Palace to militants: Wait for De Lima review on Morong 43 case

Malacañang appealed to militants Saturday to wait for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to finish her review of the case of the Morong 43 – the health workers arrested last February on suspicion of being communist rebels – instead of continuing to complain on the matter. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said de Lima has just started her review of the case and will give her recommendations to President Benigno Aquino III. “Hintayin natin ang review ni Secretary de Lima, kung ano ang recommendation na maibibigay niya kay Pangulong Aquino (Let us wait for the review of de Lima and her recommendations to Aquino)," she said on government-run dzRB radio. The 43 health workers were arrested in Rizal province's Morong town. Earlier this week, Aquino admitted the search warrant used for the arrest of the 43 may have been defective. Militant umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) insisted that Aquino should have the Justice Department withdraw the charges against the 43 so they will be freed soonest. It added Mercy Castro, one of the 43, is set to give birth anytime soon, after fellow Morong 43 member Judilyn Oliveros. “President Aquino need not leave the matter entirely to the courts. If he wants to ‘rectify the situation’ as he said in his interview, he can order the Department of Justice to withdraw the cases filed against the 43 so that the Morong RTC can immediately order the release of the detained health workers. Mr. Aquino can do this immediately if he is really intent on upholding the law," Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said in an article on the group’s website. Valte said the supporters of the 43 can rest assured De Lima is already studying the case and will give her recommendations soonest. “Rest assured De Lima is already doing the study," she said. — LBG, GMANews.TV