Six members of the administration's Cabinet Cluster Committee were charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for their role in the alleged illegal and unconstitutional declaration of martial law in Maguindanao province early this month. Akbyan party-list representatives Ana Theresa “Risa” Hontiveros and Walden Bello said the six officials violated section 7-C(2) of Republic Act 6713 otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, as well a various provisions in the Ombudsman Act. Charged were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior Secretary Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, Justice Secretary Agnes Devenadera, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Victor Ibrado and National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa. Those charged are top aides of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. “When the President commits a supreme constitutional blunder, even the stooges must be made to pay,” said Hontiveros. “The Cabinet secretaries behind the martial law declaration are liable for violating our laws. Their statements during the Joint Session were an admission of their folly, and it is of utmost importance that they be held accountable.” Hontiveros and Bello said the six officials “misused the information they received from the ground” to justify the declaration of martial law. “In doing so, they are complicit in the illegal suspension of civil liberties in Maguindanao, thus making their actions prejudicial to public interest. That is prohibited under the Code of Conduct for Public Officials,” Hontiveros said. The six officials recommended to Arroyo to declare martial law and suspend the writ of habeas corpus in parts of Maguindanao province following the gruesome Nov. 23 massacre of 57 civilians, including 30 journalists. Bello said the officials' responses during questioning by lawmakers at the joint session of the two-chamber Congress were based on “a script” “Their responses revealed that the declaration was hastily drawn up, misconceived, and unjustified. We fear that the declaration provided loopholes for GMA's (Arroyo) allies to climb out of the murder charges,” he said. “This should never happen again. We demand accountability for the decisions made and actions taken by the government,” added Bello. Arroyo lifted martial law on Saturday night, two days before Congress resumed its joint session. Malacanang said the lifting of martial law was recommended and accepted by Arroyo after the arrest of the alleged leaders of the “rebellion.”
