Ocampo Back in Manila
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
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