Senator who plotted mutiny 'hiding in religious sect's compound'

Luzon An opposition senator who has been tagged by the Arroyo administration of hatching the July 27 mutiny of junior officers is reportedly being hidden by the influential religious sect Church of God (Iglesia ni Cristo or INC), a government intelligence document said.

The report said Senator Gregorio Honasan, who has been in hiding since the Arroyo administration tagged him for masterminding a failed military junta, is said to be hiding at a special room of the INC compound in suburban Quezon City. He immediately went into hiding at the height of the state of rebellion after President Arroyo announced a warrantless arrest early this month.

Honasan has been seen by some witnesses in a restaurant located in the northern Luzon province of Tuguegarao where he allegedly met with a group composed of retired and active military men.

The solon even posed for some photo opportunities with the restaurant's staff and a customer, said witnesses.

The restaurant is said to be owned by a member of the Philippine Guardians Brotherhood Inc., a faction of a group of retired and active military men. It was Honasan who established this group after breaking away with its mother organisation The Guardians.

Tuguegarao, which is the capital of Cagayan province, is controlled by the family of former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who is a mentor of Honasan when they were both in the military. Enrile recently offered his help to Honasan when the latter hid from government authorities.

The intelligence report said the senator has been using one of the INC's rooms as a command post using a "ghost mobile phone" to avoid being detected by authorities. The restaurant meeting could have been Honasan's first public appearance since he went into hiding although he appeared on television twice for interviews with two television stations.

Meanwhile, Arroyo does not believe that the INC could be hiding the solon and expressed confidence that the group remains to be a government ally.

"I do not believe the INC would harbour any fugitive from justice. The INC has been a close and consistent partner of the government in upholding the rule of law as well as in the pursuit of peace and development," said Arroyo adding that she has not seen a copy of the so-called intelligence report.

INC officials were not available for comment. The religious group is a staunch supporter of former President Joseph Estrada.

The Department of Justice gave Honasan until August 27 to submit his counter affidavit to prove that he is not involved in last month's mutiny of about 300 junior officers.