Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor on Saturday defended the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 9 commander and his men for arresting former social welfare and development secretary Corazon 'Dinky' Soliman and Vicente Romano III at the Baywalk area in Malate, Manila last night.

Defensor said he only heard of the arrest from news reports but added the policemen who arrested Soliman and Romano were just enforcing the law.

Soliman and Romano were ordered release on Friday night by fiscal Glenda Ramos, Manila City Court assistant prosecutor for lack of merit following her arrest for allegedly violating BP 880 or the Illegal Assembly Act of 1985.

Ramos questioned the conduct of arrest made by the police team under Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, commander of MPD Station 9, noting that the "march" by Soliman's group did not cause obstacle or obstruction to the public.

Soliman and Romano were released pending further investigation.

Soliman maintained that her group called the Black and White Movement were only strolling along the Baywalk area in Roxas Boulevard, when they were arrested.

While Ramos ordered the release of Soliman and Romano, she also asked her to appear for preliminary hearing on Monday, March 20.

Soliman who was with Romano, convenor of the Black and White Movement, were arrested near the Ariostopcrat restaurant in Roxas Boulevard.

After the arrest, the two were brought to the MPD Station 9 and then transferred to the MPD general assignment section for questioning.

Former president Corazon Aquino and her son Rep. Benigno Aquino III (2D, Tarlac) went to the MPD station to visit Soliman and Romano.

Soliman was one of thge members of the Hyatt 10 who withdrewq support from President gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.-GMANews.TV