Honasan: Inclusion of my name in list of mutineers was politically motivated

Senator Gregorio Honasan on Monday suspects "political motivation" behind the inclusion of his name in the list of the supposed mutineers who will benefit from the presidential proclamation granting amnesty. "There is no legal defense against an irresponsible effort, especially if it is politically motivated," Honasan said in an interview with reporters on Monday. He issued the statement after Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate committee on peace, unification, and reconciliation, said there were a lot of "inconsistencies" in the list of amnesty beneficiaries provided by Malacañang. Guingona said Honasan and some members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) were listed as participants in the 2006 Marine standoff and were included in the more than 300 supposed beneficiaries of the amnesty grant. Honasan, for his part, said the supposed mistake was meant to "neutralize" the voices of people like him "who are speaking out against corruption and inefficiency and bad government." "Parang nagiging serial suspect na tayo (It's like I'm becoming a serial suspect)," he said. However, the senator joked that he will consider applying for the amnesty if it would expedite the approval of resolution concurring with the amnesty proclamation. He likewise clarified that he will not ask for an apology from whoever made the list. "Ito ay pagkukulang na (This problem is) inherent, cumulatively sa sistema (in the system)," he said. Palace denies list was "faulty" Senior deputy executive secretary Jose Amor Amorado, however, said the list was not erroneous because it contained the names of "possible applicants," meaning those in the list can choose not to apply for amnesty. "As far as the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) is concerned, I don't think we committed any mistake regarding the submission of the list," Amorado said on Monday. Amorado said the lists submitted by the OES to the Senate came from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense, and the Department of Justice. The lists took into account those who were charged for their involvement in the three incidents involved in the amnesty proclamation, Amorado said. Honasan, Pastor "Boy" Saycon, and some other personalities "identified" with the CPP-NPA were included in the list that came from the DOJ because they were charged before the DOJ (case number 2006-1003) for their involvement in the Marine stand-off, Amorado said. The case is pending preliminary investigation. "We submitted this list to the Senate because the Senate was asking for the list of possible applicants to the amnesty so if you have a pending case regarding any of these three incidents then we take it that you are a possible applicant," he said. "Possible applicant meaning that it is not necessary that you really apply. It's up to you if you will apply for amnesty or not," he added. Another civilian included in the DOJ list, which he said contained around 50 names, was former ambassador Roy Señeres, Amorado said. Proclamation 75 The Senate and the House of Representatives received from Malacañang last week the amended proclamation granting amnesty to soldiers and policemen involved in at least three attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration. Aquino earlier issued on October 11 Proclamation 50 granting amnesty to all active and former personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their supporters, who committed acts or omissions punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Articles of War or other special laws related to the following: