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Master plans for Metro Manila: What to ask and what to look for - Part 1
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- The word war between Sen. Antonio Trillanes and House Minority Floor Leader Danilo Suarez heated up on the issue of allowing former president nowPampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to continue functioning as alawmaker even during her incarceration by ensuring her access to a laptop and mobile phones.
“Stop lying,” Trillanes told Suarez in a press statement issued Sunday morning.
Trillanes said that it is not true that he was allowed by his formercustodians access to computers and mobile phones during the first halfof his six-year term, which he served while under detention first atthe Marine Brig in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig and later at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City from July 2007 to December 2010.
“While I do not begrudge Rep. Suarez for asserting Mrs. Arroyo’s right to serve as an elected representative of Pampanga, he should at least get his facts straight. Contrary to his claim, I was never declared guilty by any court of any offense,” Trillanes said
“Likewise, Mrs. Arroyo’s government did its best to make it difficultif not impossible for me to work while in detention. It is not truethat they allowed me to use mobile phones and computers. They alsobanned me from receiving guests and holding committee hearings whileunder custody,” Trillanes added.
Trillanes argued that he was able to work because of his sheerdetermination and persistence and because of the hard work of hisstaff. “They brought documents to and from the Senate almost every day and found ways for me to stay in touch with my colleagues andconstituents.”
“Admittedly, there were a few times that we were able to secretlybring in mobile phones and laptops but it was against the wishes andnot with the consent of my custodians. In fact, our quarters were regularly subjected to periodic searches because of that,” headded.
Trillanes said that it was only upon the assumption of PresidentBenigno C. Aquino III in July 2010 when his custodians began relaxingthe rules and allowed him to conduct Senate committee hearings at hisplace of detention.
On the issue of the request for continued hospital detention for Mrs.Arroyo, Trillanes said that if Mrs. Arroyo is no longer sick, there isno reason to allow her to continue staying at the Veteran’s MedicalCenter.
“If she is still sick and doctors so recommend, then by all means, lether stay at Veteran’s Medical Center,” Trillanes said. “However, ifshe is already well, there is absolutely no reason she should beallowed to continue to stay at the hospital. That would clearly begiving her special treatment. In our case, we were in fact initiallykept in solitary confinement at the ISAFP. Later on, we were detainedwith the general population of detainees at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame despite the political nature of our offense,” Trillanes added.
