BY BULATLAT
Posted 5:30 p.m., March 19, 2007
Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo is back in Manila. He is again detained at the Manila Police District (MPD) along United Nations Avenue in Manila.
As early as 11:30 a.m., Bayan Muna third nominee and general counsel Neri Colmenares said the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Leyte has ordered the return of Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo to Manila. But Philippine National Police (PNP) agents insisted on flying him to the province of Leyte at exactly 11:54 a.m. today.
Colmenares said the court order was received by PO2 Elmer Castillo, PO2 Aya Serrano of the PNP regional intelligence office, and a certain PO2 Negado.
In his written order, Judge Ephrem Abando said “Congressman Satur Ocampo shall remain under the custody of the Philippine National Police National Capital Regional Police Office, Manila Police District, Ermita, Manila, until after March 23, 2007,” the day oral arguments on Ocampo’s petitions for certiorari and temporary restraining order will be heard at the Supreme Court.
Abando said the Leyte court received this morning information from the PNP hierarchy that Ocampo will be delivered to Leyte today, March 19. However, upon the delivery of the Ex-Parte Motion for Ocampo to remain in the custody of the Manila police filed by the Ocampo’s lawyers simultaneously at the Supreme Court and the Hilongos, Leyte court also this morning, Abando decided in favor of Ocampo’s motion.
Meanwhile, the Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG) told the Leyte court that “the transfer of Congressman Satur Ocampo to this court is costly on the part of the government as he will be returned to Manila,” for the Supreme Court hearing on March 23.
The DILG also told the court that the transfer of Ocampo was a “security risk” as he is a “high risk person.”
However, Ocampo still faces the same risk as the court ordered the Senior Insp. Virgilio Dacara, warrant section chief of the Western Police District, to submit the Bayan Muna solon to the Hilongos RTC after the Supreme Court hearing on March 23.(Bulatlat.com)
