NBI inspects Cojuangco’s Dasma house; Sindayen summoned anew

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) disclosed Tuesday that a bureau team conducted on Monday, an ocular inspection at the house of former congressman Jose Cojuangco in Makati City. The conduct of the ocular inspection at Conjuangco’s house was part of the on-going probe regarding a Time Asia Magazine story on the coup plot allegedly hatched at Cojuangco’s house. Arnel Dalumpines, NBI special task force (STF) executive officer, said the ocular inspection at Cojuangco’s house in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City lasted for two hours. “An STF team conducted the ocular inspection to get a clearer picture of what really transpired on the eve of February 23, 2006," Dalumpines said. “The former congressman was right when he earlier said that his house was too big and it could accommodate several people at the time." Dalumpines said it was possible that not all people inside the house, including Cojuangco, could hear the supposed telephone conversation of Pastor Saycon and Brigadier General Danilo Lim. “Lim had denied that he talked to Saycon," he said. Dalumpines expressed hope that Time Asia Magazine’s Manila correspondent Nelly Sindayen would finally surface at the NBI to shed light on her published report on the alleged coup plot to oust president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Dalumpines noted that Sindayen remains a key to the ongoing probe. “Should she fail to appear again, then we might be forced to subpoena her," Dalumpines said. He said Sindayen was invited to appear before the NBI last March 3 and March 6 but failed to do so. “The NBI has been waiting for her until March 10," Dalumpines said. Dalumpines said Sindayen must appear and give her statement since she was the source of the story. “In the very place, she (Sindayen) was the source of the story. If she has a source of the story, then we cannot force her to reveal the identity of her source because journalists have Code of Ethics to follow. But this is different because she herself was the source of the information," Dalumpines said. Sindayen wrote on March 6, 2006, that Pastor Saycon of COPA reportedly met with Cojuangco at his residence in Dasmarinas Village in Makati on the evening of February 23, to supposedly plan the coup. Many officials and businessmen reportedly joined the meeting. Both Cojuangco, brother of former President Corazon Aquino, and Brigadier General Danilo Lim, head of the elite Army First Scout Ranger Regiment based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, had earlier appeared at the NBI in separate occasions and denied involvement to a coup plot. Saycon who was also earlier linked to past destabilization plot against the Arroyo government also denied involvement in the reported coup plot.-GMANews.TV