NR0630: Stop obstruction of justice, play the tapes!

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran
News Release June 30, 2005

Pro-Admin solons obstructing justice by refusing to
hear "Hello, Garci?" tapes from being played; delays
in hearings will not delay protests demanding the
removal of PGMA from office


Joining broad rallies in Liwasang Bonifacio this
afternoon, Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran
today said that since the distinguished legal
luminaries invited to yesterday's congressional
hearings on the "Hello, Garci?" tapes have all given
the opinion that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has
essentially waived her right to privacy when she
admitted that it is her voice on tape, there should be
no more opposition to having the tapes played and its
contents scrutinized.

"Some of the top legal brains in the country have
agreed that there are no legal obstacles that stand in
the way of having the tapes played, and that solons
should have no fear of repercussions. It's most
imperative now that the tapes be played and its
contents transcribed and analyzed line-by-line," he
said. "This issue is, after all, the crux of the
hearing. Determining the seriousness of the tapes'
contents is one of the responsibilities of the
committees spearheading the investigations."

Beltran said that it was indicative of the desperation
of pro-administration solons that they continue to hem
and haw over the issue of having the tapes played for
the deliberative body. He said that it was evident
that the solons blocking the playing of the tapes were
still intent on protecting President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Why are the pro-administration solons so against
having the tapes played as part of the investigations?
The same official they are dead-set on protecting has
already admitted that it's her voice that's on the
controversial tape. The only reason we can see as to
why they still fight against having the tape played is
because they don't want the truth to come out, period.
This is clear-cut obstruction of justice," he said.

Beltran added, however, that for all the delaying
tactics pro-administration solons are employing to
keep the tapes from being played, the protest against
Pres. Arroyo will not be delayed. "The pro-Arroyo
solons are defending a fast-crumbling fortress that is
the Arroyo presidency."

In the meantime, the veteran tabor leader turned
Lawmaker said that President Arroyo and her
spokespersons led by presidential spokesperson Ignacio
Bunye and Department of Justice secretary Raul
Gonzales should now cease and desist from issuing
threats against individuals and groups who insist on
distributing and disseminating CD copies of the taped
conversations.

"Sec. Gonzales must be eating his foot right now: a
violent case of foot-in-mouth disease. After at the
threats he has issued against those who want the tapes
heard, he has exposed himself to be something of a
censor and dictator," he concluded.#