BY: Joel P. Mapiles
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The warrants of arrest against former members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) or Balas Boys, in connection with separate libel cases filed by outgoing Gov. Eddie Panlilio and provincial administrator Attorney Vivian Dabu against them, were reportedly released by the Regional Trial Court Branch 46.
It can be recalled that the outgoing governor and his administrator filed separate cases of libel, grave slander and oral defamation, alarm and scandal, and unjust vexation against the Balas boys, a quarry monitoring Task Force created by Panlilio.
Identified as principal respondents in the said libel case are former Capitol chief-of-staff Archimedes "Archie" Reyes, former social services officer Roperlee Syquia, heads of Balas boys Alex Pineda, Eduard De Leon, Christopher Ramil Ocampo and Filologo Rodriguez, and 39 other members of Balas.
With the issuance of the warrants of arrest, the respondents expect that they would be arrested anytime.
Based on an interview with lawyers on what could be the respondents’ next move, they suggested that they study the charges, file a motion to reduce bail and subsequently file a motion to reinvestigate the charges filed against the former members of the quarry monitoring team created by Panlilio.
It was learned that the 45 respondents would need to post P10,000 bail for each of the two counts of libel, equivalent to a total of P900,000, if their motion would be turned down by the court.
The respondents said they have not officially received any information charge sheets or any summons in their respective houses. They said they were surprised with the reported issuance of their warrants of arrest.
Reyes said he only knew about the libel charges against them in the newspapers.
But in a report, city Prosecutor Felizardo Montero has sent summons to the accused, commanding and requiring them under the law to submit to his office counter-affidavits and similar documents and to appear before his office together with their witnesses.
Asked how they knew about the warrant, Reyes said an insider from the office of the governor informed them about it. He added that a reliable source from the court also confirmed the said warrants.
Reyes said after that fateful experience in the initial year of administration of Panlilio, he, Siquia and the former Balas Boys already managed to move on.
But up to now, the “ghost” of their past is reminding them of their dreadful experience working with the administration of Panlilio as governor, according to Reyes.
“Pero ngayon eto, minumulto pa rin kami ng aming naging karanasan sa pangangasiwa at konrobersiya na kinasangkutan ng papaalis na governor at ng kanyang administradora,” Reyes added.
Unsung Heroes
The former Balas boys were said to be unsung heroes behind the initial success and achievement of Panlilio in increasing the quarry collection by the millions during his first months in office.
De Leon said he did not realize that after doing their best in helping the administration of Panlilio in excelling the quarry operations, the governor and his administrator pushed through with their libel charges against them.
De Leon lamented that the governor even promised them of reinstatement but broke their agreement during their meeting at the Sacop office.
The charges stemmed from a misunderstanding which resulted to protest rallies held in front of the capitol.
Panlilio and Dabu filed charges, accusing them of libel after posting scandalous protest streamers and posters, and expressing speeches in front of the Capitol.
But the former Balas Boys claimed that the Arnedo Park where they held the protest rallies is a freedom park.
It can be recalled that Reyes resigned as chief of staff of Panlilio after having a disagreement with Dabu, and after and the latter’s failure to comply with their agreement during a dialogue with the former Balas Boys over certain administrative and personal issues.
After his resignation, Reyes attended the protest rallies during the night and expressed his sympathies and support to the Balas boys and even gave statements calling for the resignation of Dabu.
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