(CMFR/IFEX) – A local correspondent for an international magazine has been put on the government’s watch list to oblige her cooperation in providing information on an alleged coup plot against the president in February 2006. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate “Time” magazine correspondent Nelly Sindayen, […]
(CMFR/IFEX) – A local correspondent for an international magazine has been put on the government’s watch list to oblige her cooperation in providing information on an alleged coup plot against the president in February 2006.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate “Time” magazine correspondent Nelly Sindayen, who reported on an alleged plan by military and civilian personalities to withdraw their support and topple the Arroyo administration.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez ordered the Bureau of Immigration to put Sindayen on its watch list, in case she decides to leave the country to avoid probing.
“She won’t be arrested, but she must cooperate. We’re not asking for anything except the truth,” said Gonzalez.
In the “Time” article published on 6 March, Bryan Walsh wrote that Sindayen was invited to witness a meeting of “more than a dozen middle-level officials and businessmen” planning to withdraw their support from President Arroyo on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
The group supposedly included businessman Pastor “Boy” Saycon and former Tarlac representative Jose “Peping” Cojuangco. Saycon is known to be a vocal Arroyo critic, while Cojuangco is the brother of former president Corazon Aquino.
Sindayen’s inclusion on the watch list coincided with a supposed “breakthrough” in the NBI investigation, with Gonzalez saying that her testimony would fill in the missing pieces of the NBI report.
Prior to the DOJ order, the NBI had already invited Saycon, Cojuangco and Sindayen for questioning. Both Saycon and Cojuangco have denied the magazine’s report, insisting that the alleged meeting never took place.
However, Sindayen has submitted a letter to the NBI saying that she fully stands by her story.
