Progressive Solons
Defy Arrest
BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Posted
6:50 p.m. Feb. 27, 2006
Four progressive party-list
representatives – Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna (People
First), Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses), and Liza Maza of
Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) who eluded arrest after a press conference
of the House Minority bloc February 25 at the Sulo Hotel showed up at
the session of the House of Representatives today.
The four party list representatives,
together with their colleagues who are now under custody, Rep. Crispin
Beltran arrested February 25 and Rep. Joel Virador arrested this morning
in Davao City, reportedly had pending arrest warrants issued against
them after President Arroyo declared Proclamation 1017.
Shielded by around 300 members of
various cause-oriented groups under the umbrella of Bagong Alyansang
Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance) and guarded by a number of
fellow representatives – including House Majority Leader Prospero
Nograles – the four progressive solons were defiant as they entered the
House of Representatives, fists up in the air.
“It is wrong to be afraid at this
time,” Maza said. “What we need right now is courage.”
Casiño and Ocampo, meanwhile,
shrugged off rumors that he and his fellow progressive solons had gone
into hiding after the wave of arrests of prominent anti-administration
personalities started. “We did not go into hiding,” Casiño said. “We
have no reason to hide.”
Mariano said they had a
constitutional duty to their constituents and this was the reason they
showed up for the House session.
Escorted by
fellow congressmen, the four progressive solons made it to the session
hall before police reached the House of Representatives. The police
tried to arrest some of the activists who had trooped there – among them
Bayan Muna secretary-general Obet de Castro – but they fought back and
no one was arrested. Bulatlat
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