MANILA - Police HAVE filed charges of illegal assembly march 18 against former social welfare secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman after she was arrested along
with another activist for allegedly “attempting” to hold a protest rally at the Baywalk in Manila.

Prosecutors later ordered the release of Soliman and Vicente Romano on the charges of violating Batas Pambansa 880 for illegal assembly pending further investigation.

Soliman said the prosecutor warned them not to go into hiding. “But why should we flee? We have done nothing wrong,” she said.

Soliman and Romano will be summoned by the inquest fiscal to a hearing to determine if they will be formally charged, according to Superintendent Arturo Paglinawan, chief of the General Assignment Section of the Manila Police District (MPD). Paglinawan insisted the arrest was justified and in accordance with existing law. “Public assembly does not only pertain to marches or rallies, but also to any concerted action by a group of individuals,” he explained.

He claimed Soliman and her group tried to “circumvent the law.”

“It is really a political activity. Our political climate is not that stable yet. So when you express dissent in government in front of many people, and these people are often seen holding protest rallies against the President, it is clearly a political activity,” Paglinawan said.

Soliman, Romano and about 50 other people clad in black Tshirts bearing the slogan “Oust Now” had planned to stage a silent protest by walking along the Baywalk area on Roxas Boulevard when they were apprehended by the police March 17.

Soliman protested the arrest, arguing with police that they were not disturbing traffic flow and were not carrying banners or placards. “It was a violation of our rights,” Soliman said. The former Cabinet official said she may consider filing countercharges against the MPD. “This is very different now. We did not expect that our former colleagues in government would allow this kind of policy,” she said. Soliman joined Romano in forming the Black and White Movement to press for the resignation of President Arroyo. Soliman is among the “Hyatt 10" group of erstwhile Cabinet officials who resigned at the height of calls for
Mrs. Arroyo to step down last July 8. Soliman and nine other former Cabinet officials had demanded the resignation of Mrs. Arroyo over alleged vote rigging and corruption charges. The Philippine National Police said the arrest of Soliman and her group only proved the PNP’s strong commitment to enforce the law without fear or favor.