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Monday, March 19, 2007
Jailed lawmaker to fight transfer to Leyte
MANILA -- Detained Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo said Sunday he will resist attempts by the Philippine police to "short-circuit the legal process" in the multiple murder case filed against him.
The police are reportedly planning to transfer the legislator to Leyte, where the case has been filed, Monday.
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Ocampo said the police will be violating a Supreme Court (SC) order if it transfers him to Leyte before the High Tribunal decides on his petition for a certiorari.
"I will assert my rights against being transferred to Leyte without an explicit order from the SC, which has taken cognizance of my petition for certiorari against the arrest warrant the (police) served on me," said Ocampo, who is the first nominee of the party-list Bayan Muna in the upcoming elections.
Ocampo was arrested on Friday at the vicinity of the SC in Manila after he filed the petition for certiorari. The arrest came 10 days after a warrant was issued by Leyte Judge Ephrem Abando of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 18 in connection with the multiple murder charges filed against him more than a decade ago.
Ocampo revealed to reporter the plan by the police to transfer and present him before the judge who issued the arrest warrant.
"I urge the (police) to respect the SC which has set for March 23 the oral arguments on my petition, and not to move me abruptly and without explicit orders from the court," said Ocampo.
Lawyers for Ocampo are scheduled to file Monday at the sala of Judge Abando a motion to suspend the presentation of the lawmaker pending the oral arguments slated by the SC on the petition for certiorari with prohibition, and the High Court's final ruling on the matter.
They also sent a letter to PNP Chief Oscar Calderon "vigorously objecting" to any plan to transfer the congressman to Leyte while the petition for certiorari has not been resolved. They also raised the issue on the legislator's security.
Bayan Muna secretary-general Nathanael Santiago called for continued vigilance over the plight of Ocampo, who is now detained at the Manila Police District (MPD) General Assignment Division Office.
"We urge our officers, members, supporters and allies to visit Ka Satur at the MPD, express our unwavering support for him, and to deter moves to whisk him away to Leyte where he will be exposed to serious threats to his life," said Santiago. (DBP/JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (March 19, 2007 issue)
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