Lipa bishop challenges de Lima to file charges against his group

Justice Sec. Leila De Lima at the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano Clash (Photo courtesy of Sen. Grace Poe’s Facebook page)

MANILA – Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles – a member of the National Transformation Council (NTC) and among those clamoring for the resignation of President Benigno Aquino III – has set forth a challenge to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima: “If they are truly following the law, then apply the law,” Arguelles said.

Arguelles’ statement, daring to de Lima to file charges against the NTC, was carried by the CBCP News.

According to the bishop, his group not doing anything to flout the law by calling on the president’s resignation.

“We, in the NTC, are not doing anything illegal. We are patriots defending our country, our Constitution and our people,” he said.

On Sunday, de Lima said in a statement that the administration“will not relent in applying the full force of the law against them [NTC] in order to protect the people and the State from an unconstitutional and illegal power grab.”

The justice chief added that NTC – which she described as “a loose grouping of disgruntled Arroyo allies” – has been using the Mamasapano massacre towards their own end, in order to stir up a military coup d’ etat.

“This is a false hope, since certain actions already implemented by the group, from organizing foras and conferences of supporters and sympathizers, can already be contemplated as conspiracies relating to sedition, rebellion or coup d’ etat,” de Lima said.