MANILA, Philippines — Militant leaders and former party-list representatives are now the subject of manhunt operations by the Philippine National Police, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said yesterday.
Albayalde said the manhunt for former Bayan Muna congressman Satur Ocampo, former Gabriela Women’s Party representative and current National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza, former Bayan Muna lawmaker Teodoro Casiño, former Anakpawis representative and ex-agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano, Vicente Cayetano, Delfin Pimentel and Emeterio Antalan was based on a court order issued by Judge Evelyn Atienza Turla of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 40 of Palayan City in Nueva Ecija.
“We have received a copy of the arrest order against Satur Ocampo, et al. The PNP is duty-bound to implement orders of judicial authorities,” Albayalde said.
“That is our constitutional mandate, that law enforcers must abide with due consideration to human rights and dignity of the accused,” he added.
The warrants of arrest issued by Turla did not include the names of the victims and the date the crime was committed.
Albayalde directed Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Director Roel Obusan over the weekend to immediately send out arresting teams to serve the warrants of arrest against Ocampo, Maza, Casiño, Mariano, Cayetano, Pimentel and Antalan.
“However, I am also appealing to these individuals to just turn themselves in and to submit themselves to judicial processes,” Albayalde said.While Albayalde was holding a press briefing, various militant groups staged a protest rally at Gate 2-Boni Serrano Avenue of Camp Crame in Quezon City, asking the government to stop the political prosecution against their members.