Arroyo's Cavite 'heckler' wants charges dropped

The Cavite student who heckled President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in graduation rites last month sought on Tuesday the dismissal of public disorder charges filed against her and three others by Indang, Cavite policemen. "There is not a scintilla of evidence that will amount to probable cause and will justify the filing of a criminal case against us," Ma. Teresa Pangilinan, 24, stated in her two-page counter affidavit that she submitted, together with co-accused Sheryl Villegas and Marlyn Gonzales, during the preliminary investigation of the case. "Even assuming, without admitting, that we were indeed in possession of the red cloth and papers with 'Oust GMA', 'No To Charter Change', and 'Never to Martial Law Again', it is obviously part of our constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of expression," they said. They added that complainants Police Officers 2 Sherwin Chavez and Russel Sierra and PO1 Houdini Cuevas never saw them in the act of committing the alleged crime and acted only based on reports -- “which is nothing more but hearsay." Pangilinan, in a separate statement, said the charges were proof of the government’s insincerity as Press secretary Ignacio Bunye and Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor earlier said that no charges would be filed against them. "Patuloy kaming lalahok sa mga pagkilos ng mamamayan sapagkat ito lamang ang tanging paraan upang kamtin ang karapatan na malaon nang ipinagkait sa ating mamamayan," she said. (We will continue to take part in people’s protest actions because this is the only way we can gain the rights long denied to our people.) PROTEST Pangilinan shouted slogans and displayed an anti-government placard when Mrs. Arroyo began her speech during graduation rites of the Cavite State University last April 21. She was joined by a number of other protesters. She and the other protesters were accosted out of the grounds by police and the President’s security detail, Pangilinan was later allowed to go up the stage to receive her diploma from Mrs. Arroyo. The mass communication graduate was also president of the university’s student council. NOT INVOLVED Another of those accused, Apolinar Dayandayan Jr, denied his involvement in the heckling incident in his own seven-page counter-affidavit. He said he could not have been part of the disturbance as he was seated at the last row of the south side of the grandstand while Pangilinan was at the north side of the field. He added the other group of protesters were at the area reserved for parents and guests. Dayandayan was arrested an hour after the incident while he was lining up to receive his diploma. The police officers also did not have a warrant of arrest.-GMANews.TV