Arroyo's emergency order faces legal challenge
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-28 13:45

STANDOFF AT HOUSE

Five leftist politicians wanted for questioning spent the night at the lower house of Congress and said they would not leave until police produced warrants.

"We have received a copy of the complaint but we have not received the original document," said Congressman Teodoro Casino.

Jose de Venecia, head of the lower house, said on Monday he had agreed to turn over Casino and the other four leftist lawmakers to the justice department.

Also wanted was Gregorio Honasan, a former army colonel and senator hailed as a hero in the 1986 "people power" uprising that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy.

Known as "Gringo," Honasan has been linked to most of the coup attempts since then, including bloody revolts by soldiers in 1987 and 1989 against President Corazon Aquino.

Responding to concern about press freedom under the emergency, national police chief Arturo Lomibao said on Monday that the authorities would not suppress any views as long as they were not fomenting rebellion or sedition.

"Freedom is never absolute," he said.

While Arroyo's crackdown has been relatively benign so far, with no troops on the streets, emergency rule is a very sensitive issue after nine years of martial law during the Marcos era.

There is also a weary sense of familiarity after more than a dozen revolts in the last 20 years from within the demoralized, graft-ridden and poorly equipped military.

"The sooner the Filipino soldier learns to keep his nose out of politics, the better it will be," the Philippine Star said in an editorial.