro. Armin Luistro, Boom Enriquez, Vincent Romano III, Danilo Songco, a certain Monique, Joel Saracho, and Carmelito Salvador.