Palace: Arroyo won’t take ‘popular’ course in dealing with Agra

Amid calls for her to fire Justice Secretary Alberto Agra over his decision to clear two Ampatuan clan members from murder charges in the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not take the "popular" course of action, Malacañang said Wednesday. Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said in a radio interview that Mrs. Arroyo will not base her decision on popularity but on what she believes is right. "Nakabantay ang buong mundo at ang bayan, kailangan bigyan ito ng pagsusuri (We know not just Filipinos but the whole world is watching our actions on this case. We must do what is right)," Olivar said in an interview on dzXL radio. On the other hand, Olivar lashed out at the Palace’s critics for insinuating Mrs. Arroyo interfered in the case because she had something to gain from Agra’s decision to clear the two Ampatuans. Malacañang’s critics claim the clearing of the two Ampatuans is connected with the coming May elections as members of the Ampatuan clan, considered as political allies of Mrs. Arroyo, were linked to alleged poll fraud in 2004 that swept her to victory. "Di natin gusto ang pinapalabas ng iba na nakialam si Pangulo for personal or political gain (We are not amused with the insinuation of some sectors that Mrs. Arroyo interfered for the Ampatuans for personal or political gain)," he said. Don’t rush Arroyo In another radio interview, Olivar appealed to Mrs. Arroyo’s critics not to rush the president in making a decision on Agra. "Sana huwag madaliin si pangulo dito. Napaka-sensitive ng kasong ito, this is a live case (Do not rush the president. This is a sensitive case, this is a live case)," Olivar said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He said Mrs. Arroyo is aware of mounting calls for Agra’s resignation from his post — or his firing by the Palace — for his decision to clear two Ampatuan clan members. "Marami nang lumalabas na panawagan at opinion at ganyang klaseng pahayag dito. Lahat ito umaabot sa pangulo, tinitingnan niya (There are many mounting calls and opinions over the matter. All of these have reached the president and she is considering them)," he said. Last weekend, Agra ordered cleared of murder charges detained Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Mamasapano Mayor Akmad Ampatuan. Agra claimed there was no evidence to prove the two conspired in the massacre. Prosecutors oppose Agra's order But state prosecutors openly questioned the decision, and walked out of their offices last Monday to protest. [See: Prosecutors defy Agra over order to clear 2 Ampatuans] On Tuesday, Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon claimed the Philippine National Police office in General Santos learned about Agra’s order ahead of them. [See: Cops first to know of Ampatuan reso] “Isn’t it surprising our own office was not able to furnish us a copy and some other office in the province calls us up and tells us, ‘Sir totoo bang may resolution na ito’ (Is it not surprising that our own office was not able to furnish us a copy of the resolution, and we learned of it from some other office in the province when it verified the resolution with us)," Fadullon had said in an interview on dwIZ radio. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV