At it again

The indefatigable Raul Gonzalez is at it again.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer today reports:

DoJ turns up heat on Time mag reporter

"TIME MAGAZINE’S Philippine correspondent Nelly Sindayen, being put through the wringer, would be part of the plan of the Department of Justice (DoJ) to tighten the noose on several “middle-level government officials” said to have taken part in February’s alleged failed coup attempt against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“She is our star witness,” Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said of Sindayen, who had written about a meeting between Council of Philippine Affairs leader Pastor “Boy” Saycon and former Tarlac Representative Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, younger brother of former President Corazon Aquino, at the latter’s house in Dasmariñas Village in Makati City on Feb. 23.

Gonzalez said National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents were monitoring Sindayen’s movements and that she was last seen at a news forum in Manila.

“What is she hiding? She wrote the story and she has knowledge of what happened. Who are they (government officials), who are the businessmen who were around, were they the financiers?”

For the full report, click here.

I thought Gonzalez and other Palace officials are claiming they have enough information to pin down the alleged destabilizers of the Arroyo government? Why do they now have to rely on Nelly Sindayen to substantiate their proof against those who allegedly want to force Arroyo out of the presidency?

"In recent weeks, Malacañang has been pressing the media to help it provide corroboration and proof that it would enable it to nail down its enemies," I wrote then in the April 2006 issue of the PJR Reports.

"A comical, if not pathetic pattern is emerging. The government, which has been earnestly trying to clamp down on media, is also turning to it for help in providing information it needs to fight for its survival," I wrote in my article "The Tale of the (Missing Tape)".

"The Tale of the (Missing Tape)" tackled the government's efforts to get an alleged ABC-5 taped interview of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, accused of conspiring to topple Arroyo from her post. To read the full article, click here.