By James Konstantin Galvez Reporter
One of the junior officers charged with coup d ‘etat before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Thursday said that he would file criminal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against high-ranking government officials behind the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
In his 3-page motion, Captain Nicanor Faeldon has asked the Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel through his lawyer Trixxie Angeles to allow him to leave his detention to personally file his complaint on July 16.
“In order to file the said case, he is required to subscribe and swear to before an administering officer in the aforementioned office. He is therefore required to be physically present at the said office in order to file his complaint,” Faeldon said in his complaint.
Faeldon intends to file charges against Department of Trade (DTI) undersecretary Tomas Aquino, who co-chaired the Philippine Coordinating Committee on JPEPA and officials of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for violation of the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
She said that they are still studying whether to include other officials who gave their assent to the controversial treaty in the complaint.
“We’re just making sure that only those who have direct participation in the forging of the treaty will be charged,” said Angeles.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during her state visit to Helsinki, Finland last October.
Angeles said the president might not be included in the complaint as “she just relied on the advice of her alter egos”.
JPEPA, according to the government will lead to greater market access for Japanese industrial goods, particularly steel, auto, and auto parts, electronic products and textiles with the import tariffs on these products being cut by 90 percent within 10 years.
Tariffs will be abolished on at least 60 percent of steel imports tariffs on Japan-made automobiles and parts fully eliminated in 2010.
But critics of JPEPA, particularly environmental groups, said the treaty will results to the unhindered entry of toxic wastes to the country in return for the opening up of the Japanese job market to Filipinos especially nurses and caretakers.
“He decided to file the case as a Filipino citizen and a taxpayer who knows that the agreement runs against the law and the interest of the Filipino people. He is willing to pay the price for what he believed. This is part of his fight that started at Oakwood,” said Angeles quoting his client.
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Capt Faeldon charges JPEPA officials
One of the officers in the Oakwood mutiny Wednesday filed a suit against trade officials who negotiated with the Japanese the controversial Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
In a statement, Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon said he was filing a suit as a "private citizen," as part of his continuing advocacy to protect public welfare and push for government reforms.
"We cannot sacrifice our environment for the sake of economic development," Faeldon said. The JPEPA provisions setting no tariff for toxic waste would allow and even encourage trade in toxic waste between the two countries, Faeldon said.
"Even if the government says there will be no such trade, the fact is that at least one shipment of toxic waste from Japan has been intercepted even as the JPEPA was being negotiated. It is duplicitous to say there will be no such trade and then to turn around and approve a trade provision that would actually encourage such trade," Faeldon added.
Faeldon said he was charging public officials, particularly those at the trade and industry department, for negotiating an agreement disadvantageous to the Filipino people.
The case was filed against Trade and Industry undersecretary Tomas Aquino and 3 others, who headed the Philippine negotiating panel for the JPEPA. "Government service is public service. It's about time that we hold our public officials accountable for what they do," Faeldon said.
Faeldon was one of the Marine officers who took over the posh Oakwood hotel in July 2003, complaining of rampant corruption in government and President Macapagal-Arroyo's refusal to remedy these. They stood down in less than 24 hours, however, and agreed to go back to barracks and face charges.
The six highest officers in the group issued a public apology after a year, and, in a highly publicized event, saluted Arroyo. They later claimed it was to keep their group intact, which by then was breaking apart.
Faeldon left detention in December 2005, vowing to continue the fight for a good government. He was recaptured after six weeks.
He is now in detention at the Philippine Marines' brig in Fort Bonifacio.
posted at http://www.pilipino.org.ph/JPEPA.php
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