Family members say Lim, Querubin being prevented from campaigning

Is the government preventing former military officers Danilo Lim and Ariel Querubin from campaigning for senator in the May 10 elections? On Thursday, Lim's wife and Querubin's daughter decried on GMA Network's Unang Hirit morning program the alleged unfair treatment by the police and military for the two senatorial aspirants. "May takot yata sila sa aking asawa.. naniniwala sila na mananalo siya sa halalang ito, [at lalawak pa ang suporta niya] kapag nakapanayam ninyo siya dito sa Hiritan," Aloy Lim said in an interview on Unang Hirit. Lim, a former Army Scout Ranger chief who is running for senator this year under the Liberal Party, is detained at Camp Crame for his alleged role in the November 2007 siege of the Peninsula Manila hotel in Makati City by soldiers belonging to the Magdalo group. He also stands accused of mutiny before a military court in connection with the alleged February 2006 coup d' etat. Lim and Querubin were deemed resigned from service when they filed their certificates of candidacy for senator early this year. Querubin, who is also facing mutiny charges, is with the Nacionalista Party.

Where's the MR? GMANews.TV learned that on April 22, the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch (RTC) 150, through Judge Elmo Alameda, gave Lim permission to appear before Unang Hirit's Hiritan 2010 segment, which gathers candidates for a live televised debate. In a letter a day before Lim’s scheduled interview, however, Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center’s Superintendent Cesar Magsino informed the program manager of a motion for reconsideration it has filed before the RTC. "Considering that the April 22, 2010 Order of the court has not yet attain [sic] finality, please be advised that the scheduled interview of former General Danilo D. Lim on April 29, 2010 is held in abeyance," Magsino’s signed letter read. Lawyer Tiosfa Valencia of Makati RTC’s Branch 150, however, said they have not received such document. "As of now, we have not received any motion for reconsideration from the PNP regarding Gen. Lim’s interview," Valencia said. Magsino cannot immediately be reached for comment. Excited for the interview "Handang handa na siya.. excited pa nga po. Kasadong-kasado na ang programang ito para sa kanya tapos bigla akong tinawagan [kahapon] na hindi na pwede... ewan ko kung ano ang naging dahilan," Lim’s wife said. "[Ang bilin sa akin ni Gen. Lim ay] sabihin ko lang ang totoo, na iniipit lang siya dito at mukhang may takot nga yata." Lim’s legal counsel also slammed the PNP’s move as a form of harassment in violation of the Fair Elections Act, which provides candidates the freedom of access to media. "It is very clear under the Fair Elections Act that bona fide candidates shall be free from any harassment or discrimination and shall be given free access to media. Most definitely, [this is] a harassment, and a violation of the court order. They must remember that they are deputized by the Comelec and the Comelec is now actively implementing Fair Elections Act," lawyer Vicente Verdadero said. "I don’t think they have the right to file a motion for reconsideration anymore because during the last hearing, there was a mutual agreement that Gen. Lim would be allowed to participate in this interview," he added. He also said that preparations for the security setup for Lim’s interview had already been started two days ago. “It was only yesterday when they claimed na nagkaroon daw ng aberya dahil may utos daw sa kataas-taasan na hindi pwede si General ma-interview. Now this is a clear violation. Binabalewala ang kautusan ng hukuman. We will file the necessary action against these people," Verdadero said. No campaigning inside camps For her part, Faye Querubin, the daughter of former decorated Marine officer, also lamented the alleged moves of the military to prevent his father from campaigning. "Hindi talaga fair iyong nangyayari sa kanila. How they treat my dad and si Tito Danny (Lim) ay unfair... parang alam nila na mananalo [sila] so they try to stop [them from campaigning]," Faye said. Program host Arnold Clavio read a letter from First Lt. Acting Commandant Mary Ann Bayangos saying that no form of electoral campaign will be allowed inside any military camp, citing the constitutional injunction stating that the Armed Forces should not participate in any partisan political activity. Querubin is currently detained at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) compound. "Gagawa po kami ng aksyon para madisiplina na iyang mga taong 'yan. Tama na ang kalokohang ginagawa nila sa mga kandidatong ito," Verdadero said. Clavio said the PNP did not respond to the program’s invitations to air its side. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV