In a press conference somewhere in Luzon, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo chided two cabinet officials for being behind the moves to arrest him right in the middle of the election campaign.

“You play dirty, boys,” Ocampo said in front of a handful of reporters, referring to Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales and National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

The press conference was hastily called this morning by Bayan Muna for Ocampo to air his side on the warrant of arrest (WOA) issued against him by Ephrem Abando, presiding judge of Branch 18 of the Regional Trial Court of Hilongos, province of Leyte. The warrant was issued as early as Monday, March 5.

A similar warrant was issued for the arrest of Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni, political consultant and chair of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiating panel, respectively. Both are in exile in Hague, The Netherlands.

The three were ordered arrested for multiple murder in connection with an alleged mass grave discovered in Inopacan, Leyte in August 2006.

Incredible charge

Ocampo said the charges against him were “incredibly false” and “impossible.”

The charge sheet states that in 1984, Ocampo was anointed by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to order the mass murder of certain members of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the CPP, for being government spies.

Ocampo said this could never have happened because he was under military custody at that time. He said he was arrested Jan. 14, 1976 and was only able to escape his captors on May 5, 1985.

Ploy to derail campaign

Ocampo said the order for his arrest was clearly a ploy by the government’s national security agents to derail his party’s campaign for party-list representation in the May 14 mid-term elections.

Bayan Muna was the number one party-list group elected into office in the 2001 and 2004 elections. In a recent SWS survey, Bayan Muna again topped the list of party-list groups.

Ocampo said the order for his arrest two months before the elections is only deemed at “paralyzing their campaign.”

“Natatakot silang manalo ulit kami,” (They are afraid we would win again.) Ocampo told the media.

The party-list solon said the warrant for his arrest, the recent disqualification case against Bayan Muna and the continuous summary executions and enforced disappearances of their members nationwide is part of the government’s campaign to “neutralize” their party.

He charged that these moves against him and his party are part of a concerted campaign by the Inter-Agency Legal Action Group (IALAG) composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), the departments of Justice, National Defense, Foreign Affairs and Interior and Local Government, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. It is supervised by the National Intelligence Board headed by Norberto Gonzalez.

The IALAG was formed through Executive Order 4938 on Jan. 17, 2006 and is tasked to file legal cases in relation to national security.

The AFP, Raul Gonzales and Norberto Gonzalez have accused Bayan Muna as a front organization of the CPP that has siphoned its funds to the NPA. Ocampo, however, said no evidence on this matter has been put forward by any of their accusers.

Not in hiding

Ocampo clarified however that he is not in hiding despite the manhunt against him. “Sanay na ako sa ganitong labanan,” (I am used to this kind of fight.) said the two-time political detainee.

“I am ready to face these cases politically and legally,” he said. In three to four days, Ocampo’s lawyer Judge ad litem Romeo Capulong said they will be filing a petition for certiorari and mandamus at the Supreme Court against Raul Gonzales and Abando.

“Huwag nang magpagod ang mga awtoridad sa paghahanap sa akin,” (The authorities need not exert too much effort in looking for me.) Ocampo told reporters. “Lalabas din naman ako.” (I will surface eventually.) Bulatlat

© 2006 Bulatlat ■  Alipato Publications

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