Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07MANILA1881, SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN REBELLION CHARGES

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07MANILA1881.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07MANILA1881 2007-06-06 07:20 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Manila
VZCZCXRO6676
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #1881/01 1570720
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 060720Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6851
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001881 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR RP
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN REBELLION CHARGES 
AGAINST LEFTIST LEADERS 
 
REF: A. MANILA 1215 
 
     B. 06 MANILA 2154 
     C. 06 MANILA 1965 
     D. 06 MANILA 1162 
     E. 06 MANILA 1021 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: The Philippine Supreme Court on June 1 
dismissed rebellion charges against six leftist Members of 
Congress for alleged plans to overthrow the Arroyo government 
in February 2006.  In a sharply worded decision, the Supreme 
Court ruled that the state prosecutors had erred in finding 
probable cause to arrest and indict the leftist politicians 
on charges of rebellion, and accused the Department of 
Justice of using these prosecutions for "political ends." 
The Administration has indicated its intent to file a motion 
for reconsideration.  The decision is yet another 
demonstration of the Supreme Court's judicial independence 
following several landmark decisions against the 
Administration over the last twelve months.  End Summary. 
 
---------------------------- 
Beltran and the Batasan Five 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (U) Immediately following President Arroyo's imposition of 
a "State of National Emergency" on February 24, 2006, 
government authorities arrested leftist 74-year old Anakpawis 
party-list representative Crispin Beltran and accused him of 
plotting to overthrow the Arroyo Administration.  The 
prosecutors cited charges dating back to the Marcos era in 
order to justify the arrest, which was conducted without a 
new warrant.  As his case moved through the courts in 2006, 
Beltran remained in custody, briefly at police headquarters 
at Camp Crame and then under extended medical supervision at 
a local hospital. 
 
3. (U) Shortly after Beltran's arrest, the government also 
filed rebellion charges against five other leftist party-list 
representatives in Congress -- Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, 
Joel Virador, Liza Masa, and Rafael Mariano -- whom the 
military accused of being fronts for the Communist 
insurgency.  These five, known as the "Batasan Five" after 
they eluded arrest and found refuge within the House of 
Representatives building ("Batasang Pambansa") for more than 
two months.  They finally left the Congressional complex on 
May 8, 2006, when a local court dismissed the Department of 
Justice's charges against them.  However, the Department of 
Justice re-filed the same case in a different trial court, 
which upheld the charges.  Speaker of the House Jose de 
Venecia negotiated with DOJ and PNP to take the five members 
back under the protective custody of the House until 
authorities withdrew the threat of actual arrest.  This 
agreement did not cover Beltran, whose case had been filed 
separately. 
 
---------- 
The Ruling 
---------- 
 
4. (U) Because the Beltran and "Batasan Five" prosecutions 
flowed from mostly the same facts, the Supreme Court 
consolidated the two cases.  The Court ruled on June 1 in 
favor of Beltran and the Batasan Five, finding that there was 
insufficient evidence against them.  The verdict stated that 
the prosecutors' preliminary investigations were "tainted 
with irregularities" that had "trivialized" the case, and 
described the rebellion charges as a "sham."  The Court 
ordered the immediate halt to the prosecutions and also 
dismissed two earlier rulings by the trial court that had 
initially sustained the findings of probable cause.  The 
Court pointedly added that "we cannot emphasize strongly 
enough that prosecutors should not allow, and should avoid, 
giving the impression that their noble office is being used 
or prostituted ... for political ends." 
 
5. (U) The "Batasan Five" decision came two months after a 
separate Court decision that, unusually, allowed Congressman 
Ocampo to post bail on fifteen counts of murder of suspected 
counter-revolutionaries during a purge within the Communist 
Party of the Philippines between 1985 and 1991. 
 
------------------------ 
Administration to Appeal 
------------------------ 
 
6. (SBU) According to Assistant Chief State Prosecutor 
Richard Fadullon, the Supreme Court decision will become 
final on June 16 (or 15 days from issuance).  During the 
 
MANILA 00001881  002 OF 002 
 
 
interim, the government has the right to file a motion for 
reconsideration with the Supreme Court.  Justice Secretary 
Raul Gonzalez initially stated that he had expected this 
unfavorable ruling following Ocampo's release and predicted 
that it would be a "waste of time" to appeal.  However, Press 
Secretary Ignacio Bunye on June 2 issued a statement calling 
 
SIPDIS 
the ruling "a setback for the government's anti-insurgency 
efforts" and promising that the Administration would indeed 
immediately appeal.  Fadullon confirmed on June 6 that the 
Administration was preparing its appeal.  Should the decision 
stand, the Supreme Court would then order the trial court to 
dismiss the case, after which the trial court could order 
Beltran's release. 
 
7.  (SBU) While the Supreme Court decision applies to 
rebellion charges against Beltran, several sedition charges 
against him in connection with "seditious utterances" during 
the People Power anniversary on February 24, 2006, remain 
pending.  Fadullon admitted privately that it was still 
unclear whether the sedition case had been resolved.  He 
added that Beltran's legislative immunity, which applies to 
crimes for which the punishment is six years or less, would 
permit his release during the judicial process, as sedition 
carries a maximum penalty of six years.  (Legislative 
immunity did not apply to rebellion, which carries a higher 
penalty.) 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
8. (SBU) Despite long-standing concerns that President 
Arroyo's many appointments to the Supreme Court, including 
the current and past Chief Justices, would leave it beholden 
to the Administration, its track record since 2006 has 
demonstrated clear judicial independence, with repeated 
rulings against the Administration in key cases: the People's 
Initiative for Charter Change; the declaration of a State of 
National Emergency; the policy of calibrated pre-emptive 
response during the February 2006 protests and rallies; and 
an executive order that barred executive branch members from 
testifying before Congress (reftels). 
 
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/ 
KENNEY