RSSMANILA (UCAN) – The Church has confirmed it will stand by Father Robert Reyes if authorities arrest the priest, as expected, on libel charges.
Bishop Pedro Arigo, head of the Episcopal Commission on Prison and Pastoral Care, today [Feb. 10] “confirmed that he will be with Father Robert Reyes if there is an attempt to arrest him for the case of libel,” the commission’s executive secretary Rodolfo Diamante told UCA News.
Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for Father Reyes’ arrest in December after he failed to attend a hearing in connection with a libel case filed by Senator Jackie Ponce Enrile in 2002.
The priest publicly accused the senator’s son in 2000 of “murdering” the priest’s nephew at a party in 1975.
No charges have been filed regarding the death.
Father Reyes, known as “the running priest” because he runs for various causes, is currently in Hong Kong working for the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
He claims the timing of the arrest order — ahead of the May 10 general elections — is politically-motivated.
He told UCA News that as the senator is running for re-election “it makes no sense” for him to revive the case now.
Arrest would ‘benefit’ certain groups
Father Reyes believes his arrest benefits groups who want to stop his planned provincial campaign for clean, honest and meaningful elections.
He told UCA News he last attended a hearing regarding the case in 2005. “I was not informed of any other hearing after that,” the priest said.
“A friend warned me in January I was going to be arrested,” he added. “I am willing to be arraigned and will volunteer to stay in jail.”
He confirmed Bishop Arigo had offered his personal support. “He will support me in my struggle to gain justice in the libel case filed against me.”
The priest was initially arrested in 2002 and released on bail. He claimed the presiding judge suggested dropping the suit in 2005 “since the complainants were not interested in the case.”
However, Enrile did not drop the suit and an arraignment hearing was set for December.
Quezon City Judge Marie Christine Jacob granted Enrile’s motion and issued a new warrant after she declared Father Reyes’ bail funds forfeit. The priest did not inform the court of his change of address, the court noted.
Father Reyes, 56, is due to return to Manila from Hong Kong today [Feb. 10].
PR08785.1588 February 10, 2010 41 EM-lines (404 words)
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