CRITICIZING the government’s “double standard,” Senator Joker Arroyo has called for the release of Representative Crispin Beltran and Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes after former Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan was released on bail.

Here’s an excerpt from the INQUIRER.net story:

“If Gringo can be released, why not Congressman Crispin Beltran? There is a double standard here,” Arroyo said. “The government did not oppose too much Gringo’s application for bail but opposes strongly that of Beltran. Why?”

Arroyo pointed out that Honasan, Beltran, and Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes are all candidates in the May 14 local elections. Honasan is an independent senatorial candidate, Beltran is a party-list nominee, while Trillanes, who is also in jail for being one of the leaders of the same mutiny, is seeking a Senate seat under the United Opposition.

I HOPE Joker Arroyo wins and then becomes Senate president, and then start from there to rebuild our country, so we will go through a regeneration process that will be for the good of all.

Let us rally Filipinos behind this man who should become president.

– JESUSMA LARRAGA, 332 Tile Cross Road, Birmingham, UK (via e-mail)